If you’re a beauty buff, chances are that you spend some of your free time researching the latest trends and treatments. While we wouldn’t consider laser facials to be a new trend in the beauty space, they are some of the more popular treatments out there. The good news is, there’s pretty much a type of laser facial for everybody. Is your biggest skin concern hyperpigmentation? There are lasers for that. What about rosacea? There are also lasers for that. The key is to get familiar with some of the more common laser facials out there and find which one is best for you. We’re breaking down what you need to know about different types of laser facials before setting up a consultation.
Clear & Brilliant
Think of Clear & Brilliant as a “skin refresh.” It’s non-invasive, meaning there’s no cutting or needles involved, and it’s designed to leave your skin looking smoother and more radiant. Clear & Brilliant is typically performed as a series of treatments, with most people reporting results after between 4-6 sessions. There’s little to no downtime, and the lasers physically help your skin shed any old texture or scars to leave you with a fresh layer of skin. It helps prevent early signs of aging with hundreds of thousands of microscopic treatment zones.
IPL
Also known as Intense Pulsed Light, is a go-to anti-aging treatment, however, it can address several other concerns. IPL is a non-invasive treatment that focuses on the middle layers of the skin, versus the upper layers. The light from IPL lasers is turned into heat, which directly hits the specific targeted area and nothing else around it. IPL specifically targets the skin cells with melanin in them. Unlike other laser treatments, IPL produces wavelengths with each pulse, whereas other lasers are a single wavelength.
PiQo4
Because different skin tones respond to injury differently, those with darker skin tones can’t get just any laser facial. Darker skin tones typically respond to injury with more scarring, which defeats the purpose of targeting and penetrating the skin with lasers. However, PiQo4 is a great option for those with darker skin tones who have hyperpigmentation concerns. It’s also used to remove tattoos, melasma, and helps overall skin rejuvenation.
CO2 Lasers
Looking for some skin tightening? That’s where CO2 lasers can come in. It’s a carbon dioxide laser used for resurfacing purposes with light beams. Since it is for skin resurfacing, it has a similar effect on the skin that an exfoliant would but is obviously more powerful since it penetrates a lot deeper. The laser removes the outer layers of the skin and leaves you with smoother and tighter skin. There are very few side effects, however, some people report minor redness, inflammation, and scabbing that typically goes away in a few days.
Fractional Lasers
Fractional lasers target the much deeper layers of the skin, which makes them so effective for blemishes and stubborn acne. These lasers encourage the skin’s natural healing process at a much faster speed than traditional products do. Like Clear & Brilliant, several treatments are encouraged for the best results and to prevent future blemishes from forming.
Pulsed Dye Lasers
Unlike many lasers, these use organic dye mixed in a solvent. Then, a beam of light targets the blood vessels in the skin directly, then destroys them, and ultimately leaves the skin unaffected. It sounds way more intense than it actually is! These lasers can help target rosacea, broken capillaries, and hyperpigmentation. Pulsed dye lasers use yellow light which is safe for the skin, and one of the more common PDL’s is the Candela V-Beam.
Have you tried any laser facials yet? Let us know what you thought about the experience on Instagram!