Laser resurfacing can be used to treat a number of skin conditions. Dermatologists often use it to get rid of pigmentation caused by sun exposure or to treat fine lines and wrinkles. Laser can also be used to treat acne and to get rid of scars that haven’t responded to creams or other less-invasive treatments. Only a doctor can determine if you’re the right candidate for laser resurfacing. However, there are pros and cons to the procedure that you should keep in mind before making a decision.
Pros
Laser resurfacing has no down time. This means you don’t need to stay in the hospital or take days off work after the procedure. Because there’s no cutting and no blood loss involved, laser resurfacing is safer than surgeries and other skin procedures. Another big pro of laser resurfacing is that it get rid of old skin and allows for new, smoother skin to appear. This means all imperfections, such as roughness, dark spots, lines and even acne scars, can be erased.
Cons
While there’s no burning or deep peeling of the skin during a laser resurfacing procedure, your skin will still look red and irritated. This can last for several weeks. In most cases, it can be covered with makeup, but in some people, it can be noticeable enough that it’s impossible to hide. Scarring, dryness and infections, although rare, are possible.
Another possible problem might be discoloration, especially if you have dark skin. This means that the skin treated with laser will end up being a lighter, pinker color than the rest of your face. To avoid this, most doctors recommend staying away from the sun for a few weeks before treatment, so they can adjust the intensity of the laser to your true skin color.
