Laser light therapy is used for a few main reasons. The laser therapy can be used to treat and reduce active inflammatory acne, as well as help smooth out acne scars. It can be used to treat fine lines and wrinkles, and is also used for unwanted hair removal. Each of these laser light therapies is unique in its own specific way, but each also carries some very common traits.
Your specialist may ask that you avoid tanning beds, sunbathing, waxing or applying chemical agents to the skin two weeks before treatment. Depending on the treatment site, you may also be asked to avoid wearing perfume, deodorants or any products that could irritate the skin before or after treatment. Additionally, you will need to avoid herbal supplements, anti-inflammatory drugs and aspirin, as this will reduce your risk of bleeding.
Generally, the laser light therapy for acne, fine lines and wrinkles and for laser hair removal lasts about 15 minutes per session. The truth of the matter is, however, whether you are having laser light treatment for acne, acne scars, fine lines and wrinkles, or hair loss, you will have at least a few follow up laser light treatments. For acne treatments, studies have shown that with each additional session the amount of acne is reduced, but by the time the third or fourth procedure is performed, most laser light therapy for acne patients notice 70% or more improvement to their acne (and even note that the tone and texture of their skin has improved).
Fine lines and wrinkles aren't always specifically helped with laser light therapy; however, laser light therapy does have the ability to provide tightness in the skin, which reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Roughly six sessions of laser hair removal is necessary because the hair has 3 stages of growth. To obtain the permanent reduction of the unwanted hair, these follow up sessions are necessary.
Laser light therapy is used for many reasons, not just the ones mentioned. Most all treatments require follow up sessions to complete the treatments successfully. The side effects are simply redness to the area and mild tenderness that can be treated with over-the-counter analgesics. Your recovery will vary depending on the type of procedure rendered. If the laser treatment is ablative, you may need to stay at home for a few days to allow for healing and to reduce the chance of infection. If the procedure is non-ablative, it is likely you will need no downtime and can return to your normal, daily activities soon after the procedure.
