Peel Away Your Skin Concerns-Dayton Skin
Imagine you could take all your skin concerns—hyperpigmentation, acne scars, dullness, fine lines—and peel them all away to reveal a new layer of glowing, healthy skin. That’s essentially what Fractional lasers do. This is why the on-the-rise treatment has become a solution for people serious about blasting away imperfections for good.
It can be intimidating to undergo a procedure like this so we went to Dr. Hickmann, a board-certified physician at Dayton Skin, to help you understand everything you need to know before trying the Fractional Laser.
How do Fractional lasers work?
At Dayton Skin we use the QuadralLASE fractional therapy CO2 laser. This is an in-office procedure that rejuvenates the skin by delivering tiny dots of laser light in a unique QuadraSCAN pattern. This pattern helps reduce heat buildup in the skin during treatment. The result is fast, more comfortable, and requires less downtime than traditional resurfacing. Fractional means that only a fraction of the skin surface is exposed to the laser beam–enabling you to get back to your lifestyle sooner.
What do Fractional lasers treat?
Most patients come into the office seeking fractional laser treatments for three reasons: hyperpigmentation or sun damage, wrinkles, and scarring (acne, surgical, injury, burn). The most popular areas on the body or treatment are the face, neck, and chest. Dr. Hickman says, “ the CO2 resurfacing laser revitalizes the skin leaving it smoother, brighter, and the overall tone, texture, and color will be more healthy and radiant. The treatment allows the body to start producing collagen which helps keep the skin tight, firm, and vibrant. The results are phenomenal!”
For acne scars, in particular, lasers work so well because the laser can go deep under the skin’s surface. Being able to go deep allows the laser to really break up the scar tissue that is clouding the textural difference, whereas creams and other topical solutions wouldn’t be able to.
How do you prepare for a laser treatment?
First, make sure you don’t have extensive breakouts, open wounds, or infections on the face. Stop using products with retinoids one week before your treatment. On the actual day of, you’ll be topically numbed for 45 minutes, and the procedure itself takes 20 to 30 minutes depending on where you’re getting treated.
What should we expect on the day of treatment?
Fractional CO2 laser is an in-office procedure. Prior to treatment, patients may have topical anesthesia applied to the treatment area in order to minimize discomfort. Once the anesthetic cream has taken effect, treatment can begin. During treatment, we will use our cooling device to deliver cool air to the skin and maximize comfort. After treatment is complete, an ointment will be applied to the treatment area to moisturize the skin and aid in the healing process.
Downtime?
Yes, there is some downtime recommended after fractional CO2 resurfacing laser treatment. After treatment, your face will scab and peel as part of the resurfacing process. Dr. Hickmann recommends 3 to 5 days of downtime to allow the skin to heal. At your pre-treatment consultation, Dayton Skin Care staff will detail exactly what is to be expected before, during, and after laser treatment, so request a consultation online to learn more! REQUEST CONSULTATION or call 937-293-5567
What kind of aftercare is needed?
Immediately following the procedure you can expect a sensation similar to a sunburn, lasting several hours. Cooling soaks or a DIY compress of whole milk and ice water can be very soothing. Use gentle cleansers and moisturizers twice a day. Your skin will likely appear decreasingly pink and swollen for 3-14 days after your treatment. During this time you can expect peeling of dead skin from the treatment area—this is part of the natural exfoliation process and will last from 7-10 days, avoid picking and peeling.
Make sure to use ample amounts of sun protection. You’re also going to want to avoid any harsh products or prescription acne products on your skin for up to a week.
As for products, Dayton Skin Care recommends Alastin’s Gentle Cleanser twice a day. To help soothe the sensitive skin, Alastin’s Skin Nectar helps post-procedure skin with a combination of botanical extracts that helps produce new, healthy elastin and collagen. Its high antioxidant activity is designed to calm the skin and reduce the appearance of redness. Alastin comes through again with its Recovery Balm, a highly emollient formulation designed to moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin following rejuvenating cosmetic procedures. All products are available in the office and can be purchased after your procedure.
How many sessions should you do to see results?
“Treatments can be mild to aggressive,” Hickmann says, so it depends on what you are targeting. If it’s pigment, you will see results in one to two sessions. If you’re trying to get rid of wrinkles or acne scarring, it’s three to five sessions. For both acne and wrinkles, it’s recommended to space out sessions four weeks apart.
What should patients expect to pay?
Cost depends on the area being treated, the condition being treated, and the aggressiveness of the treatment. Dr. Hickmann and the staff at Dayton Skin can help you create a treatment plan to meet your personal needs.
Laser treatments have gained a lot of attention lately, especially in the celebrity world. From Drew Barrymore to Chelsea Handler celebrities and women all around the world are swearing by the rejuvenating effects.
So, if you are looking for a non-surgical solution laser treatments may be exactly what you need. Consult a board-certified physician at Dayton Skin Care to see if laser therapy is right for you!
