Everything You Need to Know About Erbium Laser Resurfacing
Laser treatments can be an ideal alternative for treating hyperpigmentation, sun damage, and fine lines.
One type of laser treatment that treats everything from acne scars to sun damage is Erbium laser resurfacing,
What Is Erbium Laser Resurfacing?
Erbium laser resurfacing removes superficial to moderate lines on the face, hands, neck, and chest. The Erbium laser results in a narrower area of heating of adjacent tissues compared with other laser skin-resurfacing methods. This results in a more focused removal of old skin cell layers and means that the benefit of Erbium laser resurfacing is minimal trauma to surrounding tissue and fewer side effects such as swelling, bruising, and redness, so the recovery time should be faster than with CO2 laser resurfacing.
Benefits of Erbium Laser Resurfacing
Helps reverse sun damage
Treats fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation
Requires no downtime
Softens acne scars and marks
How to Prepare for Erbium Laser Resurfacing
For starters, arrive at your appointment with clean skin. Secondly, you'll want to avoid heavy sun exposure and deep facial peels for at least four weeks before treatment. This includes chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and other laser resurfacing options. Finally, for specific guidance, speak with us about topical treatments like retinol, glycolic acid, and vitamin C before treatment.
Are You a Candidate for Erbium Laser Resurfacing?
To find the right laser option for your skincare concerns, consult with us, especially if you have a deeper skin tone because Erbium laser resurfacing is less risky for lighter skin tones. For some skin tones Erbium laser resurfacing can be a good option, posing less risk for discolouration compared to some resurfacing lasers. Patients with darker brown skin may need to consider other skin resurfacing options, such microneedling.
Things to Consider When Choosing Er:Yag Resurfacing
People who are prone to cold sores or fever blisters should proceed with caution as laser treatments can cause breakouts. In addition, acne medications containing isotretinoin, such as Accutane, can impact healing from laser resurfacing. Smokers should pause the habit at least two weeks before the procedure to make sure they fully heal from the laser treatment,
When Is the Best Time to Get Erbium Laser Resurfacing?
The fall/winter is considered "laser season" because there is less chance of sun exposure after the treatment.
What to Expect During Erbium Laser Resurfacing
Before the treatment begins, the skin is cleansed and numbed with a topical anesthetic. Depending on the area(s) treated, the appointment can take between 30 and 45 minutes (for isolated facial treatments) and up to two hours for full-face treatments. After the treatment is complete, cool compresses are applied to the treatment sites for a full 24 hours. Following treatment, you won't be able to get back to your normal skincare routine.
Instead, you will be cleansing your skin two times daily with a gentle cleanser, depending on our recommendation, and that will be followed up with an emollient ointment like Biogel or Vaseline to keep skin moist and prevent scabbing. There will be some redness and mild swelling for about one to three days, followed by a few days of skin flaking for another two to three days. Usually the total recovery/healing on average takes about ten days, depending on strength of the treatment.
How Many Resurfacing Treatments Are Needed to See Results?
Results will vary from person to person. Usually, significant results are seen after even one treatment, but depending on the desired results, some may need several treatments and can be repeated every 4-8 weeks.
Fractional Skin ResurfacingPotential Side Effects
With any cosmetic procedure, there are potential side effects. For this procedure in particular, if you have cold sores or smoke, you will want to take special care. Tell us if you get cold sores on the face. Laser resurfacing can trigger outbreaks, so you will need an antiviral medication from your GP to take before and after the procedure. If you smoke, you should stop at least two weeks before the procedure to improve healing. You may also be instructed to stop taking medications or supplements that can increase bleeding, like aspirin, ibuprofen, and vitamin E.
Final Thoughts
If you're ready to treat skin concerns that your skincare routine cannot address, talk with us about Erbium laser resurfacing. They will help you decide whether the treatment is right for you.
