When one thinks of laser treatments within a modern context, their aesthetic qualities are the first to stand out. There are many companies around the world today who harness the power of lasers to provide their clients with a youthful, rejuvenated look. The laser’s ability to target and reduce wrinkle lines or help firm up skin has long been the primary selling point of laser treatments and has resulted in a booming industry.
However, lasers also have a major impact on people’s lives through their ability to assist in medical care. As a leading somatology and aesthetic clinic in South Africa, we at NuSkinnovation are aware of the incredible capabilities of lasers. We are passionate about providing our clients with a suite of services that not only caters to their beauty needs, but also to their health, providing many with a solution to combat problematic skin conditions while giving them a confidence boost.
In this article, we’ll be highlighting the ability of laser treatments to help treat medical and skin conditions. We will evaluate some of the most widespread medical conditions and review the ways in which lasers can assist in lessening or even cure them.
We, at NuSkinnovation, are proud of the work we do and the clients we help. We hope that if you are struggling with any of the conditions covered below, and are looking for ways to combat them, that this article encourages you to contact us today to book a free consultation.
How Laser Treatments Help Treat Rosacea And Redness
One of the most common skin conditions that laser treatments can assist with is skin redness, also known as rosacea. The characteristic redness that defines rosacea is caused by the expansion of blood vessels just under the skin. The enlarging vessels move closer to these surfaces, therefore making them more visible, resulting in the red colouration.
In severe cases, rosacea can also result in bumps on the skin. Although rosacea can appear anywhere on the body, generally an individual’s face will be the most impacted. With common spots like the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead often showing bright redness.
The triggers of rosacea are numerous, and although there is a genetic component, external factors can cause a flare up at any time. Some of the more prominent influences that may even be causing your rosacea include anything from prolonged sun exposure to hot drinks, spicy food, alcohol, and stress. A combination of these factors allows for further blood vessel expansion and can cause prolonged periods of rosacea.
How Vascular Lasers Can Help
As any laser clinic can attest to, laser treatments are particularly well suited to combating the symptoms of rosacea. With a professional NuSkinnovation technician evaluating your skin and setting up a unique laser treatment schedule for you, we are confident in our ability to help significantly reduce redness.
When treating a client with rosacea, we will most commonly make use of laser devices that emit focused light. This may include Nd:YAG lasers or Intense Pulsed Light Therapy (IPL), which emit a light that is absorbed by red pigment in the blood (more commonly known as hemoglobin). As the hemoglobin absorbs the light, it will begin to heat up the overactive blood vessels in the targeted area. The heat will cause these broken blood vessels to collapse in on themselves, being reabsorbed back into the body. In this way we are able to effectively reduce the redness in that bodily area.
Treatment Outcomes
It is always important to manage one’s expectations when receiving aesthetic services, as there are several components which can impact the effectiveness of treatment, from a person’s skin colour to the intensity of the treatment. However, as mentioned above, lasers are a leading device in dealing with rosacea, due to their ability to tackle the root of the problem.
Most clients report noticeable differences in their skin’s clarity and significant reduction in skin redness. With enough laser treatments, the results are often long term and can have lasting improvements. The most important outcome you can expect from your treatment is a reduction in redness, caused by the blood vessels being less visible under the skin. There are added benefits as well, with overall skin health appearing both smoother and healthier. For us at NuSkinnovation, the most important benefit is boosting your self-confidence and making you feel more comfortable in your skin.
How Laser Treatments Help Treat Nail Fungus
While not commonly mentioned when discussing the use of modern laser techniques, there have been reports of laser treatments effectively combating nail fungus infections.
Although discussing nail fungus may seem off-putting, it is important to remember that it is a very real issue for many. Nail fungus, also known by its medical name onychomycosis, is a common infection that is most often caused by one of three dominant fungus types that feed on the keratin found in nails, either: Dermatophytes, Yeasts, or Non-Dermatophytes. Dermatophytes are the most common cause.
The tell-tale characteristic of onychomycosis is represented by the nail becoming thick, discoloured with either a white, yellow or brown tinge (depending on the severity). If left untreated, the nail itself will become brittle and can lead to it falling out of the nail bed. There is also often an odour that is emitted as well. It is interesting to note here that often, cases of toenail infections far outweigh those of fingernails, as shoes create the perfect environment for fungi to thrive in.
Topical And Oral Fungus VS Laser Treatments
As one may expect, laser treatments are not the most prominent way of dealing with an onychomycosis infection. Although laser treatments results have been positive, it is a rather modern way of treating the condition. More traditional methods include the use of topical medications (usually creams) or by taking anti-fungal medication. Each of these treatments have their own positives and negatives. Let us examine them here briefly:
Laser Treatments: Similarly, to treating rosacea, by using a laser to emit targeted light into the fungal cells, which naturally absorb the light and convert it into heat, the laser can break down the fungal cells, thus killing the inflection. On one hand, laser treatments are non-invasive and painless, but they are also more costly and will require several sessions.
Topical Treatments: Most people know that when they have a fungal infection to use a topical cream (generally using a product that contains the active ingredient ciclopirox or efinaconazole). This traditional method works by smothering and stopping the fungal growth on a surface level. Although this treatment method is relatively cheap compared to the others and is easy to apply, it is only so effective. Treatment times can last months and may not be effective in treating moderate to severe cases of onychomycosis.
Oral Antifungal Medications: In an almost antithetical take to topical treatments, oral anti-fungal medications like Terbinafine (commonly known as Lamisil) are taken in through the blood stream and target the infection from inside rather than on a surface level. Treatment times are shorter than topical options, lasting a couple of weeks, and this option is also a lot better at dealing with deep infections. However, before taking the oral medication, it is important to consult a physician and discuss the possible side effects of the medication, which may include live or gastrointestinal issues.
How Laser Treatments Help Treat Acne Scarring
One of the most common skin conditions that laser treatments have been known to treat is acne scarring. Acne affects most people to some degree, especially if you’re going through hormonal changes. Acne scarring occurs when acne blemishes become inflamed, causing scars to develop in their place. This scarring can also be exacerbated by picking at or popping active acne blemishes.
A whopping 95 percent of people with acne are likely to experience some form of acne scarring, which is why treatment for the removal of these scars is so sought after. While laser treatment may not be able to fully remove all scarring on the skin caused by acne, it can significantly the appearance of acne scars and any pain caused by them.
How Acne Scarring Laser Treatments Work
When it comes to treating acne scars, there are two main ways that laser treatments are used to treat the scarring. When the laser targets the scarred skin tissue, it removes the top layer of the skin containing, which peels the scarring off and reveals smoother, more rejuvenated skin. As a layer of the scarred tissue has been removed, the acne scarring should appear less noticeable and smoother.
Following this, the removal of the top layer of skin promotes the growth of new, healthy skin cells. Overall, inflammation is reduced as blood is drawn to the heated area created by the laser. By removing the surface skin layer and treating the blood vessels of the targeted area, acne scars appear smaller, less raised on the skin and with far less redness.
Types Of Lasers Used For Acne Scarring
Depending on the type of acne scarring you have, specific lasers will be used to treat your skin. These different laser devices work to target the specific level of scarring you may have without causing additional damage to the skin.
Ablative Lasers: Carbon dioxide CO2 or Erbium lasers are used for ablative laser treatment and these lasers work by removing the top layer of your skin where you have scarring. As these types of lasers are more intensive, redness and swelling may take 3 to 10 days to fully subside.
Non-Ablative Lasers: Unlike ablative lasers, non-ablative systems use infrared lasers to promote the production of collagen and new skin cells in place of the damaged scar tissue on the skin.
Experience The Healing Benefits Of Laser Treatments With NuSkinnovation
In this article, we have looked at ways in which laser treatments can help effectively combat some medical skin conditions. From mild rosacea to uncomfortable nail fungus, the power of laser treatments truly knows no bounds.
If you are struggling with a skin condition and want to find the most effective way to combat it discreetly and with proven results, don’t hesitate to visit our website today to find effective laser treatments suited to your skin. We have branches all over South Africa and are more than happy to help you with any of your aesthetic or medical laser needs.