Posted on November 27, 2018 by Paul A. Boulos Even though laser skin rejuvenation is most known for treating fine lines and wrinkles, it’s used to treat a number of other skin conditions as well. People of all ages, even children, have undergone laser treatments, and the age at which you might want to start considering it depends highly on what’s being treated.
When we’re younger, our skin tends to bounce back faster after laser treatments, so there’s no need to wait. Here’s a look at some common skin conditions treated by laser skin rejuvenation and the ages that people tend to seek out treatments.
Birthmarks
While many birthmarks are adorable, some are thought to be too large, or occur in an odd place. It’s not uncommon for people to seek out laser treatments to get rid of a birthmark, especially one that is highly visible. The neck and face are the most popular areas treated for unwanted birthmarks and laser skin rejuvenation is done on children as young as two years old. There’s certainly no rush to get a child under a laser as soon as possible, but the birthmark will be harder to remove once they’re adults.
Acne Scarring
Even though people experience acne at all ages, most see it start to develop in their teenage years. For those who suffer from severe acne and acne scarring, laser skin rejuvenation is often the only solution. These laser treatments are able to treat both atrophic and hypertrophic that are known to leave the skin’s surface uneven and irritated. This includes:
- Ice-Pick Acne Scars: deep, narrow, pitted scars
- Rolling Acne Scars: uneven wave-like dips on the skin’s surface
- Boxcar Acne Scars: wide circular or boxy cavities with steep vertical sides
- Hypertrophic Scars: rough, uneven bumps on the skin’s surface
If you have the type of skin that experiences acne scarring, it’s best to start laser skin rejuvenation as soon as possible. The younger you are, the easier it will be for your skin to heal properly and prevent future scarring.
Skin Discoloration
There are several types of skin discoloration that can be treated with laser skin rejuvenation. Port-wine stains, for example, are large pinkish marks that appear on the skin of newborn babies. While they’re usually harmless, they will continue to get darker as the child gets older. For this reason, parents will sometimes opt to have them treated at an early age, especially if the mark is on the child’s face. This is one example of laser skin rejuvenation being used at infancy. Other kinds of skin discoloration can be eliminated using lasers as well, such as hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and rosacea. Like with any other skin condition, the sooner it is treated the better your results will be, but skin discoloration can be lasered away at any age.
Fine Lines and Wrinkles
The first signs of aging are usually age spots, slight loss of skin elasticity, and fine lines. While these are often considered to be no big deal, it’s much easier to prevent wrinkles when you’re ahead of the game. Our bodies naturally slow down the production of collagen in our thirties and eventually stop producing it altogether. It’s around this time that people will begin to use anti-aging products such as retinol creams. Doing so will help to boost collagen production, so when there comes a time that the creams stop working and you’re considering laser skin rejuvenation, you’ll be a few steps ahead. If you spend a lot of time outdoors in the sun, you might find that you need laser skin rejuvenation as early as in your twenties. It really varies from person to person. However, waiting until you’re in your sixties is not recommended. Youthful skin heals faster and will be able to hang on to the results for years to come.
How Laser Skin Rejuvenation Works
Using non-ablative lasers, damaged skin cells are targeted during laser skin rejuvenation treatments. Newer technology allows the laser to do this without causing damage to the skin’s surface, making it preferable among other procedures that promise similar results. The laser creates microscopic wounds that cause the body’s natural healing system to kick in. Damaged skin cells are eliminated as the body produces new cells to replace them. These new skin cells are without the imperfections you’re trying to get rid of, leaving the skin looking smooth and flawless. This process also allows the body to produce a burst of collagen that will repair fine lines and wrinkles, and give your skin back some of its natural elasticity.
Since laser skin rejuvenation can be done without affecting the skin’s surface, patients require little or no downtime after each laser session. Most people are able to get right back into their normal routine and experience little or no side effects.
Want to see how it’s done? Watch this video that shows exactly how laser skin rejuvenation treatments are performed:
