I Asked So You Don't Have To
Questions for Skin and Beauty Expert: Nilam Holmes
There’s so many lasers popping up- help us choose the top 5, and rate the pain/expenses of each.
There are new aesthetic laser devices being developed constantly and choosing the right lasers for you can become overwhelming and confusing. There are so many devices used to treat anti aging and a whole variety of skin concerns, that are bundled into the category of lasers from LED light to radiofrequency to IPL. Technically some of them aren’t actually lasers, so it is more correct to call these “energy devices”
When choosing a laser treatment, safety is the most important consideration. You need to opt for a skilled and experienced practitioner who uses registered and approved devices manufactured by reputable companies.
Different energies and wavelengths do different things and some lasers can treat multiple concerns at the same time. So to make it a bit easier I have listed the most popular and my top 5 energy based treatments
One of the most requested treatments is reduction of sun damage and redness. I choose IPL (intense pulse light laser) to treat this pigmentation, vascular Lesions. IPL has the added bonus of skin rejuvenation– my favorite ipl laser for this is the Inmode Lumecca. Bear in mind these are limited to skin types FPI-III. The treatment feels a little warm and snappy but is not painful. (2/10) approximately 250 per session with 1-6 sessions usually required. The treatment has a little downtime where pigment and veins can look darker for approx a week but make up can be worn.
So many people want to reduce fine lines, wrinkles and improve general skin texture. Ablative (meaning damaging the surface of the skin ) skin resurfacing is becoming more and more popular with clients who don’t mind a little downtime. The Alma Hybrid Co2 laser is an excellent technology that creates a series of controlled surface burns that then form a light crust that sheds between 7-14 days. This treatment can be painful but often only requires local anesthetic and clients can experience different degrees of swelling and scabbing afterwards depending on the strength of treatment performed (5-9/10). Usually 1-3 treatments a year are advised depending on the skin, clients' concern and strength of treatment performed.
Everyone wants lifting and tightening nowadays and where lasers are great for skin texture and clarity I prefer Fractional Radio which is where Radio Frequency energy is delivered into the skin at different depths via needles. The best devices to choose from are the Morpheus8 but clients find this quite painful (7+/10) and the Btl FRF which clients seem to find less painful and just as effective (3/10)
For acne of all grades the Alma Harmony XL Pro Clear Skin is an erbium glass laser that works on the sebaceous glands helping to balance oil production. It also helps to kill bacteria within the skin. It is the best for this because it can be used to clear active acne as well as helping to improve acne scarring.
Non ablative Radio Frequency is excellent for tightening the skin whilst keeping the surface skin intact. This is a super popular treatment because it is a really quite pleasant warming sensation and has no downtime. My favorite device is the Collagenwave (UK only). The BTL exion combines rf with ultrasound which helps to boost hyaluronic acid production within the skin by 224 percent.
BONUS: When it comes to laser hair removal the Soprano Titanium Hair Removal laser combines 3 different wavelengths making it the most powerful laser on the market. It is super fast and has an excellent cooling mechanism which means it can be used on any skin type including black skin.
