Laser treatment
An umbrella term for treatments that use a specific wavelength of light to destroy one target — pigment, vessels — and little else.
- Treatment time
- 15–30 min
- Downtime
- 0–3 days
- Sessions
- 3–10 sessions
How it works
Pigment, blood vessels and water each absorb different wavelengths of light. Choosing the wavelength that matches the target means that target heats and breaks down while surrounding tissue is relatively spared. This is why melasma, redness and pores are treated with different machines, not one laser.
Used for
- Melasma, freckles and other pigment
- Redness and visible capillaries
- Enlarged pores and shallow scarring
Cautions
- A course of several sessions is the norm, not one visit
- Skipping sun protection afterwards brings the pigment back
- Melasma can darken if handled wrongly — diagnosis matters
Aftercare
- Apply sunscreen diligently for at least two weeks
- Do not pick at any crusting
- Pause exfoliants and retinol for a few days
General information only; it does not replace medical diagnosis or advice.