Lasers and light devices are everywhere. They can be found in DVD and CD players, grocery store scanners and traffic lights, and are used in almost every area of medicine, including dermatology.
LASER is actually an acronym that stands for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation." Lasers amplify light by stimulating photons, storing them, and releasing them as a beam of light. Different lasers emit different wavelengths of light, allowing us to reach targeted layers of the dermis to treat specific areas of concern without damaging surrounding tissue. To be considered a laser, the light must have certain properties – for one thing, the beam of light must be one uniform color. Since not all of the devices that we call lasers meet these criteria, many fall under the broader category of light devices. Light devices use several colors of light and are not limited to one as lasers are.
Dermatologists have access to a wide variety of very powerful and specialized lasers and light devices, and most of these machines cost fifty to one hundred thousand dollars. Your derm can use lasers to remove tattoos, scars, sunspots and varicose veins, as well as to tighten sagging skin, stimulate collagen production, improve skin texture and dramatically reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks.
At this time, there are no lasers for home use for skin concerns. (I have seen one that claims to grow hair, but nothing for skin). There are many new home use light devices for hair, acne and wrinkles; however, home use light devices are simply not powerful enough or precise enough to offer the same efficacy you can get from a dermatologist. While you'll never get the same results that you can get in a doctor's office, some home devices do offer real benefits.
LASER is actually an acronym that stands for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation." Lasers amplify light by stimulating photons, storing them, and releasing them as a beam of light. Different lasers emit different wavelengths of light, allowing us to reach targeted layers of the dermis to treat specific areas of concern without damaging surrounding tissue. To be considered a laser, the light must have certain properties – for one thing, the beam of light must be one uniform color. Since not all of the devices that we call lasers meet these criteria, many fall under the broader category of light devices. Light devices use several colors of light and are not limited to one as lasers are.
Dermatologists have access to a wide variety of very powerful and specialized lasers and light devices, and most of these machines cost fifty to one hundred thousand dollars. Your derm can use lasers to remove tattoos, scars, sunspots and varicose veins, as well as to tighten sagging skin, stimulate collagen production, improve skin texture and dramatically reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks.
At this time, there are no lasers for home use for skin concerns. (I have seen one that claims to grow hair, but nothing for skin). There are many new home use light devices for hair, acne and wrinkles; however, home use light devices are simply not powerful enough or precise enough to offer the same efficacy you can get from a dermatologist. While you'll never get the same results that you can get in a doctor's office, some home devices do offer real benefits.
Over the past couple of years, a number of home hair removal systems – including Silk'n, Epila, Argos Rio and TRIA – have appeared on the market, with prices from less than $200 on eBay to nearly $800 at Bergdorf Goodman. While some of these devices do indeed remove some hair or slightly slow its growth, in my opinion they are not worth your money. I have read accounts in online message boards of users who tried some of the cheaper versions only to find that the devices didn't work, or worse, that the lasers zapped little holes in the skin and left tiny scabs and scars. The lasers used in dermatologist's office are much more effective for hair removal than these weak light devices.Even when they do work, home light devices are limited. For one thing, they can only be used by those with white or very light brown skin – those with darker skin could be left with nasty burns. Also for safety reasons, home lasers can't be used to treat hair on the face because the laser could damage the eyes. In contrast, professional lasers can be used anywhere on the body and many, such as the Cool Glide, can be used to treat those with dark brown complexions or even a tan – however, no laser can treat very blond or gray hair, as these hairs just don't contain enough melanin.
It's also worth noting that home devices won't last forever. If you read the manufacturers' descriptions of some of these devices, you'll find they are only designed with enough juice to treat the average-sized body for one full cycle (about six sessions). After that, you'll have to pay for costly replacement parts or even buy a whole new device.
My other huge concern about home devices is that people will try to use them to treat conditions they were never designed to treat. For example, I shudder to think what would happen if someone tried to remove their own tattoo! Some tattoos, such as those around the mouth, darker upon exposure to certain wavelengths of light. Your tattooed lip liner could end up black! These devices should never be kept anywhere they could be reached by children.
Incidentally, there are also "laser combs" that are designed to make hair grow instead of zapping it away – at least one of these has been approved by the FDA to treat hereditary male baldness. In my view, these products either don't work or offer such meager results as to be nearly useless.
This past June, Palomar, a respected manufacturer of professional cosmetic laser and light devices, was the first company to receive FDA approval for a home laser designed to treat periorbital wrinkles (also known as crow's feet). A similar device, Omnilux New-U, is already on the market and uses LED technology to minimize crow's feet and improve the tone and clarity of the skin. While it may be too soon to tell, I personally don't think these devices are powerful enough to have much effect on wrinkles. You're much better off putting your money toward professional treatments.
Professional lasers like the Pearl and Fraxel can dramatically improve the skin's texture and tone while smoothing out fine wrinkles and stimulating collagen production to help firm sagging skin. Though highly effective, these treatments are costly – about $1,500 for the Pearl and up to $3,000 for a package of three Fraxel sessions. Botox and Dysport can temporarily smooth wrinkles for $350 to $900.
Professional lasers like the Pearl and Fraxel can dramatically improve the skin's texture and tone while smoothing out fine wrinkles and stimulating collagen production to help firm sagging skin. Though highly effective, these treatments are costly – about $1,500 for the Pearl and up to $3,000 for a package of three Fraxel sessions. Botox and Dysport can temporarily smooth wrinkles for $350 to $900.
The one home light device I can recommend without reservation is Omnilux's Clear-U. This product has many imitators; ignore them and spring for the real thing (around $300). Clear–U is FDA-approved and works by alternately flooding the skin with red and blue light to reduce inflammation and kill pimple–causing bacteria in those with mild to moderate acne. After a four–to–eight week course of twice-weekly sessions, breakouts can be reduced by up to 70 percent. Keep in mind, though, that the device is not a cure–all–you should still consult a dermatologist, practice good hygiene and treat acne prone areas with a product containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. With the exception of the Clear-U, I give thumbs down to home laser and light devices. Maybe in the future the technology will improve, but for the time being, I say it's better to save your money or opt for professional treatment by a dermatologist.
Wishing you great skin!
Dr. Leslie Baumann
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