Update on face brown spot removal with laser therapy

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

So I went for my third appointment. My sunspots are doing much better.... just one on my left cheek that is not responding as I would like.

Now, I had a very light case of sun damage and brown spots. It just bothered me. She has zapped all the areas and most of the redness and tiny spots are cleared up.

If the one area on cheek does not go away in a couple weeks after this last treatment, I might see about using a laser used to remove tattoos. It might work better and is what the doctor suggested.

Maybe I will just leave it be. The brown spot is lighter...and easy to cover....but it just bugs Me🙂😄

i am also using skin skin cream for lightening spots that is prescription. It also has helped a lot between treatments.

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

@SeaMaiden ,

What kind of laser are they using? When I had a brown spot removed they used a CO2 laser. Fraxel (fractional) lasers don't work...spots come back.

phoenixbrd · ‎03-27-2010

What is the difference between the laser they are using now and the one they use for tattoos, Why wouldn't they use the same laser? Is there any pain involved in this process? Sounds as if you are getting pretty good results would you do it again?

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

@SilleeMee wrote:
@SeaMaiden ,
What kind of laser are they using? When I had a brown spot removed they used a CO2 laser. Fraxel (fractional) lasers don't work...spots come back.

@SilleeMee I think it was IPL laser

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

@phoenixbrd wrote:
What is the difference between the laser they are using now and the one they use for tattoos, Why wouldn't they use the same laser? Is there any pain involved in this process? Sounds as if you are getting pretty good results would you do it again?

@phoenixbrd I am all new to this. I believe some lasers go deeper into the skin... stronger, but also more side effects...down time.

I have never ever gone to a dermatologist in my life before this time to correct the spots. I have never had any skin problems beside a pimple when a teen. I might get brave and some time try fillers. Thinking about that. Pretty expensive!

phoenixbrd · ‎03-27-2010

Thanks @SeaMaiden I was just doing some research to find out more myself about laser. This clarified some questions I had and might be of interest to others:

What is the difference between Fraxel and IPL? ... Fraxel has a dual setting. One setting treats superficial photodamage such as age spots while the other can address deeper concerns such as fine wrinkling or scarring from acne or surgery. Intense pulsed light (IPL) is not a true laser.

What is the difference between Fraxel and co2 laser?

The main difference between these two lasers is that the Fraxel laser is non-ablative, while the Fractional CO2 laser ablates the skin's surface as it delivers its energy. Ablative fractional resurfacing treatments, such as the Fractional CO2 laser, usually require only one treatment.

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

A personal friend of mine is a laser specialist who works for a group of dermatologists. My friend told me that Fractional lasers (non-ablative CO2) are a waste of time and bring only very temporary results because fractional laser light is minimal and designed to treat very minor and superficial skin imperfections, such as fine lines and some very faint discolorations. Fractional lasers mostly heat things up and may induce collagen that way. But fractional lasers don't destroy cells by zapping them because their light energy is too weak....mostly too weak to eliminate brown spots effectively.

She also mentioned IPL(not a laser)...that is is far less effective at doing much...much less effective than Fraxel. BTW...Fraxel is a brand name for a fractional type laser which is a type of non-ablative CO2 device.

Most effective lasers are ablative CO2 and YAG types.

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

@SilleeMee wrote:
A personal friend of mine is a laser specialist who works for a group of dermatologists. My friend told me that Fractional lasers (non-ablative CO2) are a waste of time and bring only very temporary results because fractional laser light is minimal and designed to treat very minor and superficial skin imperfections, such as fine lines and some very faint discolorations. Fractional lasers mostly heat things up and may induce collagen that way. But fractional lasers don't destroy cells by zapping them because their light energy is too weak....mostly too weak to eliminate brown spots effectively.

She also mentioned IPL(not a laser)...that is is far less effective at doing much...much less effective than Fraxel. BTW...Fraxel is a brand name for a fractional type laser which is a type of non-ablative CO2 device.

Most effective lasers are ablative CO2 and YAG types.

@SilleeMee Thanks for your post. Most interesting! 🧐🤔