Lasers are used to treat various conditions and concerns ranging from acne scarring to rosacea and laser hair removal. Read below to learn more about some of the most popular laser procedures we offer at the Cumberland Laser Clinic.

Acne Scarring

Unsightly scars from acne are no longer something you have to live with. Scars are treated with the Fraxel® laser, which is now the gold standard for acne scarring. This “fractional” treatment targets between 20% - 25% of the skin at a time, thus facilitating a faster healing time. The laser produces thousands of tiny, deep columns into the skin, eliminating old epidermal pigmented cells. If needed, fillers such as Juvéderm®, Restylane®, Perlane® and Teosyal help to restore fullness to the scarred areas.

Facial Veins

Telangiectasias or facial veins, are very fine, superficial veins that have become permanently dilated and visible. They can appear on the nose, chin or cheek area. Facial veins can be successfully treated with the VersaPulse® laser. This laser works by delivering a gentle burst of yellow or green light to the skin. The light is specifically absorbed by the blood vessels in the dermis. These blood vessels are coagulated and then reabsorbed by the body during the natural healing process. Side effects may include redness, tenderness and swelling in the treated area. These are transient and usually do not last more than a few days.

Rosacea

Rosacea is a common skin disease that affects the face. It is characterized as redness that comes and goes on the cheeks, nose, chin and forehead. It can also appear to be a persistent redness that looks like a blush. Many people with rosacea also get pimples and small visible veins (telangiectasia) on their nose and cheeks. There are certain “triggers” that can make rosacea worse, including the sun, extreme heat or cold, spicy foods, hot drinks, alcoholic beverages, strenuous exercise and stress.

Rosacea can be treated and controlled, and the sooner, the better. This condition generally gets worse if it goes untreated, causing more redness, more pimples and more visible veins. Rosacea is treated in our office with the BBL™ (Broadband Light) laser, often in conjunction with ALA (AminoLevulinic Acid). The BBL™ laser is a pulsed light laser that works by delivering photothermal energy to the skin. The light is specifically absorbed by the blood vessels in the dermis. These blood vessels are coagulated and then reabsorbed by the body during the natural healing process. ALA targets the blood vessels, therefore making the laser treatment more effective. ALA is applied to the face and left on for 1 hour, before being washed off. Then these areas of the face are lasered with the BBL™. The ALA makes your skin sensitive to sunlight and bright indoor light, therefore you are required to stay indoors for a full 24 hours after the procedure.

Sun & Age Spots

Years of sun exposure with little or no protection can lead to unattractive brown spots on the face, neck, chest and hands. Laser treatments include the VPC laser, BBL™, UltraPulse® C0₂ laser and Sciton® laser. The VPC laser targets the brown pigment in the skin, leaving the brown spots even darker right after the procedure. The spots will then dry up and flake off over the course of about a week. With the C0₂ and Sciton® lasers, the area will be slightly pink, and during the natural healing process will return to skin colour.

The C0₂ and Sciton® lasers ablate deeper into the epidermis, removing the brown spots. These spots will be quite red and raw and require post-treatment doses of an antibiotic ointment (such as Polysporin). After the redness subsides, some pigment may still be present. It will gradually lighten over the next month. It is very important to avoid direct sun exposure within 8 weeks of treatment. A sunscreen with a high protective rating should be used to prevent recurrence.

Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is an effective, safe way to remove unwanted hair from the face, abdomen, legs, breasts, underarms, back, bikini and arms. The LightSheer™ diode laser is a state-of-the-art system specially designed to remove hair faster with less discomfort and more reliably than other methods. The laser requires that the hair have colour, therefore blonde, grey and white hairs will not be affected. Dark, coarse hair with lighter skin is the best combination for treatment with the LightSheer™ diode.

The laser produces a beam of highly concentrated light, which is well absorbed by the pigment located in the hair follicles. During the procedure, the laser pulses for a fraction of a second, long enough to heat up the hair and significantly impede the follicles ability to re-grow. This process treats numerous hairs at the same time, making the LightSheer™ diode appropriate for treating even the largest areas of the body. Side effects can include redness and swelling around the hair follicle. Most people require a minimum of 4 – 6 treatments per area.

Tattoo Removal

Professional and amateur tattoos can be removed by laser using the Q-Switched Yag and Alexandrite lasers. The laser emits light in very short flashes of light called pulses. The energy from the pulse of light is rapidly absorbed by the ink, causing the tattoo ink to destruct, where it is then removed by the body’s natural filtering systems.

Red, black and dark blue inks fade best, followed by orange and purple inks. Green and yellow inks are the most difficult to remove, although additional treatments can produce significant fading. The average number of treatments for tattoo removal is 8 – 10, although it depends on the amount and type of ink used and the depth of the ink in the skin. Pinpoint bleeding immediately after the procedure is normal and a dressing will be applied to the area. Treatments are performed every 8 weeks.