Treatment of sun damage with laser

Ronald Shelton, MD answers: Laser resurfacing as a preventative cosmetic procedure?

Does laser (CO2) resurfacing have any benefit in the removal of sun damage that is not yet apparent? It obviously has great potential in improving evident pigmentation problems, but what about deeper spots that have not yet manifested themselves on the skin's surface?


Ronald Shelton, MD
4 months ago
By Ronald Shelton, MD - Manhattan Dermatologist

It very well might help in this regard but the risk of Carbon dioxide laser treatment (not fractional CO2) may not be warranted if there is not enough sun damage to see clearly. The risks include scarring and long term redness and thinning and whitening of the skin. Fractional laser resurfacing such as Fraxel Re:store and Re:pair have less risk than the older CO2 laser resurfacing and also may help reduce photodamage. Keep in mind that any laser resurfacing has a risk of post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or in other words, your pigment may get darker as you heal in the first few months after treatment.

Web reference: http://www.thenyac.com
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More answers to “Laser resurfacing as a preventative cosmetic procedure?”

A: Sun spot prevention

Steven Wallach, MD
4 months ago
By Steven Wallach, MD - Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

The best preventative measure to keep healthy skin is to avoid th sun and wear sun block. You should also not smoke.  Other than that, I would not use lasers prophylactically.

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