There is no 'Best' laser for skin resurfacing

Michael J. Brown, MD answers: What's the best laser for skin resurfacing?

My dermatologist offers a laser treatment for skin "resurfacing" which is different from the laser at my favorite medispa. Are all lasers the same? How do I make sure they use the right one?


Michael J. Brown, MD
12 months ago

Skin resurfacing implies that you want to have the outer most layers removed to expose the immature layers of the skin. The older outer skin is removed and the immature skin grows and heals the skin leaving fresher looking younger skin.

No single company has the best laser. The types of lasers that will resurface the skin are the Carbon Dioxide (CO2) or Erbium lasers. These are lasers that can precisely control the depth of skin removal. They will work the best. The more aggressive you are the deeper the laser will penetrate and more skin layers will be removed. The deeper you go, the longer the recovery, the more risk of permanent complications in the skin. So be very careful in your decisions about lasers and how deep you want to be treated.

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