Vermillion border is fading and getting red. Will laser resurfacing help lighten? (Photo)

Question

Lower vermillion border is turning red from sun damage. Have seen a dermatologist and they determined it was cosmetic as they have applied different steroid and non steroid creams. Now I’m wondering if laser resurfacing would help lighten the redness underneath lip line. And what kind of laser should I use. Male in early thirties, light brown skin.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Fractional laser is an amazing and highly effective treatment in our office. We use the laser treatment to help with acne scars, large pores, fine wrinkles, tissue collagen loss, scars, sebaceous hyperplasia, active acne, and for brightening dark pigmentation. Although there are very strong fractional lasers such as CO2 laser, we use lighter treatments for corrective skincare and maintenance of results. Our Thulium fractional laser, clear and brilliant laser, and Ultra Thulium laser are excellent options in our clinic. We also perform CO2 fractional and erbium depending on skin tone and tolerance for downtime. Patients do have to use a Melarase cream before and after treatment to help further reduce pigmentation after laser.  Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads can seriously improve surface sun damage and UV related pigmentation. Dark spots can improve with these treatments. I recommend fractional laser for incisional scars as well, especially after plastic surgery.  
Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Anil R. Shah, MD · Answer

Hello HelloRey! My name is Jessica, I am a physician assistant, and one of the providers at Shah Facial Plastics. Based on the image and your concerns, I highly recommend trying a CO2 laser such as CoolPeel. CoolPeel is an excellent laser resurfacing treatment that targets the superficial layer of the skin, removing damaged skin and revealing healthier looking skin. This laser is used for skin rejuvenation, reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, minimizes pores, and improves skin texture. I highly recommend and hope this helps! Best of luck.

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

Laser treatments are increasingly becoming the preferred choice for treating sun-damaged lips due to their precision and effectiveness. The most commonly employed lasers for this purpose are ablative lasers such as the CO2 and erbium:YAG lasers. These lasers vaporize the damaged skin in a very controlled manner to allow for new skin to form in its place. Fractional lasers, which treat small fractions of the skin at a time, may also be used to reduce the healing time and the risk of complications. The benefits of laser treatments include their ability to target specific areas without causing significant damage to surrounding tissues. They also allow for a controlled healing process, which can lead to superior cosmetic results.

Vermillion border is fading and getting red. Will laser resurfacing help lighten? (Photo)

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Vermillion border is fading and getting red. Will laser resurfacing help lighten? (Photo)

Answers (3)

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Everything you need to know about Laser Resurfacing

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.