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  What is a laser facial?

It's a treatment that elevates the basic facial, providing a safe and effective means of stimulating collagen and evening skin tone. The laser and light facial provide the benefits that one might typically associate with going to a dermatologist but given in a more accessible setting.

There is no one single agreed-upon laser that's used for a laser facial. Non-ablative lasers are a resurfacing device that stimulates your collagen and improves the skin's appearance without damaging the surface. Ablative lasers, which are more aggressive and typically burn the skin, are not going to be associated with the word 'facial,' because a facial is implying gentleness and safety.

Then there are IPL devices, intense pulse light devices, what have also been called "photo facials." When people talk about what a photo facial is, it's a treatment with an IPL, or an intense pulse light device. That's now been expanded to include other layered treatments with other low energy, high impact, non-ablative resurfacing agents, such as an Nd:YAG laser.  When we refer to a laser and light facial, we are pairing an IPL treatment with a longer wavelength, collagen-stimulating Nd:YAG laser treatment.

Someone wouldn't come in for a laser treatment for hydration, because lasers in general are focusing on targeting structures in the skin like pigmentation, decreasing red and brown spots. These treatments can certainly provide suppleness to the skin but if someone has severely dry skin, I wouldn't recommend this as a direct treatment for dryness. Steps can be added to provide a hydration boost, but in general lasers are more focused on pores, wrinkles, texture, tone, and firming of the skin rather than hydration.

"Absolutely. You can alternate between them. You can have a laser facial one week or once a month, and then go for a more extraction-based facial at a traditional spa where the skin is steamed, and blackheads are expressed.

When you're going in for a facial, it's best to keep your skin as hydrated as possible. It is recommended to stop retinoids, like Retin-A, or Retinol, at least two weeks before the treatment  

In addition, treatments that contain glycolic acid or anything that might make your skin more flaky or more irritated than usual should be stopped a few days ahead of time. Laser You Lovely gives each client a visual exam before each treatment to make sure that someone's skin is intact and not irritated enough to be able to safely proceed with the laser treatment.

Laser facials really can provide great results to those looking for prevention, correction, those with sensitive skin and more acneic skin. I don't think that there's anyone that should stay away, but if the chart and photographs are reviewed and there are conditions like an active cold sore outbreak, or if there is a medication that's photosensitizing, or if there are clear areas where the skin is broken and inflamed, then it is advised to come back when either the patient or client is not on that medication, or when the cold sore is resolved, or when the skin barrier is intact. So, there are occasional times when a treatment either has to be deferred or declined, It's rare, but it's just something to be aware of.

If you are at all blemish prone, the Laser Facial could be excellent for you. It is deep pore cleansing, collagen-stimulating, and accelerates renewal, but we would skip the IPL treatment. For anyone with darker skin tones, we have to be very careful with IPL, intense pulse light because it's the energy in the settings and the number of passes that have to be modified in order to make sure we protect the amount of melanin that's in the skin. So, for the standard laser and light facial, we remove the IPL treatment so as to not overheat the epidermal melanin.

The beauty of the standard laser and light treatment is that you walk out looking better than when you walk in. Your skin looks dewy, it glows, it looks supple. The added hydration from the application of the products afterwards really makes any temporary or transient heat from the laser treatment diminish right away. Added sun protection for a few days and bumping up your hydrators and your SPF can be very helpful, but there's no specific products you have to use afterwards. Your skin is more amenable to the penetration of active ingredients after a laser treatment. So, it's a great time to focus on utilizing antioxidants and non-irritating anti-aging ingredients. Definitely avoid retinoids or glycolic acid for at least 48 hours afterwards.