Are you constantly trying to hide skin imperfections with make-up, hairstyles, hats, etc.? Do you ever wish the photo apps and filters on your phone worked 24/7 in real life? Don’t despair, you’re not alone. According to a recent ASDS consumer survey, 73% of us are most bothered by our skin texture and/or pigment and 72% of us are disturbed by the lines and wrinkles under and around our eyes. The good news is that recent advances in laser resurfacing technologies have the ability to provide photoshop caliber results without major surgery.
The latest gamechanger, hybrid fractional resurfacing or Halo, takes that magic up a few more notches by providing radiant skin without the traditional downtime associated with its resurfacing predecessors. The Sciton Halo changes the idea that better results require more downtime or multiple treatments. Hybrid fractional resurfacing takes the best of both resurfacing worlds- fractional ablative and non-ablative and transforms dull, sun-damaged skin into luminous glowing skin minus the downtime and side effects of traditional resurfacing treatments.
Understanding the history of laser resurfacing treatments helps provide a better appreciation of what hybrid resurfacing can accomplish. Laser resurfacing can dramatically improve fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tone, pigment, and control acne. The concept of laser resurfacing is simple- specific wavelengths of light target the water in your skin, causing a controlled heat injury of sorts. Ablative resurfacing removes the top superficial skin layers (like a chemical peel, but deeper) and resembles a sunburn in terms of how it looks and heals. These were the first resurfacing treatments on the market, mostly CO2 and erbium treatments which provided great results but involved extensive social downtime. The more intense the treatment, the longer the recovery. This could mean wound care and dressing changes, and some not so pleasant side effects.
Fractional resurfacing (which can be either ablative or non-ablative) delivers light wavelengths in a scanned pattern, similar to how a lawn is aerated. Non-ablative resurfacing targets the deeper skin layers and does not break the skin, which means less downtime, but requires more treatments for the full effect and tends to be painful. (Fraxel is probably the best know treatment in this category.) Fractional ablative lasers remove microscopic columns of tissue (or treats a fraction of the skin), while leaving the surrounding skin intact, allowing for faster, less painful healing. In this case, the treated skin “bronzes”, and then flakes off in a few days. Fractional resurfacing took skin rejuvenation to a new level, as it was able to treat deeper skin issues, such as acne scars, without less chance of complications and a far better healing time.
Halo resurfacing provides the best of both worlds in that you get the ablative results of traditional resurfacing with the minimal downtime of a non-ablative laser treatment. Halo simultaneously fires dual wavelengths of light, rejuvenating the skin at the dermal, or deep skin layers, as well as the epidermal, or outer skin layer for a combined synergistic effect. This means three things- 1) you are receiving two treatments at the same time 2) Halo treats aging and damaged skin that you can and cannot see with the naked eye, and 3) the treatment encourages the production of collagen in your skin. Since the Halo is a fractional laser, the recovery time is minimized due to the fact that some skin is left intact during the treatment process. Halo treatments effectively address sun damage, unwanted pigment, wrinkles, fine lines, sun damage, skin texture issues, and loose (or lax) skin.
Basically, if you have skin, Halo can improve it. And what’s even better, our advanced practice esthetician/laser technician, Avita has the ability to customize, or fine-tune the treatment based on your skin issues and goals. Source: New You, by Janette Daher. For more information click here.