If you’re considering a laser treatment in Issaquah, WA, a consultation with an experienced provider can help determine which options may be appropriate for your skin type and goals.
The important thing is choosing the right treatment for your skin and making sure the settings are appropriate. Some laser and light-based treatments can increase the risk of burns or changes in pigmentation, particularly when they’re used incorrectly. A consultation with an experienced provider can help determine which options may be appropriate for your skin and your goals.
Laser and light-based treatments work by delivering energy to specific structures in the skin. Depending on the treatment, that energy may target pigment, blood vessels, water in the skin, or other tissue.
Melanin, the pigment that gives your skin its color, can also absorb some laser and light energy. This is one reason the wavelength, device, and treatment settings matter when treating people with more deeply pigmented skin.
What Is Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation?
One concern for people with skin of color is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or PIH. This happens when the skin produces extra melanin after inflammation or an injury, leaving behind a darker area.
PIH can occur after things like acne, cuts, burns, or other skin irritation. Because laser treatments intentionally create controlled changes in the skin, your provider should consider your history of pigmentation changes before recommending treatment.
That doesn’t mean everyone with skin of color will develop PIH after a laser treatment. It does mean that choosing the appropriate treatment and settings is especially important.
The Sciton ProFractional laser is a fractional laser treatment that can be used to improve the appearance of acne scars, other scars, fine lines, and uneven skin texture.
Instead of treating the entire surface of the skin at once, ProFractional creates microscopic treatment zones while leaving surrounding skin intact. The treatment can be adjusted based on the patient’s skin and the concern being treated.
Sciton’s current treatment information lists ProFractional as an option for Fitzpatrick skin type VI, although whether a particular laser treatment is appropriate depends on the individual patient and treatment goals.
For patients looking for more intensive resurfacing, Miller Dermatology + Aesthetics offers the Sciton Contour TRL laser.
Contour TRL is an ablative resurfacing treatment that removes controlled layers of the skin to encourage new skin formation. It can be used to address concerns such as wrinkles, sun damage, and uneven skin texture.
Because it is a more intensive resurfacing treatment, it’s important to determine whether you’re a good candidate before treatment. Your provider will consider your skin type, the condition being treated, and your goals when developing a treatment plan.
Laser hair removal can be performed on a range of skin tones, but choosing the right technology and settings is important.
The goal is to target the hair follicle while limiting damage to the surrounding skin. Your skin tone, hair color, hair thickness, and the area being treated all factor into choosing the appropriate approach.
Laser hair removal can cause burns, scarring, or lasting changes in skin color when performed incorrectly, so experience matters.
BroadBand Light (BBL) is a type of intense pulsed light treatment that can be used to address concerns such as sun damage, redness, and uneven pigmentation.
However, BBL isn’t appropriate for every skin tone. In particular, Sciton’s current treatment guidance states that Fitzpatrick skin type VI is not a candidate for BBL.
For other skin types, your provider should still evaluate your skin and the specific concern you’re trying to treat before recommending BBL. If BBL isn’t the right option, another treatment may be more appropriate.
When considering laser treatment in Issaquah, WA, there isn’t one device or approach that’s right for everyone. Your skin tone is one part of the equation, but your history of pigmentation, the condition being treated, and the results you’re hoping to achieve all matter.
At Miller Dermatology + Aesthetics, our team offers a variety of laser and cosmetic treatments, including Sciton ProFractional, Contour TRL, BBL, and laser hair removal. Our providers can evaluate your skin and discuss which options may be appropriate for your concerns and skin type.
If you’re considering laser treatment in Issaquah, WA, schedule a consultation today to discuss your options.