Laser treatments are widely used by doctors to address a variety of skin concerns. It involves using a highly focused beam of light for skin rejuvenation and reducing skin irregularities like scars or blemishes.

Other uses of lasers include:

• Reduce the appearance of fine lines to improve wrinkled and sun-damaged skin.
• Tighten sagging skin and reduce pore size by stimulating collagen growth.
• Even out skin tone by lightening pigments.
• Remove scars caused by acne, chickenpox or injuries as well as blemishes like liver spots and age spots.
• Remove skin lumps like milia, syringoma, and moles.
  Hair and vein removal

But despite being a tried and tested therapy, there are some people who remain hesitant. If you are considering laser treatments for the first time, let Dr. Terence Tan, Director of Halley Medical Aesthetics, answer six common concerns surrounding the therapy.

You can watch the full video below or read his answers below.

Question 1: Will laser treatments burn my skin?

Dr. Tan answers: The laser machines used by doctors today have come a long way from what they use in the past. The modern lasers target only specific structures within the skin rather than heat the entire skin as a whole. Doctors also vary and control the laser’s power level to ensure they deliver optimum benefits in a comfortable and safe environment.

Question 2: Are laser treatments suitable for those with sensitive skin?

Dr. Tan answers: Many popular lasers are suitable for sensitive skin as most lasers target specific structures within the skin to achieve therapeutic effects but affects other structures minimally. The Q Switched Nd-YAG laser and Long Pulsed Nd:YAG laser, for example, are good examples of lasers that can be very gentle in the hands of an experienced doctor.

Question 3: Can laser treatment reduce the size of enlarged pores?

Dr. Tan answers: Whether they are big or small, pores are essential in skin function. Our main bugbear is when they become enlarged, which may be due to excessive oil production, sun damage, genetics, and saggy skin. Using skincare loaded with peptides, antioxidants like vitamin c, and exfoliating our skin regularly can help maintain healthy pores and minimise pore size.

But if your pore size bothers you, laser treatments that target pores like the Long Pulsed Nd:YAG laser or resurfacing lasers can be used. Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy is also another good and affordable option. Those with sagging skin and enlarged pores can consider Ultherapy too.

Question 4: Can laser treatments get rid of for freckles and sunspots?

Freckles and sunspots are commonly caused or made worse by excessive sun exposure. The first recommendation is to reduce sun exposure by staying out of the sun and putting on sunblock. To reduce pigmentation, lasers and IPLs can be used in conjunction with depigmentation creams and vitamin C serums to lighten the pigments.

Question 5: Will laser treatment thin or dry up my skin?

Dr. Tan answers: Laser treatments will not dry nor thin the skin. In fact, most lasers used for rejuvenation do not damage the skin at all as they selectively heat certain skin structures to achieve the desired effect, leaving the rest of the skin unharmed. While skin resurfacing lasers like the fractional CO2 laser remove some skin, there is no need for concern as it is not permanent. Our skin has a fantastic ability to regenerate itself. New cells are constantly regenerated from the bottom of the skin and they push the more mature cells to the top of the skin as they migrate upwards. This means that within a few weeks after treatment, our skin will be as good as new.

Question 6: Is there any downtime for laser treatments?

Most popular laser treatments have no downtime at all. Lasers like the Q Switched Nd:YAG and Long Pulsed Nd-YAG lasers have no downtime at all as they heat up only certain parts of the skin, leaving most of the skin totally unaffected.

But patients are naturally concerned when it comes to ablative lasers, like the fractional CO2 laser, which remove a thin outer layer of skin to achieve the desired result. So those worried about downtime can opt for non-ablative lasers like the Fraxel Dual Laser, which targets only the deeper layers of the skin while the top-most skin is retained to reduce the downtime. Most people can do the treatment on Friday and go back to work on Monday.