Using a cosmetic laser machine for skincare is an increasingly popular trend, and for good reason. Cosmetic lasers have the ability to safely improve the appearance of skin in a fraction of the time it would take with serums and creams. However, not all lasers work for all conditions; the right laser for your clientele will depend on what they’re hoping to achieve.
Different lasers use different wavelengths of high-intensity light, which can be used to treat different skin conditions, and how it works is less complicated than one may assume. Lasers target and heat portions of the skin to create a controlled injury, stimulating the skin’s natural healing processes. This process, where the frequency of light is regulated to produce heat in the specific area that will be destroyed, is referred to as selective photothermolysis (photo: light, thermo: heat, lysis: the breakdown of a cell).
So, how do you choose the right cosmetic laser machine? It depends on what you want it to do.
The Best Type Of Cosmetic Laser Machine By Treatment
Treating Scarring: CO2, Erbium, Pulsed Dye
Wrinkle Removal: CO2, Erbium, Diode, IPL, Nd:YAG
Treating Pigmentation: CO2, IPL, Pulsed Dye, Nd:YAG
Treating Blood Vessels: IPL, Alexandrite, Pulsed Dye
Laser Hair Removal: Alexandrite, Nd:YAG, Diode, IPL
Tattoo Removal: Alexandrite, Nd:YAG
Treating Rosacea: IPL, Pulsed Dye
Popular Laser Types Explained
CO2 Lasers
Wavelength: 10,600 nm
A CO2 laser is a form of gas laser. Infrared light is produced when electricity runs through a tube filled with gas, typically, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen, and helium. The light is used to vaporize the surface of the skin by targeting water molecules.
A CO2 laser is an extremely versatile cosmetic laser machine. These ablative lasers are often used for skin resurfacing, including the improvement of wrinkles and scars, the reduction of stretch marks and hyperpigmentation, and the removal of dark spots. And since they cause minimal damage to surrounding tissues and few side effects, they’re commonly used in surgery as well.
Erbium Lasers
Wavelength: 2940 nm
An Erbium laser (also known as Er:YAG) is a solid-state laser, meaning the medium used to create heat is a solid rather than a liquid or gas. These ablative lasers use an erbium-doped synthetic crystalline material called yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) to produce an infrared light, which, like the light produced by CO2 lasers, is strongly absorbed by water.
Erbium lasers are often used to reduce the appearance of scars and for laser skin resurfacing; they can remove wrinkles, reverse sun damage, and improve skin tone and texture. However, while their function is rather similar to a CO2 laser, they tend to be less aggressive. This means that the downtime required and the discomfort felt by patients is less than that of a CO2 laser, but they aren’t as effective at treating more severe skin conditions.
Alexandrite Lasers
Wavelength: 710 to 820 nm (Generally 755nm)
The Alexandrite laser is a non-ablative, solid-state cosmetic laser machine appropriately named after the alexandrite crystal it uses to create heat. As light passes through the green gemstone, a beam of infrared light is produced that can effectively penetrate red spots, causing them to break up and fade away.
The Alexandrite laser is less painful than many of the alternatives, and is used to treat blood vessels, eliminate brown spots and birthmarks, and remove hair and tattoos. However, it’s important to note that these lasers should be used with extreme caution with tanned or darker skinned patients, as they are known to destroy melanin, leading to white patches.
Pulsed Dye Lasers
Wavelength: 585 or 595 nm
The Pulsed Dye laser (PDL) is a liquid state laser; the active medium is an organic dye mixed in a solvent. The yellow light produced by this non-ablative cosmetic laser machine is visible to the human eye, and considered to be very safe, resulting in no long-term skin damage.
Pulsed Dye lasers target red pigments, making them an ideal treatment for vascular malformations such as port-wine stains, superficial hemangiomas, rosacea, telangiectasias, hypertrophic scars, spider veins, blood vessels, and certain birthmarks. Plus, it’s one of the leading laser treatments for reducing the appearance of acne and scarring. Treatments using a Pulsed Dye laser tend to take only a few minutes, require little to no anesthesia, and can be performed in an outpatient clinic.
Nd:YAG Lasers
Wavelength: 1064 nm
Like Erbium lasers, the Nd:YAG laser is a solid-state laser using yttrium aluminum garnet crystals to produce infrared light — the difference is that the crystals in these lasers are neodymium-doped instead of erbium-doped. The atoms on the crystal are excited by a flash lamp, producing a light that targets pigment cells.
Nd:YAG lasers, the first non-ablative lasers to reach the commercial market, are able to reach a deeper layer of tissue beneath the skin than many other lasers. Though they are rather ineffective for those with lighter hair, since the ND:YAG is able to penetrate deeper into the skin, bypassing the skin’s pigmentation, they are considered to be one of the safest laser hair removal options for those with darker skin. In addition to laser hair removal, the Nd:YAG can be used for tattoo removal, and to treat a number of conditions, including brown spots, veins, birthmarks, and hemangioma tumors.
Find The Right Cosmetic Laser For Your Practice With Laser Resellers
Regardless of what type of laser you end up deciding on, Laser Resellers is the place to buy it. We offer the best used cosmetic lasers available, serviced to ensure optimal functionality, at an affordable price. Whether you’re looking to purchase a laser, hoping to trade one in, or just looking to sell, Laser Resellers has you covered. Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you!