Laser Treatments

Beacon Dermatology is the premier dermatology practice in Asheville, North Carolina, equipped with advanced laser devices for treatment of a wide array of different skin conditions. To learn more about your laser treatment options, call Beacon Dermatology or book a consultation with Dr. Michael Rains, MD, FAAD online today.

What is laser treatment?

Aesthetic laser devices address many skin concerns including: sun damage, skin aging, rhinophyma, burn scars, acne scarring, lines and wrinkles, skin laxity, under eye creases, crepey skin, enlarged pores, rosacea, dark spots, irregular pigmentation, vascular lesions such as broken blood vessels or capillaries, and acne.

What types of lasers does Beacon Dermatology offer?

Intense pulsed light (IPL) laser therapy – Beacon Dermatology is proud to offer the Luvo Lucent IPL laser, the strongest IPL device on the market.

CO2 Laser resurfacing – Beacon Dermatology is proud to offer the Lumenis Ultrapulse CO2 laser for fractionated ablative skin resurfacing.

What is IPL? What does it treat?

IPL is a type of laser therapy that uses targeted intense pulses of light to improve skin redness, brown discoloration, acne, unwanted hair and build collagen in your skin. Specific filters are used to treat different targets in the skin, including blood vessels, melanin, collagen, and acne causing bacteria called P. acnes. The thermal heat generated by the IPL laser results in unwanted skin targets to be resorbed or removed from the skin leaving the skin with more even tone, texture and reduced acne and unwanted hair.

Skin conditions that IPL laser therapy can improve, include: acne breakouts, rosacea (broken capillaries or telangiectasias), port wine stains, angiomas, freckles, sun spots, sun damage, poikiloderma of Civatte, unwanted hair, skin texture, and fine lines and wrinkles.

Who is a candidate? Who isn’t a candidate?

IPL can treat many skin conditions, and is useful for a wide array of people. The ideal candidate has a skin condition that the IPL is on label to treat (noted above), fair to light brown skin tone. Medium to dark skin tones may benefit from IPL laser therapy for certain skin conditions. During a consultation with Dr. Rains, MD, FAAD at Beacon Dermatology, it will be determined if you are a good candidate for IPL laser treatment.

People who may not be a good candidate, include anyone with a history of photosensitivity, history of seizures, recent sun tanning or sunburn, active cold sore, active skin infection, recent isotretinoin use, significant dermatitis such as atopic dermatitis or severe dermatitis to the treated areas or if you are pregnant, breast feeding or taking medications that increase the risk of photosensitivity.

What should I expect? How can I maximize my results?

Dr. Rains, MD, FAAD will prescribe a physician grade skin care regimen to begin at least 2-4 weeks prior to treatment to help maximize IPL laser treatment results.  Strict sun protection pre and post treatment is extremely important to increasing the benefit and minimizing the side effects.

IPL laser treatment lasts between 30-40 minutes based on the areas treated. A post treatment cream will be applied to promote skin healing and collagen promotion followed by sunscreen.

Patients can experience increased, but tolerable, amount of redness, swelling and darkening of sun damaged areas post IPL treatment. Uncommonly, redness, swelling and temporary bruising can occur for more than a few days after an aggressive IPL treatment. Final results and skin improvement is realized after 4-6 weeks.

How many treatments do I need? Do I need maintenance treatments?

On average 2 to 4 IPL treatments are recommend depending on the patient’s goals. Treatment plans are discussed during initial consultation with Dr. Rains, MD, FAAD and treatment packages are offered to assist each patient in their skin journey to help them achieve their skin goals.

Maintenance treatments are recommended based on the skin condition(s) that are treated. Most commonly, IPL maintenance treatments involve a repeat treatment 1 to 2 times a year to preserve optimal results.

What is CO2 laser treatment? What does it treat?

CO2 laser treatment is considered the gold standard in laser resurfacing leaving skin more youthful with improved skin texture and skin tone. The CO2 laser uses short bursts of energy to target water in the skin producing controlled injury which helps promote new collagen production. Additionally, CO2 laser treatment helps remove the top skin layer that holds sun damage and older skin cells, and triggers the body’s natural healing process to generate new healthy skin. Patient typically note immediate and significant skin tightness with continued improvement as the skin heals with new collagen production.

Skin conditions that the Ultrapulse CO2 laser can improve include: fine to medium lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation (brown discoloration), sun damage, acne and traumatic scars, actinic keratoses and skin growths such as seborrheic keratoses, dermatosis papulosa nigra, sebaceous hyperplasia, pearly penile papules

Who is a candidate? Who isn’t a candidate?

Ultrapulse CO2 laser can treat multiple skin conditions, and can benefit many different types of people. The ideal patient is one with a history of moderate to severe sun damage, minor to moderate wrinkles, acne scarring or discoloration of the skin and patients seeking improvement of overall skin texture and tone.

People who may not be a good candidate include anyone with a history of keloid scarring, history of immunosuppression, history of connective tissue disease, history of bleeding diseases, history of previous radiation treatment in the treated areas, active skin infections to treated areas, active cold sores to the treated areas, recent isotretinoin use in the past 12 months, recent sun burn or sun tan to treated areas, or if you are pregnant, breast feeding or taking any medications that can increase the risk of photosensitivity.

What should I expect? How can I maximize my results?

An initial consultation with Dr. Rains, MD, FAAD is the first step to beginning a CO2 laser resurfacing skin journey. During consultation, pre and post-treatment regimens are discussed to ensure benefits of the CO2 laser treatment are maximized. Dr. Rains, MD, FAAD will prescribe a physician grade skin care regimen 4 weeks prior to treatment to help enhance CO2 laser treatment results. Strict sun protection pre and post treatment are extremely important to increasing the benefit and minimizing the side effects.

Pain during treatment is managed with a topical numbing cream. ProNox, a nitrous oxide and oxygen analgesia system, is also available to offer rapid onset pain management and anxiety relief when needed. CO2 laser treatment lasts from 30 minutes to 1 hour based on areas treated. Post procedure ointment is applied to enhance healing after CO2 laser treatment.

Patients can expect treated skin to be red, swollen and feel like a sunburn after CO2 laser treatment.  1-2 weeks of downtime is needed to allow skin to heal. Patients need to avoid sun exposure at all costs while skin is healing and be diligent with sunscreen to protect results. Final results and skin improvement is realized at 3-6 months post CO2 laser treatment.

How many treatments do I need?  Do I need maintenance treatments?

The Ultrapulse CO2 is the gold standard for resurfacing lasers. Due to this, 1 treatment typically yields significant improvement in skin texture and tone. With good sun protection post treatment, results can last several years. Occasionally, Dr. Rains, MD, FAAD may recommend a follow up treatment after 8 weeks to help maximize benefits. As continued skin aging and sun damage occurs, an additional treatment may be needed.

Am I a candidate for laser treatment?

During a cosmetic consultation, with Dr. Rains, MD, FAAD patient’s skin concerns, goals, and medical history are reviewed. Areas of concern are examined by Dr. Rains, MD, FAAD and it is determined at that time if the patient is a good candidate for laser treatment. Each treatment plan is customized to the patient and reviewed in great detail.