During this brighter seasonal shift, I'm all about focusing on my beauty routine that will get my skin in the best shape ever. Because, when my skin looks good, I feel good. I'm sharing my recent experience with an in-office laser treatment with favorite Rhode Island Dermatologist, Dr. Caroline Chang, perfect for those looking to make skin more uniform and glowy.
I got this laser treatment because over the past year, my skin was looking a little blah, more red with broken capillaries and not that even. I am diligent when it comes to an at-home routine—vitamin C serum (I love the Skinceuticals CE Ferulic), daily sunscreen, eye cream, retinoids and weekly chemical exfoliants. I also get Botox twice a year to help with the deeper lines and wrinkles in my forehead and crows feet. Still, I felt my skin needed something more. A little tune up that would give it the jump start it needed right before the warmer months.
My lovely dermatologist, Dr. Caroline Chang of RI Dermatology Institute in East Greenwich, Rhode Island suggested that it was time to think about an in-office laser treatment with the Aerolase laser. I booked two sessions at her office, spaced out at six weeks apart, and will be adding one more laser treatment this spring.
How does the Aerolase Laser work?
This in-office device works by heating up the under layers of the skin with a 1064nm wavelength to stimulate new collagen while also addressing the vascular component (broken capillaries, acne scars, inflammation, spider veins and angiomas). It also targets sun damage and brown spots, so overall you are treating multiple issues at once.
What I like about this laser is that it helps with a little bit of everything—some toning, tightening, redness, inflammation and scarring. The overall treatment takes about 15 to 45 minutes, depending on the issues needing to be addressed.
What to expect during your laser treatment?
This particular is laser is not scary. The actual laser never touches your skin and there is no downtime. At first, you feel a little heat and in certain spots it can feel more sensitive, but overall it goes quick and pretty much painless. Dr. Chang went over most of my face, then focused on some troubled areas around my nose and chin.
After treatment, you can expect a little redness on your face, but it goes away after a few hours. In the next few days, your skin starts to just look more even, has better texture and has more of a glow, and it just gets better over time. I recommend keeping your skincare light after the first 24 hours. Use a gentle wash, a good sunscreen and nighttime moisturizer. And, try to be patient. This is a subtle laser treatment, but still effective. It's the perfect treatment before a big event (a week or more before) to give you that extra glow and I'm so glad my dermatologist suggested I do it. I also recommend doing more than one treatment to get the best results.
Why is this laser good in addition to Botox?
This laser works by building collagen over time, which I think is just as important as we age as going for Botox and filler. It's great to work at the deeper levels to give your skin better elasticity and tone.
Bottom line: if you have redness, inflammation, post-acne scars, acne and broken capillaries, this is a great treatment for you. I love how my skin glows and it's great pre-special occasion such as a wedding or big birthday celebration.
Have you gotten a laser treatment for your face before? If so, please share in the comments.
Share this story
