Treatment for: Aging / sundamaged skin, acne scarring, and melasma

How it works:
Fractionated Laser Skin Resurfacing (aka Fraxel) is used to treat damaged and aging skin by harmlessly penetrating the outer layer of skin and resurfacing 15-20% of the skin during each session. This method protects the skin from enduring too much damage at once and eliminates the downtime associated with fully ablative procedures such as a full scale CO2 or erbium yag laser resurfacing treatment. Fractional Skin Resurfacing is the current treatment of choice for acne scarring and melasma. Reflections Dermatology is proud to offer the latest in “Fractional” technology using the The Palomar StarLux 500 Laser. Palomar’s fractional laser handpiece delivers light in an array of high precision microbeams. These microbeams create narrow, deep columns of tissue coagulation that penetrate well below the epidermis and into the dermis, while sparing the tissue surrounding the columns from damage. The Palomar StarLUX 500 microbeams penetrate deeper (up to 1 mm) than other devices. These deep columns of coagulated tissue initiate a natural healing process that accelerates the formation of new, healthy tissue to fill in the damaged treatment zones; the deeper the columns, the more new tissue. Coagulated collagen and cellular debris is expelled as skin is resurfaced. Throughout the process, the integrity of the top layer of skin is maintained, which protects the tissue from infection as it heals.

What to expect:
After your procedure, you will experience a mild sunburn sensation for about an hour and then minimal discomfort. The skin will have a pinkish tone for 5 to 7 days. This is a sign that the skin is healing. Swelling is normal and generally resolves itself in 2 to 3 days. New epidermal skin develops within 24 hours. During the first 24 hours, it is important not to clog your pores with cosmetics and moisturizers. Instead, keep the skin comfortable and hydrated by misting your face with water. Within 2 days, you can resume wearing makeup and applying moisturizer. During the healing phase, it is imperative that you use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Clinical studies suggest that on average, an effective treatment regimen is 3 to 5 sessions, spaced about 4 to 6 weeks apart. Results are immediate and progressive. Optimal improvement is usually visible in about 2 to 3 months. This time frame and treatment structure allows for complete healing and replacement of damaged tissue with new collagen and healthy skin cells.