CO2 SKIN RESURFACING

CO2 — carbon dioxide — laser resurfacing uses targeted beams of light to remove the superficial layer of your skin.

This type of laser treatment can:

• Remove skin cancer
• Address cosmetic skin issues, such as fine or deep lines, wrinkles, and acne scars
• Treat areas of skin discoloration, like sunspots and age spots

C02 laser resurfacing uses pulses of laser light. These beams penetrate the skin’s surface, where water in the skin cells absorbs them.

When this happens, the epidermis, or the superficial layer of your skin, is vaporized. The dermis, or middle layer, heats up, stimulating the growth of new collagen fibers. As the area heals, new, firmer, smoother skin replaces the old layers.

During CO2 laser resurfacing, a cosmetic surgeon or dermatologist can target specific areas of your skin with precision, so the treatment won’t affect the rest of the skin nearby.

CO2 laser resurfacing can treat numerous cosmetic and medical skin issues, from visible signs of aging and sun damage to scars and skin cancer.

Fine lines and wrinkles

CO2 laser resurfacing can lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It may prove especially effective on:

• Crow’s feet, or lines and wrinkles under and around the eyes
• Lines and wrinkles on the forehead
• Laugh lines, or those appearing around the mouth

Not only can it reduce the appearance of wrinkles right away, but it also encourages collagen production, which can improve the health of your skin over time.

Sun-damaged skin

Exposure to UV light may contribute to visible signs of skin aging, such as:

• Wrinkles
• Sagging due to decreased elasticity
• Rough and uneven skin texture
• Liver spots and sunspots
• Spider veins

CO2 laser resurfacing can significantly reduce the appearance of all of the above.

Baggy eyes

Loose skin above the upper and lower eyelids can cause what’s commonly known as “baggy” or “hooded eyes.”

CO2 lasers can help tighten skin, and they may also help improve eyelid skin laxity and minimize the appearance of baggy eyes.

Acne scars

C02 laser treatment helps reduce the appearance of acne scarring by stimulating collagen production that helps tighten and smooth out the scars.

That said, it may not work on all types of acne scars.

Warts

Dermatologists usually recommend other treatment methods, like over-the-counter remedies or freezing, for warts. But they may use lasers on warts that don’t respond to other treatments.

Sebaceous hyperplasia

Sebaceous hyperplasia occurs when sebum gets trapped in an oil gland. When this happens, the gland becomes enlarged and causes a small, waxy bump on the skin, usually on the face. While harmless, some people have them removed for cosmetic reasons.

Skin cancer

CO2 lasers can help prevent or treat skin cancers by shrinking and destroying tissue with little bleeding or damage to the surrounding tissue.

A dermatologist might use CO2 lasers on pre-cancerous actinic keratoses or, in some cases, to treat certain types of early-stage skin cancer.