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| NAVIGATOR: Home: Treatment FAQs: Non Surgical: Laser / IPL Treatment Pigmented/Vascular Problems | 03 September 2010 | ||
Laser / IPL Treatment Pigmented/Vascular Problemsor simply scroll down.
Background History
The use of light as a medical treatment has grown significantly in recent years. There are now a number of devices which can deliver different types of light for an ever-increasing array of new cosmetic uses. Ultra - Violet light, for example, has been used to treat psoriasis (a skin disease) for a number of years, and many people use light boxes during the winter to reduce the symptoms of seasonal adjustment disorder (SAD). To put it simply, exposure to light, which resembles sunlight, makes people feel better! The use of laser light for medical procedures began in the 1960s when they were first used in operations as cutting tools by some surgeons. Laser technology has developed over the last few decades to treat patients with a variety of different skin problems including the effects of sun damage, removal of body hair and recently the treatment of psoriasis and acne. Lasers are also commonly used by ophthalmologists (eye specialists) for the treatment of certain eye conditions, and there are now numerous private centres advertising the use of lasers as a treatment for short sightedness. The use of lasers by cosmetic clinics has increased dramatically over the last decade. Newly invented laser machines can give you excellent results and without the former complications in recovery and healing. More recently still, is the development of Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and Light Heat Energy (LHE) systems that can be more flexible in use than some lasers. Figures from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (A.S.A.P.S.) indicate that laser treatment of leg veins was performed just under 120,000 times in the U.S. in 2009, a decrease of 10% on 2008.
If you are considering this procedure, the following information will give you a basic understanding about what's involved. It can't answer all your questions, since a lot depends on the individual patient and the practitioner. Please ask a practitioner about anything you don't understand.
Lasers A laser is a high energy beam of light that can precisely transfer this energy into certain tissues within the skin. These beams of light are produced in one wavelength or colour at a time, and can vary in terms of their strength and the type of tissue that they can target. Lasers used on a variety of veins or pigmented (discoloured) skin problems can direct their heat towards a desired target in the skin which results in “damage” to particular tissues. For example, in the case of thread (spider or red) veins, the target is the blood filled vessel that is precisely heated and destroyed by the laser without harming surrounding areas. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Intense Pulsed Light systems differ from lasers in that they can deliver hundreds of wavelengths (or colours) in each burst of light. Certain filters are used that target these flashes of light so that they work in a similar way to lasers causing heat damage to the particular skin problem. The process of directing a laser or IPL source to a target area of the skin to damage it is technically known as "selective photothermolysis". Your practitioner may refer to it as this. Light, Heat Energy (LHE) This is another light technique variation that sends out controlled levels of both low level light and heat. Light Emitting Diode (LED) Emits red light used in conjunction with special creams for the treatment of actinic keratosis and blue light for acne treatment.
Different light systems may be used to treat a range of different vascular (vein) and pigmented (skin colour) problems which may include:
Some machines have also recently been developed and used for the treatment of acne. Your first discussion with a practitioner should clearly set out your expectations. This should be matched by the recommended treatment and your practitioner will tell you whether the treatment can achieve the results you require. A medical history should be taken to make sure that there are no reasons why you shouldn’t have this form of treatment. You would also normally be asked to read detailed information and sign a consent form at this time which means that you have understood the potential benefits and risks associated with the light procedure recommended. Photographs may also be taken by the practitioner for a "before and after" comparison at a later date. Depending on the area of skin and type of machine used, different treatment procedures will be individually tailored for you. An example of a treatment procedure for pigmented lesions: This procedure generally requires no special treatment beforehand. An anaesthetic cream may be applied 20 minutes or so before treatment to help numb the skin, and you will be required to wear eye protectors for all laser and IPL machines. Depending upon the type of light system used, you may experience a slight stinging sensation when the flash of light is delivered to the treated area. The entire procedure may last 15 minutes to half an hour depending on the type and extent of the skin problem treated. Repeat procedures Repeat treatments may be required depending upon the type and extent of the lesion treated. The following examples may give some guidance: Port wine stains 4 to 8 treatment sessions Spider naevus 1 to 2 treatment sessions Telangiectasia Usually 3 treatment sessions Varicose veins 1 - 5 treatment sessions Pigmented birthmark 3 to 4 treatment sessions Lentigo Usually 1 treatment session Freckles Usually 1 treatment session Seborrhoeic warts Usually 3 treatment sessions Stubborn verrucae Usually 3 treatment sessions Recovery time Most patients will be able to return to work immediately following these type of procedures.
Depending on the type of light treatment used and what area of your body you are having treated, some mild stinging or burning may be noticed during the procedure, and the area treated may feel hot for 15 minutes or so after treatment. Most patients will experience skin redness over the treated area which will fade over the next hour or so. Sometimes, some mild bleeding may occur with scabs forming afterwards. Post - treatment risks or side effects can include skin discoloration and scaling that usually fades over a period of weeks. Rarely, minor scarring or more permanent pigment changes to the skin may occur. It is very important that you follow the advice of your practitioner carefully after any laser or IPL treatment for vascular and pigmented problems to help make the procedure as successful as possible and to reduce the risk of complications. Depending on the problem treated post - treatment advice may include:
 Additionally, when you leave a clinic after laser treatment for vascular or pigmentaion problems you are likely to suffer from varying degrees of redness depending on the type of treatment, which may not be the most attractive face that you wish to present to the public as you walk down the street. There is however a solution.Lycogel® are the first truly breathable, completely safe camouflage and concealer products that oxygenate skin at the cellular level, and are suitable for immediate use after cosmetic procedures such as laser treatments. Doctors, skin specialists, aestheticians and beauty therapists use Lycogel® Camouflage & Concealer, because it is the only foundation that has the ability to promote the healing of damaged or postprocedural skin and can be used on the skin immediately following treatment, allowing you to face the world without a red face.
Few clinics currently offer this product, or any camouflage make-up, as part of the treatment service, so be prepared and take it with you. Lycogel® is available in a variety of shades to suit all skin colours.
For more information and to buy Lycogel® Camouflage and Concealer, please click here.
Patients generally not suitable for any form of light treatment are those who have a history of skin sensitivity to light or scarring problems, an active herpes (cold sores) infection or other skin infections such as impetigo at the site to be treated. Darker skin, or recently tanned skin, may be not be suitable for treatment by certain types of machine. Your practitioner will advise you about this if you have a darker complexion. Patients who have used isotretinoin in the last year would also not be suitable candidates.
(All before and after photographs are real patients, your results may differ).
Generally light systems for the treatment of vascular (problems of the veins), skin discolouration and scarring are used by trained doctors, surgeons or nurses. Some manufacturers have also produced machines that can be used safely by trained beauticians or aestheticians for a limited range of vascular or pigmented problems. Please also note that all clinics offering laser treatments should be registered with the Care Quality Commission. Clinics need to follow certain standards for the safe operation and maintenance of these machines, and receive regular inspections to ensure that national minimum standards are followed.
We will not feature any clinics in our sponsored listings who offer laser or IPL treatment and are not currently registered with their local Care Quality Commission.
Clinics offering LED treatments do not currently need to be registered
For more information about practitioner training, qualifications and relevant medical organisations please view the information contained within the Legislation section of the Consulting Room.
Please go to our Find a Clinic section to find a clinic or practitioner specialising in this procedure.
The development of lasers, and more recently IPL, LHE, and LED systems, has allowed practitioners to treat certain types of vascular and pigmented lesions more safely and effectively. Improved machines, which are versatile, safer and cheaper, have encouraged more practitioners to purchase this type of equipment, making them more widely available. This trend is likely to continue as technology develops and more clinics adopt their use. The treatment will certainly improve as more knowledge is learned about the new technology and our skin. Although current results can be very good, they vary both with the skill of the operator and type of machine used. There are still some problems and skin lesions or veins, which have been treated - even using the most up to date technology - will often not disappear completely, although they are usually much less obvious than before treatment. Because of the variety of different skin problems that can be treated with these machines we cannot stress strongly enough how important it is to find a practitioner experienced in treating your particular problem. As some of these systems are available in beauty salons and specialist laser clinics - you must do your homework to make sure that they have the right equipment and training to treat you safely and effectively.
Depending upon the type of problem that you have, you may be able to access Laser or IPL Pigmented and Vascular treatment free of charge on the National Health Service. Certain regions do make special cases, and we would always recommend that you visit your General Practitioner before embarking upon a cosmetic procedure for the treatment of any vascular or pigmented skin problem. As well as their advice and guidance they may also be able to refer you to a local NHS Hospital who can treat you. Treatment costs vary depending on the type of problem that you have, and also the extent of the problem. There may be an initial consultation fee, or fee for a test patch of skin to be evaluated. Prices for minor treatment sessions involving small areas may cost in the region of £100/session, with intermediate treatment sessions being around £200 - £300 and major treatment £400 or more/session.
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