The Age of Lasers
Lasers, it seems like everything you want done can be done by a laser. Lasers offer variety of skincare treatments. For example: optical procedures, hair removal, spider veins treatment, skin resurfacing treatments, and more treatments are being introduced. However, the thing with laser are you have to very careful and know what you are doing.
When you pick out an office/med spa ask questions. ALOTS of them!
- Are they licensed? [Most states require laser tech to be at least esthetician if not master esthetician or physician. There are some exception to this depending on practice, a physician may allow experienced medical staff to perform procedure. Again its depends on state and practice]
- Where they got their training?
- How long have they been doing the treatment/procedure?
- What are the side-effects?
- Is my skin type suitable for the procedure/treatment? (Take note: Dark skin type need to be extra careful with this! Because most lasers are not for skin type four and up. Check what Fitzpatrick scale is your skin type. However new technology does allow procedure to be perform on darker skin type.)
- Is there any medication to avoid pre and post treatment? [Some procedure may require you to discontinue any medication that makes you photo sensitive. Ask you technician and review your medication with them]
These are just some of the basic questions. Depending on the treatment being performed, there are other questions you may ask.
This is a Fitzpatrick Scale below. It allows laser techs and estheticians to classify skin type. Ethnicity also is something the laser tech has to consider. For example, I have Indian origins but my face color is much little than a topically Indian, so the technician is going to factor in my ethnicity. My ethnicity is what determines how my skin will response to the laser. I am a skin type 4.
