What are lasers and how do they work?
Basically the laser light energy is converted to heat energy in the target and causes controlled damage. Laser treatments usually fall into 3 main categories:
- Vascular laser (targeting haemoglobin) to treat broken capillaries, redness, red birthmarks etc.
- Resurfacing lasers (targeting water) to reduce wrinkles and scars
- Pigment lasers (targeting melanin and other pigments such as in tattoos) for treating brown spots, brown birthmarks, tattoos etc.
Lasers are usually named for the internal substance they contain that gives the laser its specific wavelength. These can be gas (such as in CO2 laser), dye (such as in a pulsed dye vascular laser) or solid (such as the Neodymium-Yttrium-Aluminium-Garnet or Nd-Yag laser).
The operator must assess the appropriate wavelength of laser so that energy is delivered to the target, without damaging surrounding structures. Visit our website to learn more about the different types of laser and what they can be used for.