Our campaign for glowing skin is actually not new. Gypsies were thought to be the first to use deep chemical peels, passing this prized formula for generations. Other bizarre formulas rumored in other parts of the world included singeing of the skin to achieve exfoliation.
If you shuddered a little thinking of bringing a flame to your face for the sake of beauty, rest assured that medical innovation has brought us to an exciting age of complexion lasers, which has made it possible to treat skin conditions previously considered untreatable.
PHOTOREJUVENATION
You have probably heard of photorejuvenation, a skin treatment using lasers including the Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd-YAG). These aim to airbrush or completely remove signs of photoaging such as fine lines, wrinkles and rough skin texture.
In line with our pursuit of perfecting our complexions for a dewy, healthy appearance, many laser systems today address a wide variety of skin concerns, more than just anti-aging, and focusing on a smooth and reflective canvas as the end product.
One of the latest treatments to hit the block is the picosecond laser, touted as the safer and more effective younger sibling of the nanosecond nd:YAG laser, most well known for treating pigmentation issues and removing tattoos.
WHY YOU SHOULD TRY THE PICO LASER
Picosecond lasers emit ultrashort pulses in picosecond durations (a picosecond is one trillionth of a second!). Clinically, this implies that it is possible to achieve better results that also minimizes damage to surrounding normal tissue, making this an attractive treatment option for issues such as the notoriously difficult melasma, and tattoo removal.
But wait, the pico pigment laser can be converted to an effective treatment for acne scars, deep wrinkles and for shrinking large pores with a diffractive holographic lens array, which transforms the normally mild intensity to a deep skin renewal effect.
THE PICO SMOOTH SECRET
Coined the Pico Smooth treatment by the SW1 Clinic, this novel fractionated laser treatment spurs a productive wound healing response through laser-induced optical breakdown (LIOB), delivered through laser energy in highly focused beamlets (and lower energy zones in between) through the special fractionating lens.
Indeed, the Glass Skin Program which consists of 6 Pico Smooth treatments is popular because of its exceptional scar leveling, wrinkle smoothening and pore minimizing effect. But not just because of that. Experienced clinicians will probably tell you that they prefer a series of non-ablative fractionated treatments as opposed to a single fractionated ablative laser treatment due to risks of complications such as post-treatment hyperpigmentation.