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New Technology Creates Exciting Cosmetic Treatment Options for Darker Skin

In this rocky economy, you might guess that overall demand for elective cosmetic procedures like laser skin treatments would be on the decline. But what might surprise you is that despite these trying times, there is a group of consumers who are demanding more cosmetic procedures than ever before.

African-Americans, Hispanics and Asians are nipping and tucking in record numbers, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). During the economic downturn, ethnic cosmetic procedures increased 11 percent, with more than 3 million performed. That’s a whooping 215 percent increase since 2000.

So what’s fueling this growth? Surely increasing disposable income plays a part, but that’s only part of the story.

In the past, many laser cosmetic procedures were off limits for people with darker skin because they were simply not safe. First-generation skin resurfacing, tattoo and hair removal lasers weren’t appropriate for darker skin. The issue was that melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color, blocked the lasers’ energy, preventing the rays from reaching the target area below the skin. Instead, melanin absorbed the energy at the surface, increasing the chances of burning, scarring, hypopigmentation (lightening of the skin), hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin) and depigmentation (removal of skin color). The risks were too great and physicians and patients steered clear.

As technology became more sophisticated, newer lasers with longer wavelengths were developed. These longer wavelengths of energy passed through melanin much more efficiently and drastically reduced the possibility of complications. This opened up many new treatment options for Asians, African Americans, Hispanics, Mediterraneans and Middle Easterners, and they showed up in record numbers at medspas and cosmetic physicians’ offices.

Even with today’s advanced technology, choosing the right laser device makes all the difference in treating darker skin. Lasers with longer wavelengths such as the Nd:Yag and the Q-switched Yag lasers effectively bypass the melanin and zero in on their target – whether it’s a tattoo, unwanted hair or a raised acne scar. Exactly how long your doctor zaps the treatment area also affects the results when treating darker skin. The longer each zap and the slower the energy delivery, the less chance for overheating and scarring.

The Fraxel Restore laser is a very popular option for smoothing out darker skin. This laser uses the latest in fractionated technology, penetrating a small percentage of the skin’s surface and creating tiny wounds in the deeper layers of the skin. The epidermis (the skin’s outermost layer) remains largely undamaged while the deeper layers begin to heal, smoothing the skin’s surface and diminishing unwanted wrinkles, acne scars, stretch marks and uneven skin tone.

For laser hair removal in patients with darker skin, choice of the right laser is essential. The GentleYag, a specialized long pulsed Nd:Yag laser is the gold standard. If a physician has only one laser for hair removal, it is a red flag that they are not prepared to treat all skin types.

In the right hands the right laser can do wonders for your skin. Consult with an expert who has experience treating people with darker skin and access to a host of different lasers. He or she can match the right laser to the condition you seek to correct and your skin type, minimizing risks and maximizing cosmetic results. Remember there should not be a “one-laser-fits-all” philosophy – especially when treating darker skin. Also, seek out a physician who has dedicated his or her professional career to Cosmetic Medicine, not one who performs such services sporadically. With the right technology and the right physician, safe and exciting results await.

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