CO2 has been around for years to treat various skin issues such as scars, warts, wrinkles, enlarged oil glands and other conditions. They work by traumatizing the skin through continuous light beams delivered in a patterns. This removes the thin outer layer of skin (epidermis), and heats the underlying skin (dermis) with minimal heat damage stimulating the growth of new collagen fibers. As the epidermis heals and regrows, the treated skin appears clearer, smoother, and tighter. Healing may take up to 2 weeks.
The most common areas to treat with the CO2 Laser are the face, neck, legs and hands for:
• Wrinkles.
• Superficial scars caused by acne, surgery, or trauma.
• Color (pigment) changes or defects in the skin, such as liver spots (lentigines), port-wine stains, or café-au-lait spots.
• Lesions or growths in the upper layer of skin (such as actinic keratoses, rhinophyma, or birthmarks).
• Unwanted hair.