Procedure | Non-Surgical
Pulsed Dye Laser
The Pulsed Dye Laser, or PDL uses a concentrated beam of light that targets blood vessels in the skin. The light is converted into heat, destroying the blood vessel while leaving the surrounding skin undamaged.
Entails yellow light which is safe for the body and organic dye. The body absorbs the light selectively by the blood and blood vessels. By far, this has been said to be the most specific and targetted laser treatment. The lasers deliver intense yet gentle bursts of light into very targeted areas of the skin. It delivers pulsed laser energy at a wavelength of 595nm that passes through the dermis and epidermis skin layers and is absorbed by the oxyhemoglobin in the blood vessels rather than by the surrounding tissue. It is therefore considered the most specific laser currently available for the treatment of superficial vascular lesions. Pulsed dye laser treatment can be effective for a variety of skin conditions, including rosacea, facial redness, port wine stains, hemangiomas, hypertrophic scars, keloids, and telangiectasis.
You will be provided with a protective opaque eye cover or goggles. The treatment is very quick, requiring only about a half-hour.
Treatment with the PDL laser consists of placing a hand piece against the surface of the skin and activating the laser. The machine releases a cool spray before issuing the laser, providing a more comfortable experience.
Many patients describe each pulse to feel like the snapping of a rubber band against the skin. Topical anaesthetic may be applied to the area but is not usually necessary. Immediately following treatment, an ice pack may be applied to soothe the treated area.
Many patients describe each pulse to feel like the snapping of a rubber band against the skin.
Care should be taken in the first few days following treatment to avoid scrubbing the area, and/or use of abrasive skin cleansers. A bandage or patch may help to prevent abrasion of the treated area. Protect the area from sun exposure to reduce the risk of postinflammatory pigmentation. Loose clothing should be worn to avoid rubbing. The treated area should not be exposed.
Swimming, saunas, hot baths, and contact sports should not be done until the treated area is healed. Makeup can be used starting on day two. If any crust forms, patients should not pick or try to remove it.
Downtime after a pulsed dye laser treatment is minimal. Most patients resume their daily routine right away. Side effects are typically mild and temporary and may include some slight swelling or skin redness for a day or two.
You may see initial improvement immediately following your procedure. However, full results are likely to develop in a week or two after your session. Those results should be very long-lasting.
Downtime after a pulsed dye laser treatment is minimal. Most patients resume their daily routine right away. Side effects are typically mild and temporary and may include some slight swelling or skin redness for a day or two.
You may see initial improvement immediately following your procedure. However, full results are likely to develop in a week or two after your session. Those results should be very long-lasting.
