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How Lasers Work
Lasers work by emitting a beam of light that is attracted to a specific chromophore or target, such as melanin (the pigment in your skin tone or a brown/black hair follicle); oxyhemoglobin (red blood cells, as in a facial vein or leg vein) or a specific ink color in tattoos. We use a specific laser wavelength that is designed to treat a specific target.
This attraction is called selective photothermolysis. All of the lasers that we use at LaserCenters of Wisconsin are exactly that -specific lasers to perform specific jobs, rather than "one size fits all" intense pulsed lights sources such as PhotoDerm Systems which, if the truth be told, are not lasers at all. This specific laser targeting process allows us to treat just the chromophore or item that you wish to be rid of and not the surrounding skin, thus reducing unwanted side effects and damage to the skin that could result in scarring. Other controls on the lasers can be adjusted to have a longer pulse of the laser light or a higher energy of light to accommodate the color of one's skin tone. More energy is required to treat light skinned individuals and less energy is required to treat dark skinned individuals. Our clinicians use a formula which takes into account a patient's age, skin type, health history and area of treatment to determine the most beneficial settings of the laser.
Example: Laser Centers of Wisconsin uses a 755nm (Alexandrite) wavelength hair removal laser that is selectively attracted to melanin (brown/black color of a hair follicle) so as not to destroy the skin while trying to destroy the hair follicle. The laser beam ignores the skin and attaches specifically to the color of the hair follicle. This specificity is why all hair lasers are not effective in treating blond, white or gray hair. In dark skinned individuals, the pulse duration must be longer and the energy settings lower so that the melanin(dark color) of the skin does not distract the laser away from the hair follicle. The hair removal laser also treats through a "chill tip" cooling system to reduce side effects and provide comfort during treatment.
If you wish to know more detailed information about the science of lasers, please click here. |
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