Laser resurfacing can cause side effects, though they're milder and less likely with nonablative approaches than with ablative methods. Inflamed, swollen, itchy and painful skin. Treated skin may swell, itch or have a burning sensation. Your skin may look inflamed for several months following ablative laser treatment.
Potential side effects of laser treatment include redness, swelling, temporary scabbing, or pigmentation changes. Some people may experience an allergic reaction or irritation. It's important to discuss these risks with a dermatologist and ensure the treatment is suitable for your skin type.
Relative contraindications include laser hypersensitivity and photosensitizing medications or skin creams, although there are many that react with the UV spectrum, very few react with infrared. Some autoimmune disorders and severe Lupus may cause a hypersensitivity to laser therapy.
Technological and medical advances in recent years have significantly lowered the chances of serious side effects. In the vast majority of cases, the only side effects our patients experience, if any, are mild swelling or soreness around the skin area that has been treated using laser treatment.
The health effects that could occur due to exposure to a laser beam are damage to the skin and eyes. Skin effects include erythema, elastosis (photoageing), immediate pigment darkening (tanning), burns and skin cancer. Eye effects include photokeratitis, photoconjunctivitis, cataracts, photoretinal damage and burns.
These include both direct beam hazards such as tissue burns, eye damage, endotracheal tube fire, drape fire, and explosion of gases, or non-beam hazards (those that are secondary to the actual beam interaction) such as laser generated airborne contaminants (surgical plume), electrical damage, toxic dyes, and system ...
Bottom Line. There is a mixed bag of scientific research indicating that cold laser therapy may be beneficial for pain relief in certain conditions. However, it may not be effective in improving function in musculoskeletal conditions. (And maybe the placebo effect is at play with some studies.
It is important to note that more frequent usage doesn't necessarily mean better results; overdoing it could lead to irritation and sensitivity in the treated areas, so it's best not to exceed the recommended frequencies.
Although laser and IPL technology has not been known to cause skin cancer, this does not mean that laser and IPL therapies are without long-term risks.
The FDA Stance on Laser Therapy
This clearance signifies that the FDA recognizes the therapy as safe and effective for specific uses, including pain reduction, inflammation reduction, and enhanced tissue healing.
Contraindications. Cold laser therapy should not be used over any suspicious cancerous lesions, or carcinoma, over the thyroid, on pregnant patients, and there should not be direct irradiation of the eyes, as the laser can cause permanent damage to the eyes.
The effects of MLS laser therapy are usually felt immediately after a single treatment and can last up to 6 months or more. Remember though, each case is unique and the results differ. In some cases, patients may need to undergo several treatments over a period of weeks or months in order to achieve long-term relief.
For some people, a daily session of 10-20 minutes is sufficient to achieve the desired benefits, but this may vary depending on the condition being treated and the intensity of the light. It is also important to protect the eyes and skin from exposure to light, as prolonged or intense exposure may cause harm.
Do I Need Eye Protection When Doing Red Light Therapy? As we've just discussed, while red light therapy is generally considered safe for your eyes, it's still a good idea to take some precautions to ensure maximum safety and comfort… One such precaution is using eye protection during your red light therapy sessions.
Will light therapy treatments cause detox symptoms? If your cells are starved for light, a full Joovv treatment may cause some detox-related symptoms before your body acclimates. If you experience these types of issues, we recommended stopping treatments until the symptoms go away.
The main difference between laser therapy and general red light therapy is that the Class IV lasers used in veterinary and human medical offices offer stronger and significantly more targeted treatment.
Unfortunately, the answer is: not usually. Some insurance plans will cover the procedure, but very few.
Best Handheld: LightStim for Wrinkles
“LightStim is the OG red light wand and stands out for its FDA-cleared technology and customizable treatment options,” says Bassiri-Tehrani.
A beam shone directly into a person's eye can instantly cause damage, especially if the laser is a powerful one. Moreover, eye injuries caused by laser light often do not cause immediate pain. Vision can deteriorate slowly and, therefore, may go unnoticed for days.
Research relating to injury thresholds of the eye and skin has been carried out in order to understand the biological hazards of laser radiation. It is now widely accepted that the human eye is almost always more vulnerable to injury than human skin.
Laser therapy is extremely safe when basic protocols are followed by the laser operator and support staff. As with all therapeutic procedures, some element of risk is present through negligence or accident. These hazards are easily prevented or reduced with safety protocols for each application.