How Does Laser Treatment Work? 

Laser and light treatments deliver controlled energy to the skin. Depending on the treatment, that energy may target pigment, blood vessels, hair follicles, or water within the skin. Fractional lasers create microscopic areas of controlled injury in the skin. This stimulates the skin’s natural healing response and encourages new collagen production, which can improve texture, fine lines, and the appearance of certain scars. Since different technologies work differently, “laser treatment” is not one single procedure. The type of treatment, settings, and number of sessions are selected based on your individual skin and concerns. 

What Laser Treatments Are Available at Calvert Dermatology? 

At Calvert Dermatology, we use the Nordlys® System, which includes several treatment options for skin rejuvenation, pigmentation, redness, hair removal, and acne scarring.  

SWT IPL 

SWT IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) uses controlled pulses of light to target red and brown pigmentation in the skin. It may be used to improve the appearance of sun spots, uneven pigmentation, facial redness, visible blood vessels, and some signs of sun damage. The same technology can also be used for unwanted hair.  

Frax 1550 

The Frax 1550 is a fractional, non-ablative laser that treats deeper layers of the skin without removing the surface. It stimulates collagen production and can help improve skin texture, fine lines, wrinkles, and the appearance of acne scars.  

Frax 1940 

The Frax 1940 is also a fractional, non-ablative laser, but it works more superficially than the Frax 1550. It can be used to address pigmentation and other surface-level skin concerns. Your dermatologist may recommend one treatment or, in some cases, a combination depending on what you are trying to improve. 

What Skin Concerns Can Laser Treatment Improve? 

Depending on the technology used, treatment may help improve sun spots and age spots. uneven pigmentation, facial redness and visible blood vessels, fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin texture, acne scars, unwanted hair and some signs of sun damage At Calvert Dermatology, we consider your skin type, the specific concern you want to address, and your goals before recommending treatment.  

Are There Risks? 

Laser and light-based treatments are generally well tolerated when appropriately selected, but they do have potential risks. These may include redness, swelling, discomfort, blistering, infection, scarring, and changes in skin pigmentation.  

Changes in pigmentation can be an important consideration for people with darker skin tones. The risk varies depending on the treatment, settings, and individual skin type. This is one reason why an evaluation with a dermatologist before treatment is important.  

How Many Treatments Will I Need? 

The number of treatments depends on what is being treated and which technology is used. Some concerns may improve after one treatment, while others typically require a series of treatments. 

It is also important to have realistic expectations. Laser treatment can improve the appearance of sun damage, pigmentation, scars, wrinkles, or uneven texture, but it does not stop the natural aging process or prevent future sun damage.