Want to sport younger-looking skin effectively without undergoing surgery? Good thing you found Frax Skin Resurfacing treatment. The name comes from how it works: treating a fraction of the skin.
It is a fractional laser treatment that creates micro-injuries on one’s skin to promote healing without causing dramatic damage. As easy as that sounds, there’s more to it that you would want to know.
What to Know About Frax Skin Resurfacing Treatment?
Like any other time you want treatment, being informed is the best approach. Frax Skin Resurfacing treatment works microscopically, but the effects are visible. To know more, read on.
How it Works
The laser produces many tiny small laser beams. They target the areas you want to be treated and tell your body where to generate new collagen directly. The lasers induce pain to get a healing reaction from your body.
The treatment includes lasers which also means discomfort. The micro-injuries inflicted are uncomfortable but bearable. They should only be like tiny shallow pricks on your skin.
The device is designed to target sun-damaged skin or skin with hyperpigmentation, basically, the skin area with an unusual amount of melanin. But it has more benefits than just these.
There are two general types of this treatment, ablative and non-ablative. The ablative treatment is more aggressive and painful and requires a longer recovery and more post-treatment care. The non-ablative treatment, on the other hand, is less aggressive with less dramatic effect, requires lower recovery time, and less intense post-treatment care.
Pre-Treatment Precautions
There are several pre-treatment precautions to mind before undergoing the Frax Skin Resurfacing treatment, but that doesn’t necessarily mean all apply to you. Your choice of the medical spa will be able to provide you with a list of things that need to be done before the treatment.
The list may include the following:
- Avoid self-tanners, tanning beds, and direct sun exposure
- Refrain from taking oral antibiotics and steroids at least ten days before the treatment
- Temporarily discontinue the application of topical products and avoid acids and retinol products seven days before treatment
- Avoid any form of nicotine from entering your body a few weeks before the treatment
- Skip the waxing on areas you expect to be treated
- Remove all makeup
Post-Treatment Care
Naturally, your treatment provider will teach you how to care for your skin post-treatment. We will advise you to apply a cold compress for mild to intense heat. Apply it for 30 seconds, get it off for the next 30 seconds, and repeat the process within 5 minutes.
You could also ask for a list of post-treatment to-dos and not-to-dos, which may include the following:
- Apply soothing products
- Avoid exposure to direct sunlight
- Make sure the area is not covered tightly with clothing to avoid abrasion
- Do not wear makeup nor apply cosmetic products and other cosmetic treatments
- Apply epidermal repair and hydrating balms as prescribed by your provider
- Refrain from waxing for at least two weeks after the treatment
- Do not apply perfume, lotion, or deodorant to the area
- Avoid sweating and high temperature
- Keep the treated areas clean
It’s Benefits
Frax Skin Resurfacing treatment says a lot by its name. The laser injures the skin, which allows healthier and brighter skin cells to grow. It shows the appearance of younger skin.
It evens skin tone, smoothes skin texture, treats hyperpigmentation and scars, and adds radiance to the skin. It also reduces pores, treats fine wrinkles, reduces stretch marks, and promotes collagen and elastin. All of these give the appearance of a more youthful glow.
You may schedule follow-up sessions until your desired result is achieved. However, be reminded to go easy on your skin. Give it time to recuperate before undergoing another treatment.
The Side Effects
Aside from the heat on the treated area, which should subside in 24 hours, you will experience redness, mild swelling, and flaking or peeling after the treatment. The severity will depend on the intensity of the treatment. Primarily, the safety lies in the hands of your provider.
There should be nothing to be wary of if the treatment was done correctly. There is a lesser risk of infection if your skin is prepared well. Hydration also helps quicken the healing process. And with proper care, the side effects will be gone in at least two weeks after the treatment.
Note also that risk of infection is higher with more intense treatments than with less aggressive ones. The ablative treatments go deeper into the skin, addressing more severe skin issues, but the risk of irritation is also higher.
Downtime
Many beauty spas or laser treatment clinics claim their Frax Skin Resurfacing treatments have low downtime. Although that is true to some extent, the downtime may still take a couple of weeks, depending on the intensity of the treatment. There is also a chance the recovery time will take more than a month, especially for sensitive skin.
But consistent and proper post-treatment care should increase the healing speed and lessen the irritation on the skin. Ideally, it’s better to have multiple less aggressive treatments than a few intense treatments. The non-ablative laser treatment has lower risks and less downtime.
Is it for Everyone?
Is Frax Skin Resurfacing treatment for everyone? Sadly, no. Laser treatment is not for everyone. But it caters to a wide variety of people, so there’s a high chance you make the cut.
The laser treatment is ideal for anyone between 25 to 60 years old. Younger people regenerate skin quicker. There may be better options than this pricey treatment. For older people, there is a chance that the downtime is much longer. The risks and side effects may also be more pronounced.
Pregnant women are discouraged from undergoing any laser treatment for obvious reasons. You may also find clinics refusing to immediately treat skin recently exposed to tanning beds of self-tanners as these may affect the treatment negatively.
People with acne, eczema and severe rosacea are advised not to undergo this treatment. Those with a history of keloid, vitiligo, and hypertrophic scarring are also out of the cue for this treatment as their conditions may worsen.
Last Words
Whether looking for a treatment to remove your scars, balance your skin tone, remove wrinkles or brighten your skin, you will find Frax Skin Resurfacing treatment beneficial. It’s not as risky a procedure as undergoing surgery, and the post-treatment care still allows for much mobility. The effects are almost immediate as well.
If ever you decide to get this treatment, go to an authorized medical spa for consultation, ready your skin and prepare for the post-treatment care. And you should get that clearer and brighter skin in no time.
