Laser treatment has become a popular solution for a variety of skin issues, including hair removal, blemish removal, pore and texture improvement, and scar treatment. However, there are limitations to laser treatment devices.
One of the advantages of laser treatment is that each specific wavelength can address a particular skin concern. However, this can also be the biggest disadvantage of laser treatment. Therefore, many medical beauty centers gather multiple laser devices to accommodate the diverse needs of clients. Sometimes, the same client needs to use more than one device, which can be inconvenient. There are now some platform-based laser devices that use different handpieces to emit different wavelengths of laser, and even release colored light. One device can address different skin concerns. However, the stability, price, size (larger than regular laser devices), maintenance, and other issues of platform lasers need to be carefully considered. Although the wavelength is the same, the effectiveness and stability of individual laser devices are still superior. The latest picosecond laser cannot currently be used in a platform laser. Platform lasers have not yet overcome the drawbacks of laser treatment.
In Hong Kong, where space is limited, the size of laser devices is particularly important in medical beauty centers. The most commonly used lasers are solid-state lasers, which are larger and take up more space. Diode lasers are becoming more popular, as they are smaller and cheaper. However, not all lasers can use this technology, so solid-state lasers are still more prevalent. There is also a type of device called TRASER (total reflection amplification of spontaneous emission of radiation), which is a mixture of colored light and laser. By changing the color of the dye, different narrow-spectrum lights can be emitted, and the pulse duration time can be adjusted. One device can handle multiple skin concerns, and it may shine in the future.
Laser treatment is not a cure-all, and not all skin issues can be addressed with it. Hormonal spots, sebaceous hyperplasia, white hair, and multi-colored tattoos are the enemies of laser treatment. No matter what wavelength or energy laser is used, they cannot be completely eliminated. I believe that the future of laser treatment requires a new system to address these “incurable” issues.