Lakshyakiran Cosmetic Laser Center, Kolhapur, India: Wrinkles

Laser Treatment

What is Laser Therapy?

Laser therapies are medical treatments that use focused light. Laser light is a very
special kind of light. Unlike most light sources, it is tuned to very specific
wavelengths. This allows it to be focused into powerful beams. Laser light is
so intense it can be used to shape diamonds or cut steel. In medicine, lasers
offer surgeons the ability to work very precisely. They can focus on a small
area and damage less of the surrounding tissue. Patients who have laser therapy
may experience less pain, swelling, and scarring than with traditional surgery.
However, laser therapy is expensive. It may also require repeated treatments. 

Laser stands for: Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. 

What is Laser Therapy Used For?

Laser therapy is used in many procedures. It may be used to:

• shrink or destroy tumors, polyps, or precancerous
  growths
• relieve symptoms of cancer
• remove kidney stones
• remove part of the prostate
• repair a detached retina
• improve vision (“laser eye surgery”)

Lasers can have a cauterizing (sealing) effect. They may be used to seal:

• nerve endings, to reduce pain after surgery
• blood vessels, to help prevent blood loss
• lymph vessels, to reduce swelling and limit spread of
  tumor cells

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), lasers may be useful in treating the very early stages of
cancers such as:

• cervical cancer
• penile cancer
• vaginal cancer
• vulvar cancer
• non-small cell lung cancer
• basal cell skin cancer (NCI)
  

When used in cancer treatment, lasertherapy is usually used alongside other treatments such as surgery,
chemotherapy, or radiation.Laser therapy is also usedcosmetically. It can:

• remove warts, moles, birthmarks, and sun spots
• remove hair
• lessen the appearance of wrinkles, blemishes or scars
• remove tattoos

How is Laser Therapy Done?

Laser therapy techniques vary basedon the specific procedure being performed. For example, if a tumor is being treated, a flexible endoscope may be used to direct the laser. This is a thin, lighted tube used to view tissues inside the body.The endoscope is inserted through an opening in the body, such as the mouth. The surgeon then aims the laser and shrinks or destroys the tumor.In contrast, for cosmetic procedures,
lasers are often applied directly to the skin.Different lasers are used for different procedures:

• Carbon dioxide (CO2)
  lasers make shallow cuts. They are often used for superficial cancers, such as skin cancer.
• Argon lasers
  also make shallow cuts. They can be used to activate photosensitizing (light activated) drugs during Photodynamic therapy (PDT). This type of cancer treatment combines light with chemotherapy to kill more cancer cells.
• Nd:YAG
  lasers can travel along optical fibers. They are used in Laser-induced interstitial thermotherapy (LITT), a type of cancer treatment.

What are the Risks of Laser Therapy?

Laser therapy has some risks.According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), the risks for skin therapy include:

• triggering the herpes simplex virus, the virus that causes cold sores and genital herpes
• bleeding
• infection
• pain
• scarring
• skin color changes

There are other potential downsides to laser therapy.

• The effects may not be permanent. Repeated treatment may be necessary.
• Some laser surgery is done when a patient is under general anesthesia, which carries its own set of risks.
• Treatments are expensive. This type of therapy may not be affordable for many patients.

What are the Benefits of Laser Therapy? 
There are many potential benefits of receiving laser therapy:

• Lasers are more precise than traditional surgical instruments. Cuts can be made shorter and shallower. This causes less damage to tissue.

• Operations are generally shorter than traditional surgeries. They can often be done on an outpatient basis. Patients don’t have to spend the night in the hospital. If general anesthesia is required, it is usually used for a shorter time..

• Patients usually heal faster. They may have less pain, swelling, and scarring than with traditional surgeries.

Wrinkles

Worried that your skin looks older than you feel? Here are 23 ways to reduce wrinkles

Whether you're 35 and just beginning to see the first signs of ageing or 55 with skin that isn't exactly keeping your birthday a secret, seeking ways to reduce wrinkles is probably on your agenda. At the same time, experts say, many of us are losing the wrinkle battle, watching helplessly as the glow of youth goes on the dimmer switch. Many women as well as men believe that ageing skin is inevitable, but with the information and technologies we have today, you really can look as young as you feel.

How to Reduce Wrinkles? What You Can Do

1. Avoid The Sun It's the No. 1 cause of wrinkles, with dozens of studies documenting the impact. In one study that looked at identical twins, New York plastic surgeon found sun exposure was even more important than heredity. Siblings who limited sun time had fewer wrinkles and looked younger overall than their sun-worshiping twins. 2. Wear Sunscreen If you must go out in the sun, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says, wear sunscreen! It will protect you from skin cancer, and help prevent wrinkles at the same time. 3. Don't Smoke Some of the research is still controversial, but more and more studies are confirming that cigarette smoke ages skin mostly by releasing an enzyme that breaks down collagen and elastin, important components of the skin. Sibling studies done at the Twin Research Unit at St. Thomas Hospital in London found the brother or sister who smoked tended to have skin that was more wrinkled and up to 40% thinner than the non-smoker. 4. Get Adequate Sleep Yale dermatologist Nicholas Perricone, MD, says that when you don't get enough sleep, the body produces excess cortisol, a hormone that breaks down skin cells. Get enough rest, Perricone says, and you'll produce more HGH (Human Growth Hormone), which helps skin remain thick, more "elastic," and less likely to wrinkle. 5. Sleep On Your Back. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) cautions that sleeping in certain positions at night leads to sleep lines wrinkles that become etched into the surface of the skin and don't disappear once you're up. Sleeping on your side increases wrinkles on cheeks and chin, while sleeping face down gives you a furrowed brow. To reduce wrinkle formation, the AAD says, sleep on your back. 6. Don't Squint Get Reading Glasses! The AAD says any repetitive facial movement like squinting overworks facial muscles, forming a groove beneath the skin's surface. This groove eventually becomes a wrinkle. Also important: wear sunglasses. It will protect skin around the eyes from sun damage and further keep you from squinting. 7. Eat More Fish Particularly Salmon Not only is salmon (along with other cold-water fish) a great source of protein one of the building blocks of your skin. it's also an awesome source of an essential fatty acid known as Omega-3. Perricone tells WebMD that essential fatty acids help nourish skin and keep it plump and youthful, helping to reduce wrinkles. 8. Eat More Soy So far, most of the proof has come from animal studies, but research does show certain properties of soy may help protect or heal some of the Sun's photoaging damage. In one recent human study, published in the European Journal of Nutrition, researchers reported that a soy-based supplement (other ingredients included fish protein and extracts from white tea, grapeseed, and tomato, as well as several vitamins) improved skin's structure and firmness after just six months of use. 9. Trade Coffee For Cocoa In a study published in the Journal of Nutritionin 2006, researchers found cocoa containing high levels of two dietary flavanols (epicatchin and catechin) protected skin from sun damage, improved circulation to skin cells, affected hydration, and made the skin look and feel smoother. 10. Eat More Fruits And Vegetables The key, says Kraus, are their antioxidant compounds. These compounds fight damage caused by free radicals (unstable molecules that can damage cells), which in turn helps skin look younger and more radiant, and protects against some effects of photoaging. 11. Use Moisturizer "Women, especially, are so concerned with antiaging products they often overlook the power of a simple moisturizer. Skin that is moist simply looks better, so lines and creases are far less noticeable," . 12. Don't Over Wash Your Face According to dermatologists at the University of Maryland Medical Center, tap water strips skin of its natural barrier oils and moisture that protect against wrinkles. Wash them off too often, and you wash away protection. Moreover, unless your soap contains moisturizers, you should use a cleanser instead.

Topical Treatments That Reduce Wrinkles

Studies show the following ingredients can reduce wrinkles. Most are found in a variety of skin-care treatments, both prescription and over-the-counter. 13. Alpha-Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) These natural fruit acids lift away the top layer of dead skin cells, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, particularly around the eyes. New evidence shows that in higher concentrations, AHAs may help stimulate collagen production. 14. Retinoids (Including Retin A) The only FDA-approved topical treatment for wrinkles is tretinoin, known commercially as Retin A. Ashinoff says this prescription cream reduces fine lines and large wrinkles, and repairs sun damage. Retinol is a natural form of vitamin A found in many over-the-counter products. Studies show that in a stabilized formula, in high concentrations, it may be as effective as Retin A, without the side effects, such as skin burning and sensitivity. 15. Topical Vitamin C Studies at Tulane University, among others, have found it can increase collagen production, protect against damage from UVA and UVB rays, correct pigmentation problems, and improve inflammatory skin conditions. The key, however, may be the type of vitamin C used. To date, most of the research points to the L-ascorbic acid form as the most potent for wrinkle relief. 16. Idebenone This chemical cousin to the nutrient coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)is a super-powerful antioxidant. In one study published recently in the Journal of Dermatology, doctors found that with just 6 weeks of topical use, there was a 26% reduction in skin roughness and dryness, a 37% increase in hydration, a 29% decrease in lines and wrinkles, and a 33% overall improvement in sun-damaged skin. Other studies have found similar results. 17. Growth Factors Part of the body's natural wound-healing response, these compounds, when applied topically, may reduce sun damage and decrease lines and wrinkles, while rejuvenating collagen production, studies have shown. 18. Pentapeptides The results of a study supported by the National Institutes of Health suggested pentapeptides can increase collagen production in sun-damaged skin. Several subsequent studies showed that when topically applied, pentapeptides stimulated collagen production and diminished lines and wrinkles.

Medical And Spa Treatments That Reduce Wrinkles

19. Botulinum Toxin Type A An injection of this purified version of the Botulinum Toxin A relaxes the muscle just underneath the wrinkle, allowing the skin on top to lie smooth and crease-free. 20. Wrinkle Fillers Doctors fill wrinkles with a variety of substances, including collagen, hyaluronic acid, and other synthetic compounds. Popular treatments include Restylane, Juvederm, and ArteFill, among others. 21. Laser & light Resurfacing. Here, energy from a light source -- either a laser or a pulsed diode light -- removes the top layer of skin, causing a slight but unnoticeable skin "wounding." This kicks the skin's natural collagen-production system into high gear, resulting in smoother, more wrinkle-free skin. 22. Chemical Peels In this treatment, one of a variety of different chemicals is used to "burn" away the top layer of skin, creating damage that causes the body to respond by making more collagen. You end up with younger-looking, smoother skin. 23. Dermabrasion. A vacuum suction device used in tandem with a mild chemical crystal, dermabrasion helps remove the top layer of skin cells and bring new, more evenly textured skin to the surface. In the process, fine lines and wrinkles seem to disappear.