Erbium Laser

There are some potential side effects to Erbium laser, including redness, swelling, itchiness or discomfort in the treated area. There’s also a risk of exacerbating breakouts or the production of temporary white pimples on the skin, and the possibility of treated skin becoming darker or lighter. Erbium laser can also lead to infection and/or cold sore flare-ups if correct aftercare is not carried out.

Erbium laser is capable of creating significant change in the skin, so some downtime is inevitable. The most common side effects include generalised discomfort and mild swelling, which lasts around 1-2 weeks. This can be followed by some skin peeling or flaking. Some patients may also experience persistent redness for a few weeks. Recovery from erbium laser skin resurfacing treatment typically takes from 5 to 21 days, although this depends on the laser used and the nature of the treated condition. It's important to keep the skin moisturised and not to scratch or pull at any areas of peeling, as this may damage the skin.

Because the energy generated is so readily absorbed by water in the skin cells, an Erbium laser vaporises the target tissue instantly, but visible results won't appear until the skin has recovered and generated new skin cells. Some treatments will require multiple passes over the same area to achieve a deeper resurfacing result. For this level of laser skin resurfacing, full results may take 4 to 6 months to fully appear.

Erbium laser resurfacing can be ablative or non-ablative, depending upon the type of laser used and the goals of treatment. Generally, ablative laser tends to be more painful because it removes (or ablates) the top layer of skin. But laser skin resurfacing treatment is performed under topical or local anaesthetic to thoroughly numb the treatment area. Following the treatment session, the level of discomfort experienced can vary, depending on the patient’s individual response.

The term 'Erbium laser' specifically refers to the use of Erbium as the laser's active ion source, used to generate the beam of concentrated light energy that's absorbed by water within the cells of the skin surface. The laser energy vaporises the skin cells in a controlled manner, removing dead skin cells that triggers the body's natural renewal process to promote the production of new skin cells.

Fraxel® lasers, on the other hand, use a proprietary technology that delivers laser energy to the skin in a grid-like pattern, creating multiple microscopic treatment zones on the skin's surface surrounded by unaffected tissue. Your practitioner can recommend the appropriate laser treatment for your personal skin needs.

This depends on the targeted area being treated. If it's a targeted treatment on specific areas of unwanted skin texture or discolouration, the high levels of precision offered by an Erbium laser may mean additional sessions of laser resurfacing aren't required. In other cases, such as visible sun damage and deeper wrinkles, the area being treated might be much larger, and additional sessions needed.

The timing of additional erbium laser treatments will also depend in part on the magnitude of any reaction and speed of healing of the skin. As a general rule, the skin takes around 21 days to recover following Erbium laser resurfacing. Once a patient’s goals have been achieved, maintenance sessions will likely be needed once or twice a year.

Ablative lasers can be divided into two groups based on their active ion source; those that use the metal Erbium and those using the gas carbon dioxide (CO2). In both types, the beam's heat energy is absorbed by water molecules in the tissue, and subsequently vaporises the water and skin cells. This is the process of ablation.

Although both Erbium and CO2 lasers share the same basic mechanism of operation above, the CO2 laser can penetrate deeper into the skin (with an energy wavelength of up to 10,600 nm). This can support an increase in collagen production, but has a higher risk of thermal injury to surrounding tissue. CO2 ablative laser is usually recommended for deeper skin issues such as warts, post-blemish marks, deep wrinkles and advanced photoageing.

Erbium-based laser, which doesn't penetrate the skin as deeply, tends to be used for more surface-level skin concerns, such as fine lines, wrinkles, and skin laxity, and has a shorter recovery time and less risk.

Well looked-after skin not only recovers more quickly, but also achieves better results after any aesthetic procedure. Proper pre- and post-treatment care can significantly impact the final results, which is why professional skincare clinics may recommend facial treatments before and/or after a procedure like erbium laser resurfacing.

There are many ways to prep your skin for laser skin resurfacing at home. However, it’s important to consult with a trusted clinician on specific pre- and post-care instructions, as these can differ, depending on the type of erbium laser used, the area treated, and your unique skin concern.