You may know that laser skin treatments, such as laser hair removal, are now one of the most popular cosmetic treatments in the US, but did you ever stop to wonder how they got there? How did someone discover that lasers could be used for beauty treatments?
The concept of laser technology is celebrating its 100th birthday this year, having been first mentioned by Albert Einstein in 1917, but skin treatments utilizing the phenomenon are a much more recent invention. If you’re considering laser hair removal or laser skin treatment, surely you’re at least a little curious about how the procedure was developed?
From Einstein’s Theory to Laser Skin Treatments
The specifics make for a very dry read, unless you’re particularly thrilled by physics, but suffice to say that Einstein’s 19si17 theory was the beginning of Light Amplification Stimulated by the Emission of Radiation, or laser technology. This is definitely one instance where you’ll be grateful someone coined an abbreviation – imagine how much time your certified laser technician would spend reeling off the full name otherwise. Probably enough to reduce the number of treatments they could perform and none of us want that.
As you’ve probably guessed, Einstein’s laser wasn’t quite the same as the IPL machines used for laser skin treatments and laser hair removal 100 years later and there’s been quite a lot of tweaking and improving done over the past few decades. Here’s a quick timeline of the journey laser made from Light Amplification Stimulated by the Emission of Radiation, to an everyday part of your beauty routine.
- 1917 – Albert Einstein describes and develops the concept of laser technology
- 1954 – Bell Laboratories introduce concept of MASER, or microwave technology
- 1960 – First “real” laser built in Hughes Aircraft facility, known as the Ruby laser
- 1960 – Initial testing of laser for skin treatments carried out by Dr. Leon Goldman
Dr. Goldman made quite the leap in 1960 and paved the way for laser skin treatments to tackle melanoma and more. In fact, his research and development meant the Ruby laser was used for eye surgery by the end of the 60s. As you know, laser skin treatments have continued to go from strength to strength ever since.
Refining Laser Skin Treatment Technology
While it’s still at the cutting edge of skin treatment and hair removal technology, some of the lasers used in today’s beauty routines are, in fact, more than 50 years old.
The nd:YAG laser, commonly used today for laser hair removal on certain skin tones, was first conceived of in 1964. That’s a pretty impressive development by anyone’s standards.
Of course, even though there were some frankly amazing leaps made in laser technology development quite early on, it hasn’t all been plain sailing in the world of laser skin treatments. It’s not unusual for new beauty treatments or products to be duplicated as their popularity increases and laser technology was no exception. As IPL laser technology became a must-have for skin treatments and clinics in the 1990s, some less-than-experienced manufacturers jumped onto the bandwagon and released their own versions. These sub-standard IPL machines had some unfortunate consequences for early adopters of laser skin treatments but, thankfully, the industry tightened up and the smaller, less reliable manufacturers soon became a thing of the past.
Laser Skin Treatments in 2017
Now that you’ve had your quick history lesson and, hopefully, found it interesting, it’s time to get back to the matter in hand – the laser skin treatments you’re planning to have. Providing you choose a reputable laser center, laser hair removal and skin treatments are a whole different ball game to anything which is likely to have been imagined by Einstein or the inventors of the Ruby laser and you’ll be very glad of that. Of course, you’ll know that working with a certified laser technician in a reputable laser center isn’t really a matter of choice, it’s the only way to go.
As you’re planning your laser skin treatments and discussing your needs with your certified laser technician, you’ll become more aware of what’s most suitable for you and laser technology can now be used to treat a wide range of skin issues, not to mention long-term hair removal. Some of the most common laser skin treatments today include the following:
- Laser hair removal
- Laser skin rejuvenation
- Tattoo removal
- Reducing the appearance of visible facial or leg veins, also known as spider veins
- Tackling scars, stretch marks and signs of aging
- Boosting collagen production for more youthful-looking skin
- Laser vaginal rejuvenation
Remember that this isn’t an exhaustive list, the capabilities of laser technology when it comes to skin treatments are pretty phenomenal.
Why Choose Laser Skin Treatments?
The “how” part has already been covered but you may still be wondering why laser technology became popular for beauty use. The specific benefits of each skin treatment will depend on various factors, including your skin tone and the severity of the issue you’re hoping to combat, but in general terms, the benefits of laser technology are numerous.
- Excellent results are achievable by a certified laser technician
- Reputable laser centers can help you with an array of skin treatments, some of which were mentioned above
- Laser hair removal can inhibit the growth of hair in the selection area, meaning you can experience long-lasting results and greatly reduce your need for alternative hair removal
- Laser skin treatments tend to be quick. For example, PicoWay Resolve® laser skin rejuvenation takes just 20 minutes, fitting nicely into your lunchbreak
- Minimal, or no, downtime is needed after most treatments
- Laser skin treatments can be tailored to your individual needs, targeting the specific areas you’re concerned about
- The results can provide a fantastic boost to your self-confidence and self-esteem
If your interest in laser skin treatments has been piqued by this brief history lesson and you want to experience the advantages for yourself, get started by consulting a certified laser technician or reputable laser center.
Caroll Delo is a board certified laser technician at Simply Smooth Laser Center in Tampa, a niche practice that focuses specifically on laser treatments. Simply Smooth Laser Center offers the most advanced options in laser hair removal, laser skin rejuvenation and laser tattoo removal.
