The Q switched laser is used to remove unwanted brown spots from the skin. It is a non-invasive laser. The laser emits energy or heat pulse which releases the pigment into the skin so it can be naturally reabsorbed and disposed of by the body. The energy emitted from the Q switched laser is concentrated into very powerful pulses. The laser feels like tiny dots on the skin. You may feel little discomfort during the treatment. We try our best to minimize the slight discomfort by the steam of cold air during the treatment.
It takes care of any intense color like black or deep brown in pigment on the skin, hair, or colors in a tattoo. Depending on the wavelength it
penetrates to different depths of the skin. The pigment absorbs the laser energy and gets fragmented within the skin’s tissues, thereby giving you a smooth and even skin tone.
Q switched lasers have made a huge impact in the aesthetic world, primarily for their ability to safely and effectively remove unwanted tattoos. However, that’s not all they’re capable of doing. This innovative technology has been instrumental in the development of various clinical and dermatological applications.
Two elements make Q-Switched Nd-YAG lasers essential for treating skin conditions:
- The 1064 nm and 532 nm wavelengths can be useful for targeting certain pigments.
- The pulse is powerful enough to destroy its target but brief enough to not harm the skin
There are two main types of Q switching:
- Active Q switching: This may be a mechanical device such as a shutter, or a chopper wheel. The reduction of losses (an increase of Q) is triggered by an external event, typically an electrical signal. The pulse repetition rate can, therefore, be externally controlled. Modulators generally allow a faster transition from low to high Q and provide better control. An additional advantage of modulators is that the rejected light may be coupled out of the cavity and can be used for something else.
- Passive Q switching: In this case, the Q-switch is a material whose transmission increases when the intensity of light exceeds some threshold. As the laser power increases, it saturates the absorber, i.e., rapidly reduces the resonator loss, so that the power can increase even faster. Ideally, this brings the absorber into a state with low losses to allow efficient extraction of the stored energy by the laser pulse. After the pulse, the absorber recovers to its high-loss state before the gain recovers, so that the next pulse is delayed until the energy in the gain medium is fully replenished.
Q switched laser is used for:
- Even skin tone
- Acne
- Mole
- Sunspot
- Dark circles
- Enlarged pores
- Unwanted tattoos
- Pigmented lesions (brown spots, age spots, etc)
- Toenail fungus
- Skin rejuvenation
- Non-ablative skin rejuvenation
In all these above cases, the Q switched laser is important for the treatment because the laser can penetrate the skin or the nail without any harm. The energy is absorbed by the targeted area (whether it be tattoo pigmented, hemoglobin, melanin, or fungus).
Two different wavelengths are used for different applications as per the requirement, as they are absorbed differently by the pigments and chromophores.
Q switch laser creates an invisible beam of light that specifically targets the brown pigment or melanin present in the dark spots without having any effect on the surrounding skin. The pigment absorbs the laser energy and gets fragmented within the skin’s tissues, thereby giving you a smooth and even skin tone.
It is a quick procedure and it hardly takes 30 minutes. Also, it is a completely painless treatment. It may require more than one session of the treatment. The number of sessions depends on patient to patient. Most of the patients require 2 to 3 sessions of it. Usually, it does not require any downtime. You can get back to your routine. However, you have to do some post-treatment care.
A mild pinkish flush can be present after the treatment that will not last more than 15 minutes after the treatment.
After the treatment skin looks bright instantly. It gives you smoother and firmer skin. It resurfaces the skin.
This treatment is best suited for pigmented skin, uneven skin tone, patchiness on the face, fine but dark hair on your face and body. Also, it works well over many sittings for collagen stimulation and tightening of open pores, post-acne pigmented scars. Dark circles improve to a large extent in combination with creams and peels.
- Application of prescribed cream to maintain long-lasting results.
- Keep your skin moisturized.
- Sunscreen application regularly.
- Avoid extremities of heat such as hot showers, hot tubs for 72 hours after the treatment.
- Do not use harsh exfoliating cleansers or scrub for 72 hours after the treatment.
- Do not use bleaching creams on the treated area for 72 hours.
- Avoid bending your head or your body for 72 hours.
- Do not apply makeup for a few days.
- Avoid sleeping on your back for 3 to 4 days.
- Avoid vigorous activities, smoking, and alcohol consumption.