With modern treatments like laser skin rejuvenation, achieving the radiant, smooth, youthful skin of your dreams is easier than ever. However, not all laser treatments work the same for everyone. Your skin type plays an important role in how the lasers perform, how your skin responds, and what results you can expect. Whether you have dry, oily, sensitive, or melanin-rich skin, our guide will lay out everything you need to know before booking your laser appointment.
What is Laser Rejuvenation, How Does it Work, and How Many Treatments Do I Need?
It's important to understand the basics of laser rejuvenation before we get into the specifics of how your skin type affects your treatments. These minimally invasive treatments use concentrated light energy to tackle all kinds of skin-related imperfections.
- Reduce fine lines and wrinkles
- Improve skin texture and tone
- Fade sun damage and dark spots
- Stimulate collagen production for firmer skin
- Minimize acne scars and hyperpigmentation
With light-based laser treatments, when the concentrated light hits your skin, it transfers into heat energy. This essentially creates microscopic "injury" to the deep layers of your skin so that your body kicks into gear and sends extra collagen and elastin to fix you right up. The collagen boost helps keep your skin healthy and glowing while the elastin tightens and rejuvenates. The more you get laser rejuvenation treatments done, the longer your body continues to naturally send the good stuff to keep you looking younger for longer. Pretty cool!
Everyone requires a different amount of treatment to achieve their desired results. Here is a general idea of how many sessions patients typically undergo on average.
Mild treatments (like IPL or PicoSure): 3-5 sessions
Moderate resurfacing (like Fraxel): 2-3 sessions
Deep resurfacing (like CO2 laser): 1 session with longer downtime
Before, During, and After Your Treatment
Before your treatment, try to avoid direct sun exposure for at least two weeks, stop using retinoids or strong exfoliants a few days before, and drink plenty of water—hydrated skin heals faster!
During the treatment, you might feel a warm, tingling sensation (kind of like tiny rubber bands snapping on your skin). Some lasers require numbing cream, while others feel like a quick facial zap. Depending on the laser type, your treatment could last anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour.
After the treatment, you can expect to see some redness, swelling, or peeling (don’t panic—it’s normal!), similar to a sunburn. Use gentle skincare and avoid direct sun exposure. Healing time varies, but most people see results within a few weeks.
Choosing The Right Laser For Your Skin Type
Now that we know what's happening during these treatments, let's discuss which laser rejuvenation treatment is best for your skin type.
Your skin type is more than just dry, oily, or combination—it's also about how much melanin (pigment) you have. The Fitzpatrick Scale is commonly used for categorizing skin types from Type I (very fair) to Type VI (deep brown). The concentrated light energy from the laser treatments can interact differently with each type.
Fair Skin (Fitzpatrick Types I-II) – Light, delicate, and sun-sensitive
- Fair skin often experiences sun damage, fine lines, and redness (thanks, genetics). Luckily, most lasers work well for this skin type.
- What's the best laser for Types I-II?
- CO2 Laser – Great for deeper wrinkles and scarring
- Erbium Laser – A gentler alternative for anti-aging
- IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) – Helps with redness and pigmentation
- Since fair skin is prone to redness and sensitivity, you should ask your provider to check if the laser has an adjustable intensity level.
Medium Skin (Fitzpatrick Types III-IV) – Balanced but prone to pigmentation
- Olive, tan, and golden-toned skin is typically more prone to hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and melasma. While some lasers can fix these issues with no problem, some can trigger further pigmentation instead of fixing it.
- What's the best laser for Types III-IV?
- Nd:YAG Laser – Safe for darker tones, targets deep pigmentation
- Fraxel Laser – Great for improving texture and fine lines
- PicoSure Laser – A gentle laser that treats pigment without overheating the skin
- Avoid aggressive resurfacing lasers, which may cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).
Dark Skin (Fitzpatrick Types V-VI) – Rich Melanin, Extra Care Needed
- Darker skin is naturally more resistant to aging but is also more prone to scarring and hyperpigmentation when treated with the wrong laser.
- What's the best laser for Types V-VI?
- Nd:YAG Laser – The safest option for deep skin tones
- PicoSure Laser – Gentle enough to avoid excess pigmentation
- RF Microneedling (Not a laser, but an excellent alternative with less risk!)
- Stay far, far away from CO2 lasers and aggressive resurfacing treatments—they can cause discoloration or uneven skin tone.
Give Your Skin the Treatment it Deserves
Do you want smoother, healthier, and younger-looking skin? Are you okay with mild downtime and multiple sessions? If not - no worries! It's best to be prepared before trying new things. If you answered yes, and you're ready to begin the new path of your skincare journey, schedule a consultation with Dr. Bloch at Skin Deep Medical Spa today.
