Conditions Back ConditionsDrugs & Supplements Back Drugs & SupplementsWell-Being Back Well-BeingMore Back More Privacy & More Subscribe Log In Search Subscribe Beauty GuideFace & BodyHair & Nails Makeup & CosmeticsOutsmart Aging View Full Guide Laser Skin ResurfacingMedically Reviewed by Jabeen Begum, MD on June 12, 2023Written by Mary Anne Dunkin7 min readIf aging, acne, or too much time in the sun has left your face with blotches, scars, wrinkles, or lines, laser skin resurfacing may help your skin look younger and healthier.Laser skin resurfacing also known as laser peel, laser vaporization or lasabrasion, removes skin layer by layer with precision. The new skin cells that form during healing give the skin a tighter, younger looking surface. The procedure can be done alone or with other cosmetic surgeries on the face.Who Is a Good Candidate for Laser Skin Resurfacing?If you have fine lines or wrinkles around your eyes or mouth or on your forehead, shallow scars from , or non-responsive skin after a facelift, then you may be a good candidate for laser skin resurfacing. You may also be a good candidate if you have: WartsAge spots or liver spotsSkin scars from birthmarksSun-damaged skinEnlarged oil glands on your noseBirthmarks such as linear epidermal nevi You may not be a candidate for laser resurfacing if you have:Excessive or sagging skinDeep wrinklesActive acnePregnant or breastfeedingWeakened immune systemDeeper skin tone if you have very dark skin, some laser resurfacing techniques could cause inflammation or discoloration after the treatment. It’s worth noting that deeper also have the potential for keloid scarring. Your dermatologist may use the Fitzpatrick scale, which matches the pigment level (melanin) in your skin to your risk of sun damage and skin cancer. The scale ranges from 1 to 6. If you have very brown skin, you may be a 5 or 6 on this scale. This rating also means you have less potential risk for skin damage. However, everyone has some type of risk of skin cancer.Overall, you should discuss whether laser resurfacing is right for you by consulting with the doctor before having the procedure done.Types of Laser Resurfacing CO2 Laser ResurfacingThis method has been used for years to treat different skin issues, including wrinkles, scars, , enlarged oil glands on the nose, and other conditions. The newest version of CO2 laser resurfacing (fractionated CO2) uses very short pulsed light energy (known as ultrapulse) or continuous light beams that are delivered in a scanning pattern to remove thin layers of skin with minimal heat damage. Recovery takes up to two weeks.If you are a person of color, this type of laser resurfacing could cause hyperpigmentation or scarring.Erbium Laser ResurfacingErbium laser resurfacing is designed to remove surface-level and moderately deep lines and wrinkles on the face, hands, neck, or chest. One of the benefits of erbium laser resurfacing is minimal burning of surrounding . This laser causes fewer side effects -- such as swelling, bruising, and redness -- so your recovery time should be faster than with CO2 laser resurfacing. In some cases, recovery may only take one week. Ask your doctor how long recovery is likely to take for you.If you have a person of color, erbium laser resurfacing may work better for you. However, there is always the risk of skin discoloration after the treatment. Neodymium Yag LaserIf you have darker skin tones (4 to 6 on the Fitzpatrick Scale), you may want to consider a laser called Neodymium Yag or Nd:YAG. This type of laser has a longer wavelength that goes deeper into the skin, effectively bypassing the in the upper layers of your skin. Here are some reasons to use this laser treatment: Facial or body hair removalTattoo removalBirthmark removal Inflammatory acneHyperpigmentation Vascular reductionYou may have to have more sessions because your practitioner will generally start at a lower setting. They may also adjust the of the laser, to make it cooler and more comfortable for you. Keep in mind that the risk of injury from laser therapy can happen with any skin tone. So you want to be comfortable and confident about who is administering the laser treatment. Choose a board-certified dermatologist or expert who is familiar with treating different skin tones. Pulse-Dye LasersSometimes called a pulse-dye lasers are used to treat skin issues related to your blood vessels. This is a good option is you have issues with reduce redness, hyperpigmentation, broken capillaries, and rosacea. The lasers are typically non-ablative and use a concentrated yellow light to heat the skin and absorb pigments. Fractional LasersFractional lasers target only a fraction of the skin at a times. This option can be used to treat a number of age-related blemishes, get rid of hyperpigmentation, acne scars, and wrinkles. The laser energy is broken into thousands of tiny beams to treat only a fraction of the skin in the area, which reduces downtime. Fractional lasers can be ablative or non-ablative.IPL (intense pulsed light)Technically, IPL () treatments are not lasers but are often used to treat several of the same skin issues as lasers. The technique uses light energy to target a certain color in you skin. It can be used to help repair scarring, sun damage, stretch marks, acne, rosacea, birthmarks, and hyperpigmentation, as well as to get rid of unwanted hair.Preparing for Laser ResurfacingStart by consulting a plastic surgeon or dermatologist to find out if you're a good candidate., Cost of Laser Skin Resurfacing. The average cost for laser skin resurfacing was about $2,509 for ablative and $1,445 for non-ablative laser skin resurfacing in 2020, according to the American , Skin rejuvenation and resurfacing treatment options include a variety of nonsurgical techniques and cosmetic procedures that are done to correct fine lines, wrinkles, sagging, and brown spots in order to restore the skin. They’re often done in combination, and the treatments your provider recommends will depend on several factors, including .