what is fraxel laser

Fraxel laser is a line of lasers developed by Reliant Technologies in 2004. It is used primarily to rejuvenate skin due to its collagen-boosting qualities and is used to treat hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and superficial signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles, as well as acne scarring. Fraxel treatment improves tone, texture, and radiance for aging, sun-damaged, or scarred skin. The Fraxel laser treatments work by manipulating laser rays to produce the growth of healthy skin tissue that replaces the damaged cells of acne-scarred skin. Fraxel laser treatment is available in two types: Fraxel Restore, a non-ablative laser, and Fraxel Repair, which is the most powerful and uses an ablative fractionated carbon dioxide laser for more severe cases. The latter requires more extensive downtime. The energy from the lasers creates tiny "columns of thermal destruction" in the skin that stimulate the growth of new, healthy skin cells to replace the damaged ones. Complications observed in a study of 961 fractional laser treatments included acne and herpes outbreaks. There have also been anecdotal negative accounts of bad scarring and hyperpigmentation following the use of Fraxel lasers.