The ugly truth: lasers make your spots worse
Much, much worse. Please, please, stop using them.
Hi lovelies,
After 30 years in the skincare industry, I've seen countless trends come and go. But lasers? They've stuck around.
And I HATE THEM.
If there’s one myth to bust in the skincare world, it has to be that lasers make sun spots and aging spots go away.
Please, my loves, STOP using lasers for sun damage and age spots.
I’ve had this bone to pick with laser use for treating hyperpigmentation and melasma for ages. As someone who cares for people's skin, it’s so awful to see people suffer, make this mistake, and then have to spend even longer fixing the issue.
TikTok is obsessed with telling you that lasers help with hyperpigmentation.
And in one way, they are right. Because they do help to clear the dark sports.
But guess what?
It’s pouring gasoline on the fire.
Laser treatments work by targeting pigment in the skin, which is great for breaking up existing pigmentation. However, in all cases, the heat generated by the laser can stimulate melanin production, leading to an increase in hyperpigmentation.
In my decades of experience, lasers make things worse over time. You have to keep going back to them over and over again because the spots increase.
The only thing I recommend using lasers for? Hair removal (love them for that).
The Worst Uses for Lasers
Cystic Acne / Acne:
Contrary to popular belief, lasers aren't the best choice for acne. They can sometimes worsen inflammation and potentially spread the bacteria that can be the culprit.
So, what to do instead?
Start with an active ingredients cleanse (in short, this just means stripping back your skincare regimen to the bare minimum to help your skin reset.)
Get your oil production in check with something like a good-quality kaolin clay mask.
Gentle exfoliation with a good BHA (yes, this is an active ingredient, but it’s one of the few I approve of. Full list here)
Hydrate internally and externally. Lots of good spring water, and get an aloe plant and use that to make a mask. Plumping face mists, too.
Consistency and simple ingredients masks like Radical Seeker that has Honey for anti-inflammatory properties.
For all my acne tips, head here.
Melasma / Hyperpigmentation:
This is a big one. Despite some claims, lasers can actually worsen melasma in many cases.
While you might see temporary improvement, under the surface the melasma is getting worse.
And you’ll soon have a (very costly) laser addiction. Essentially, the heat from the laser can stimulate melanocytes, leading to increased pigmentation. It’s a self-perpetuating, vicious cycle. (The same goes for most chemical peels too, btw, with the exception of Biorepeel, more on that below)
So, what to do instead?
This is a hormone-trigger condition. So start there, get your levels checked. Our recent perimenopause podcast also has a great list of supplements and tools for helping balance hormones.
While I said no peels, there’s an exception to every rule. I’m obsessed with Biorepeel. It’s essentially a delightful concoction of amino acids and B vitamins that help lighten pigmentation, improve texture, reduce scars, and revitalize skin. This peel is also my go-to for scars. You have to work with an esthetician, though, don’t do this at home, please. I offer it in LA.
Eat hydrating foods. Here’s a list of 25 foods for glowing skin.
All the tips in greater detail here.
Acne Rosecea / Rosacea:
If you're dealing with rosacea, eczema, or generally sensitive skin, lasers can exacerbate these conditions. The heat and intensity are terrible for flare-ups.
So, what to do instead?
Rosacea is a gut-health thing. So, it’s all about tackling the root cause. I love these SBO probiotics as a place to start, but tackle your diet too.
Topical ingredients to look for: licorice root, aloe vera, seabuckthorn berry oil, jojoba oil, and olive squalane. This is why the combo of LitFromWithin Face Oil, RadicalSeeker Honey Mask, and VibrantBoost Face Mist work so well for Rosacea (though I still very much recco starting with the gut!)
Again, more on what does work long-term is in this article.
That’s it, lovelies. Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
If you liked this letter, give it a share, and pls hit that like heart 🖤 at the bottom. I appreciate you.
Love and light,
Jenny
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