ReNew Institute Medical Spa

Laser Physics

Light is measured in wavelengths called nanometers. One nanometer=1 billionth of a meter. Smaller wavelength light rays are measured with fewer nanometers. Sunlight contains 10% invisible skin damaging, ultraviolet radiation, 50% visible light of the rainbow spectrum, and 40% infrared heat waves. These different wavelengths explain why you can see sunlight, feel the heat of sunlight, but the damage to your skin occurs by light you can’t see.

The light spectrum of the universe is detailed below.

Ultraviolet sunlight has the smallest nanometer wavelength range of 10-400nm. The 200-300 range includes UVC radiation, which has the shortest wavelength, but it is absorbed entirely by the ozone in our atmosphere. UVB light travels at the low 300nm range which is the narrowest portion of ultraviolet radiation, yet it is the most damaging and carcinogenic. A significant amount of UVB light is screened at the stratospheric ozone layer. UVA light is not filtered by the atmosphere anywhere near the degree that UVB is screened. So terrestrial surface light has 20 times more UVA than UVB. The longer wavelength UVA radiation (middle 300’s to lower 400 range), are less intense than UVB but can still cause skin damage and skin cancer. Yet, the longer wavelength allows UVA to travel deeper into the skin where the collagen is, leading to damage at that level, and subsequent premature aging and wrinkling of the skin. UVB radiation peaks between the hours of 9:00 am and 3:00 pm when the angle of the sun relative to our bodies is the most direct through the atmosphere. Sun exposure should be avoided if possible during these times. Yet, UVA radiation can have damaging affects early in the morning, late in the day, or even on cloudy days since its longer wavelength travels uninterrupted through our atmosphere. UVA radiation can even penetrate through a glass window, where UVB does not. Also, keep in mind that tanning bed manufactures have varying degrees of UVA to UVB light.

The visible light spectrum nanometer range is 400-750nm. These visible lights are the colors of the rainbow; red, orange, yellow, green, indigo, blue, and violet. These primary colors form the basis of the our world’s color scheme. Medical laser technology is based upon manipulation of natural light to create a desired therapeutic effect. Amazingly, different parts of our skin anatomy absorb different wavelengths of light (monochromicity). This makes sense when you realize that visible color is created by the reflection of light. So brown spots on our skin are absorbing and reflecting the brown light combination of the visible light spectrum. The same theory holds true for red spots or blue/red blood vessels on our skin, as well as black hair follicles. So to create a laser that destroys unwanted acne/Rosacea, red spots, brown spots, hair follicles, red vessels, or blue vessels, you must pick the right color light to emit. Laser is short for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. The idea is to create a specific wavelength of light by electrically stimulating the atoms of the laser medium to emit their color specific radiation.

This color specific radiation is now in an excited state of higher energy.

Its target is the unwanted skin change you desire to affect. Once the target (chromophore) absorbs the specific wavelength of excited energy, its atoms also get excited, until hopefully the chromophore is destroyed and the extra energy dissipates. The beauty in this high tech destruction or reduction in unwanted skin targets is that no damage should occur to surrounding tissues of different color. Laser pulse time and power also play a role in removal of a specific skin target. Theories described above are the basis for the design and function of today’s medical spa lasers. Technological advances have transformed the laser and light based industry over the past decade, so that today’s therapies are safe and effective. Unfortunately, millions of dollars in research and development have not yet created one laser that does all things. This may never occur due to the basic nature of the technology, which is based upon one of our natural worlds most constant truths…light. So medical spas must purchase multiple, expensive lasers and light based machines to serve the various needs of their cosmetic patients. This significant cost outlay is the main reason for the high cost of most medical spa treatments. Also, multiple treatments are necessary overtime to gently destroy or minimize skin targets, while preserving surrounding tissue. This is especially true for darker skin patients. Their melanin can compete for absorption of light emitted from a laser targeted at an unwanted brown spot or black hair follicle.

Our well-trained technicians or Dr. Cozzolino can answer any further questions you may have about this exciting, skin transforming laser technology.

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