The Truth About How To Protect Your Skin While Laser Tightening

The popular idiom “Black don’t crack” celebrates the slower aging process that melanin often brings. However, as decades pass, even the most stunning and wrinkle-free ebony or onyx skin may droop and sag. For Black women who don’t need a more invasive facelift, laser tightening may be the right choice with some precautions.

Lasers on Black skin have been controversial due to discoloration and scarring risks. However, with advances in cooling techniques and Nd:YAG lasers, Black women can enjoy safe facial rejuvenation. 

Gain more insight about how Black women can protect their skin tone while undergoing safe laser enhancement.

RELATED CONTENT: Why Skincare Still Fails Black Women — And How To Fix It

What Is Laser Tightening?

This minimally invasive procedure uses a laser to constrict collagen as it heats the skin. The process encourages more collagen and elastin to develop, which creates a tighter look. According to Healthline, the procedure only takes 30 to 90 minutes with no downtime, but you may need a few sessions for the best results.

Don’t confuse this procedure with laser resurfacing. Resurfacing uses ablative lasers (a no-no for Black skin tones) to remove outer skin layers and trigger regeneration. The result is overstimulated melanin that may lead to hyperpigmentation.

Why Should Black Women Consider This Treatment?

As you age, the body naturally produces less collagen. This laser procedure can tighten the face or neck by activating collagen production as the heat touches the skin.

How Can I Protect My Skin Tone with Laser Tightening?

Protecting your skin tone during laser treatment is a combined effort between who you choose to do the procedure and your post-treatment activity. Aim to find someone who can work with darker skin tones and follow any aftercare requirements to avoid preventable complications.

Get the Right Provider

Take time to find a professional who works with melanated skin. If you don’t have a word-of-mouth recommendation, you can conduct effective online searches with proper keywords that include “laser tightening,” “melanin,” “dark skin,” and specific laser names known to be safe on darker skin tones, such as “Nd:YAG Lasers.”

Ask if your potential dermatologist/technician uses the Skintel Melanin Reader. This FDA-approved tool measures the skin’s melanin level to promote more precise laser targeting.

Check the Laser Type

As the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology stated, lasers with longer wavelengths are safer on dark skin tones than short wavelengths. The longer wavelengths penetrate deeper and selectively absorb melanin, thus making postinflammatory hyperpigmentation unlikely.

Some examples of longer or adjustable wavelength lasers include:

Nd:YAG (1064nm)

This option appears to be the superstar of lasers for darker skin tones. A 2024 PubMed study concluded that Nd:YAG even helped treat benign hypermelanosis in patients of various skin tones that included dark skin.

Moxi

Water is the target of this laser’s aim. Where does it find water? In the skin’s cells, where the hydroheating triggers repair.

Pico lasers

Instead of relying on heat, this tool uses pulses to tighten the skin by creating microinjuries that break up pigment. The lack of heat reduces pigmentation and burn risk.

Fraxel Dual

Dr. Bobby Buka recommends the Fraxel Dual Laser for Black skin tones for its adjustable settings. As long as the operator keeps the setting low, it’s safe enough to help African American women with acne scarring.

Radiofrequency (RF)

This option isn’t an actual laser. However, it uses energy to penetrate deeply and stimulate more collagen. This is the type of laser found at premier spas like The Glo Skin Tight Laser Club. 

Cooling Devices

Cooling devices can help protect darker skin during laser treatment. Your skin professional may use contact or contactless options ranging from gels and creams to short blasts of colder air on treated areas. 

A PubMed study from 2000 focused on cold air therapy after laser treatment. The results showed better epidermal protection, which permitted an up to 30% higher energy setting on the laser. It also reduced post-treatment side effects.

Practice Proper Aftercare

There’s no downtime after this procedure, but how well you care for your skin can determine if issues arise. A good skin care regimen is typical for Black women, and now’s the time to kick it up a notch. Be gentle when cleaning the skin and avoid super-hot water.

Water is your friend, but treat the sun like a vampire for a while. Keep skin as hydrated and protected as possible inside and out by drinking plenty of water and applying some barrier creams. 

Cover your skin when outside. Exposure to the sun’s UV rays can encourage post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Get a good sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more.

Frequently Asked Questions: Safe Laser Tightening on Black Skin

What Is the Best Laser for Black Skin?

The Nd:YAG (1064nm) continues to get high marks for skin tightening. It’s also a good choice for hair removal on dark skin since the laser doesn’t touch your epidermal melanin.

What Is the Fastest Way to Heal Skin After Laser Treatment?

Be super cautious of sun exposure and stay as hydrated as possible. If you experience any swelling, a cold compress can help.

How Long Does Laser Skin Tightening Last?

Your overall results depend on how well you care for your skin. According to the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York, results can last up to three years. You may start to see some results after the first visit.

Get Tighter Skin Without Discoloration

There are many benefits to having melanated skin, such as delaying obvious signs of aging with proper care. However, melanin also makes Black women more susceptible to hyperpigmentation and potential scarring, like keloids after injury, or improper treatment, such as poor lasers. 

Thanks to advanced technology, you can slow down signs of aging, such as sagging or drooping, without getting more invasive and expensive treatment requiring anesthesia or more downtime. You can enhance your look while protecting the tone and smoothness of your skin for years to come. 

Hopefully, this article provides more insight into how to protect the beauty of your brown or Black skin tone during and after dermatology treatment. To learn more, check out other beauty-related articles on our website.

RELATED CONTENT: TikTok’s New Must-Have Beauty Product Is A Staple In Caribbean Households, But Is It Safe For Your Skin?