The closest technology to Skinpen is Fractional laser (CO2 laser) . Fractional laser works by means of a precise pattern of micro – laser beams making microscopic channels into the skin. These controlled skin injuries are immediately surrounded by intact tissue beginning to repair the damage, and thereby the body activates itself to form a new fresh skin. It is the same principle as Skinpen, which also makes small holes into the skin in order to stimulate the skin’s collagen growth while leaving intact tissue around the holes. Both methods have comparable results but are achieved in a very different way, with very different types of side effects. The holes after the laser treatment can vary widely according to the type of laser and its manufacturer. Skinpen makes very consistent and reproducible type of holes. Skinpen also has the advantage of active serum usage during the treatment, where Skinpen enables the serum to better penetrate the scared tissue.
The side effects are different for laser types of treatments. Most types of fractional laser treatments make your skin blush, feel warm or tight in the treated area for up to 48 hours after the treatment. Skinpen treatments creates some reddening of the skin but no swelling and it only lasts approximately 4-12 hours.
In addition , fractional lasers have these types of side effects that Skinpen- treatment does not :
- Pain during treatment
- Persistent redness
- An outbreak of herpes and bacterial infections
- Post -inflammatory hypopigmentation
Light -based treatments are not good for all skin types. Especially people with darker skin , can have problems with the treatment , in some cases they have to stop the entire laser treatments. The holes, fractional laser makes into the skin, depend on the skin type, skin thickness and whether the skin is moisturised. Skinpen, on the other hand , functions independently of these conditions because it does not rely on skin-pigment ability to create heat out of the light .