Yes, V Beam laser can effectively diffuse red spots and discolouration from recent acne. It can also combat active acne as the light emitted reduces P. acnes bacteria that reside within the sebaceous follicle. Early treatment of red scars can also remodel collagen and hence minimise chances of acne scarring.

In many cases of acne scarring, multiple treatment methods will be recommended as most patients present multiple scar types including atrophic, ice-pick, rolling scars and box-car scarring.

Firstly, it is important to understand the differences between V Beam Laser and IPL and what they are great at before deciding which treatment will suit you better.

IPL stands for ‘intense pulsed light’. It is not actually a laser but a light device with different wavelengths or colours of light which treat pigmentation and blood vessels in the same treatment.

V Beam is a laser device that emits a single wavelength (595nm) or yellow light. More specifically, it is a pulsed dye laser – a dye is used to generate the laser beam which is delivered in pulses. The emitted light is selectively absorbed by hemoglobin in blood vessels, collapsing them while leaving surrounding skin intact. It is frequently called a vascular laser.

While both are good treatments, most doctors do prefer one over the other, largely depending on the condition being treated.

For patients with Rosacea or redness, the V-beam Laser is the better choice versus the IPL.  The wavelength for the V-beam specifically targets the hemoglobin in the veins. The V-beam also helps with the acne component of Rosacea, helping to clear the acne flare ups as well.  IPL will take 6 or more treatments to achieve the results that the V-beam provides in as little as 3-4 treatments.

To combat pigmentation and sun damage, IPL may be a better option.

There is no real downtime associated with V Beam laser. You may see some redness at treated immediately after treatment but that will completely subside within 48 hours. Patients can resume their normal activities right after treatment but Dr Gerard always advise patients to protect their skin from the sun and to wear a good sunblock post-treatment.

Most patients report a sensation similar to mild sunburn after the treatment. Anaesthetic cream is usually not required. During the treatment, skin receives additional protection through the patented Dynamic Cooling Device™ (DCD™), which delivers a cooling burst of cryogen before the laser pulse is delivered. The DCD increases comfort during treatment and minimises side effects such as redness.

Dramatic and permanent results can be achieved with only a single treatment. However, a series of V Beam treatments may be required for ideal and lasting results depending on the area of concern. Patients with facial redness and blood vessels will typically require an average of 2-3 treatments. Patients with port-wine stains may need 6-10 treatments to lighten a port-wine stain. Patients being treated for scarring may need up to 6 treatments.

Per V Beam laser session costs S$ 450. A package of X V Beam laser sessions is from S$ 1,600.

V Beam laser has one of the best safety profiles and that is because of the Dynamic Cooling Device™ (DCD™) built into the laser. Cooling the skin is very important as it protects it from blistering. Side effects are extremely uncommon but some patients do experience redness immediately after treatment, but it usually goes away within a few hours. Occasionally a laser bruise called purpura may occur and this usually disappears in a week.