How CO2 Fractional Laser can help with sun damage
Where sun damage has left the skin's texture noticeably changed as well as its colour, an ablative resurfacing laser is one of the routes worth understanding.
Quick answer
CO2 fractional laser is generally discussed for more established sun damage, where decades of UV exposure have left coarser texture or deeper lines alongside pigment, rather than pigment or redness alone. As an ablative resurfacing option, it tends to come up when a lighter, non-ablative route has not given the textural change a client wants.
How CO2 Fractional Laser works on sun damage
Long-term sun exposure does not only change the colour of the skin; it can also leave the surface coarser, with more visible lines than in skin that has had less UV exposure. CO2 fractional laser is an ablative resurfacing technology, which is why it tends to be discussed for sun damage where texture and fine lines are a significant part of what a client wants to address, alongside pigment rather than instead of it.
This puts it in a different category from a non-ablative technology such as Thulium, or a light-based treatment such as IPL, both of which work on the skin without ablating the surface. Whether ablative resurfacing is the right level of treatment for your sun damage, compared with a gentler route, is something your practitioner will assess rather than something that can be answered generically.
Who CO2 Fractional Laser suits for sun damage (and when another option may fit better)
CO2 is often discussed with clients whose sun damage includes noticeably coarser texture, deeper lines or areas that have not responded as hoped to lighter treatments. It tends to suit clients who are prepared for a more intensive treatment in exchange for addressing more established textural change.
Where sun damage is mainly pigment and redness with the skin's texture still relatively even, IPL or Thulium are usually discussed first, and where a client wants a course of gentler, more gradual sessions, DermaQuest peels may fit better. Er:YAG is another ablative option with a different profile, and the two are often compared directly at consultation once ablative resurfacing has been agreed as the right level of treatment.
What a course looks like at Naomi Waite Aesthetics
Because CO2 resurfacing works more intensively than a light-based or fractional non-ablative treatment, a course for sun damage is often planned with more recovery time factored in between sessions, and your practitioner will talk you through what that means for your particular pattern of damage. Areas covered typically reflect where sun exposure has caused the most textural change, which is not always the same as where pigment is most visible.
Some clients combine an initial CO2 course with a lighter maintenance treatment afterwards to help manage tone once texture has been addressed; whether that applies to you is discussed once your practitioner has seen how your skin responds.
CO2 Fractional Laser compared with other options for sun damage
CO2 sits at the more intensive end of the options for sun damage at Naomi Waite Aesthetics. The table below compares it with Er:YAG and Thulium for this concern.
Aftercare after CO2 Fractional Laser for sun damage
Newly resurfaced skin is especially vulnerable to the sun while it recovers, which is a particular consideration for sun damage, since UV exposure is what caused the original problem. Your practitioner will be clear about how long to expect heightened sun sensitivity and how strictly sun protection needs to be followed during that period, given the areas being treated have already shown themselves to be sun-reactive over the years.
Because the aim is often to improve texture as well as tone, your practitioner may also talk about how your ongoing skincare and sun habits support what the laser has done. Detailed recovery guidance for the treatment itself is set out on the CO2 Fractional Laser treatment page.
Frequently asked questions
Questions clients often ask about CO2 fractional laser for sun damage are answered below.
Related guides
Related reading on sun damage and on CO2 Fractional Laser is linked below.
Book a consultation
To find out whether CO2 resurfacing is appropriate for your sun damage, book a consultation with Naomi Waite Aesthetics.
A general comparison for sun damage. Exact suitability for your skin is confirmed at consultation.
| CO2 Fractional Laser | Er:YAG 2940 Laser | Thulium 1927/1550 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of technology | Ablative fractional resurfacing laser | Ablative resurfacing laser, different absorption and thermal profile to CO2 | Non-ablative dual-wavelength fractional laser |
| Typical focus for sun damage | Coarser texture and deeper lines alongside pigment | Texture refinement and photoageing, compared with CO2 at consultation | Tone and texture together, without ablating the surface |
| Intensity for this concern | A more intensive resurfacing approach | Also ablative, with a different balance of ablation and thermal effect | A gentler, non-ablative alternative when texture change is less advanced |
Frequently asked questions
CO2 resurfacing is a treatment many clients consider for sun damage that has left the skin's texture noticeably changed. Whether it is the right level of treatment for you depends on your skin and is assessed at consultation.
This depends on how established your sun damage is and how your skin responds. Your practitioner will discuss a realistic plan at consultation rather than quote a fixed number of sessions.
Suitability for ablative resurfacing depends on your skin type and individual factors, which your practitioner assesses at consultation. If CO2 is not appropriate, other options for sun damage will be discussed with you.
This is best explained at your consultation, where your practitioner can talk you through what to expect for your skin and the areas being treated. Fuller detail is set out on the CO2 Fractional Laser treatment page.
Skin needs time to heal and remodel after resurfacing, so change tends to appear gradually rather than immediately. Your practitioner can give you a realistic sense of timing based on your skin.
Neither is universally better: CO2 is generally considered for more established textural change, while IPL is generally considered where pigment and redness are the main features and texture is less affected. Your practitioner will help you weigh this up for your own skin.
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