New York, NY (May 03, 2001) — As we age, the collagen layer, the foundation that supports the skin, begins to thin, causing creases and wrinkles. New treatments using nonablative lasers and intense pulsed light (IPL), reported to stimulate the dermis for a collagen-producing effect, are causing a stir among surgeons attending the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), May 3-9 in New York.

"Our patients like these lasers because they offer results with absolutely no down-time," says Colorado plastic surgeon Diane Irvine Duncan, MD, who presents her clinical experience with the NLite and CoolTouch lasers at the ASAPS meeting.

The NLite pulsed-dye yellow-spectrum laser, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August 2000, is claimed to stimulate the body’s own collagen production without damaging the outer layers of the skin, resulting in a gradual reduction of wrinkles and fine lines. A session can last from 15 minutes to an hour, and patients can immediately resume their daily routine. CoolTouch achieves a similar effect but uses a protective cooling spray right before each pulse of an infrared laser.

"Intense pulsed light (IPL) is another treatment modality," says A. Jay Burns, MD, who chairs the ASAPS Skin Care and Laser Update on May 4. "IPL, not technically a laser, uses multiple wavelengths of light to achieve its effects. It directs new collagen, and effectively treats rosacea, vascular lesions, flushing and age spots at the same time."