Sponsored by Advalight
The gentle but powerful dual wavelength ADVATx laser system from Advalight (Copenhagen, Denmark) not only provides practitioners with a plethora of practical applications for improving and rejuvenating skin, but it is also safe enough to treat skin of color. Robust and easy to use, ADVATx treats a variety of conditions including acne and acne scarring, fine lines and wrinkles, skin tone and texture as well as vascular and pigmented lesions,* all of which require more care to successfully treat skin of color without inducing side effects such as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). Moreover, there is little to no downtime.
Hazel Forrester, MS, FNP-BC is a renowned injector and aesthetic specialist, as well as owner of Hazel the Beauty RN (New York, N.Y.). In her opinion, “this device is excellent for treating skin of color. I’d shout it from the rooftops,” she exclaimed. “Treatment alternatives have been limited to chemical peels, microneedling and things of that nature because great care must be taken when treating skin of color with a laser. However, these therapies require numerous sessions with questionable efficacy, and have significant downtime, so they are not attractive options. Historically, it has been difficult to have so many options for Caucasian skin, while steering patients with darker skin types, including myself, toward lesser options. ADVATx improves skin quality and pigmentation safely for skin of color. And patients absolutely love it.”
Energies between 5 J/cm2 and 60 J/cm2 can be delivered with ADVATx via a single spot of 1, 2, or 3 mm in diameter, or via the scanner (with spots of 5x5 mm, 7x7 mm, or 10x10 mm) to tailor treatment to the specifics of the individual case, manage, or even eliminate, discomfort during treatment and minimize the potential for side effects.
ADVATx PulSync Technology uniquely pairs the strengths of the device’s workhorse wavelengths – 589 nm and 1319 nm – which can be used individually or in combination. The device features two laser modules working in tandem; the 589 nm beam is produced by emitting a 1319 nm beam through a YAG crystal prior to combination, passing the combined beam through a Q-switch, then a non-linear (LBO) crystal. The 1319 nm wavelength is ideally situated in the absorption spectrum for water and can be harnessed to induce neocollagenesis, while its companion, the yellow 589 nm wavelength, can treat pigment and vascularity.
Depth of treatment and wavelength specificity are the keys to safe, effective treatment with ADVATx, Ms. Forrester explained. “The wavelengths employed by ADVATx are specific to the applications, and depth of treatment is ideal for the indications as well, avoiding the pitfalls of overtreatment or overly deep treatment that plague skin of color or Asian skin such as PIH.”
The solid state ADVATx platform is also very user- and office-friendly. It can run on standard 120 V power and uses no consumables, with a manageable footprint of 23 x 23 inches and weighing under 200 lbs. The intuitive user interface is easy to use, and treatment settings can be modulated during use. “You can treat anybody with ADVATx,” Ms. Forrester added, “young or old, dark or light skin. That makes this laser very useful and valuable to my practice.”
*CE cleared indication