Q-switched Nd:YAG laser

Q-switched describes the way the device releases brief, high-energy pulses. The clinician chooses a wavelength and setting for the target and your skin. For pigment concerns, the energy breaks up or heats pigment-containing structures so the body can clear or remodel the treated area. Temporary redness, warmth, swelling, crusting, or colour change can occur. The device is not one treatment for every mark, and a diagnosis should come before treating a lesion that is new or changing.

Discuss recent sun exposure, active acne or dermatitis, cold sores, scarring history, and every product or medicine you use. Follow the clinic’s preparation instructions and do not apply unapproved irritants before the appointment. Afterward, keep the area clean, avoid picking, and use the recommended moisturizer and sun protection. Allow the skin to settle before restarting exfoliating or fragranced products. Attend the planned review so the clinician can adjust treatment if the response is uneven.

Call the treating clinic if pain, redness, swelling, blistering, crusting, or drainage is worsening rather than settling. A fever or spreading warmth can indicate infection and needs prompt advice. Seek urgent help for breathing trouble, throat tightness, or widespread swelling after treatment.

What exactly is being treated, and how was it diagnosed? Which wavelength and settings fit my skin? What reaction should I expect during healing? When should pigment or texture changes be checked?