Fall Is Laser Season: The Best Laser Treatments to Refresh Your Skin

Summer was fun, but the sun damage? Not so much. 

After months of beach days, vacations, outdoor brunches, and living in SPF, fall is basically your  skin’s reset season. With less intense sun exposure and more time spent indoors, the cooler  months can be an ideal time to start laser treatments—especially treatments designed to target  pigmentation, texture, fine lines, and other signs of sun damage. 

If your post-summer skin is looking a little uneven, dull, or just meh, here are three laser  treatments worth having on your fall radar: IPL, Fraxel, Nouvaderm, and CO2 laser  resurfacing. 

Why Is Fall the Best Time for Laser Treatments? 

Many laser and light-based treatments can make your skin temporarily more sensitive to  sunlight. You’ll also typically need to be extra diligent about avoiding direct sun exposure before  and after your appointment. 

That can be a lot easier in fall and winter than during peak summer. 

Starting treatments in the fall also gives your skin plenty of time to recover and allows you to  complete a series of treatments, if recommended, before spring and summer roll around again. 

Basically: sweater weather = laser season. 

IPL: For the “Where Did All These Sunspots Come From?”  Era

If summer left behind unwanted pigmentation, IPL (Photofacial) may be your new fall favorite. 

Technically, IPL uses broad-spectrum light rather than a traditional laser, but it’s one of the most  popular treatments for addressing visible signs of sun damage. IPL can help improve the  appearance of brown spots, redness, uneven pigmentation, and overall skin tone. 

It’s especially popular for areas that tend to get a lot of sun exposure, including the face, neck,  chest, and hands. 

Think of IPL as your post-summer cleanup crew. Instead of covering uneven pigmentation with  more makeup, you’re addressing the appearance of discoloration at the source. 

Best for: Sunspots, redness, uneven tone and visible sun damage.

Fraxel: When You Want a Serious Skin Refresh

If your skin goals go beyond pigmentation, it might be time to talk about Fraxel. 

Fraxel is a fractional laser treatment that creates microscopic treatment zones in the skin while  leaving surrounding tissue intact. This approach stimulates the skin’s natural renewal process and  can improve multiple concerns at once. 

Depending on the specific Fraxel treatment being used, it may help address the appearance of  fine lines, uneven texture, sun damage, pigmentation and certain acne scars. 

It’s a great middle-ground option for someone who wants more noticeable skin resurfacing but  may not be ready for the downtime associated with a more intensive CO2 treatment. 

And yes, there can be downtime. Redness, swelling, dryness, and peeling can happen as your  skin heals, so maybe don’t schedule your treatment two days before your best friend’s wedding. 

Best for: Texture, fine lines, pigmentation, sun damage and acne scarring. The vibe: Hitting refresh on your skin.

CO2 Laser: The Main Character of Skin Resurfacing

Ready to level things up? Enter CO2 laser resurfacing. 

CO2 lasers are ablative lasers, meaning they remove controlled portions of the outer layers of  damaged skin while delivering energy deeper into the skin. Because it’s a more intensive  treatment, CO2 resurfacing can create more dramatic improvements—but it also typically comes  with more downtime. 

CO2 laser treatments may be used to improve the appearance of deeper wrinkles, acne scars,  uneven texture, sun damage and other signs of skin aging.

This isn’t usually a “get it done on your lunch break and head back to work” situation. Your  provider will give you specific aftercare instructions, and recovery can vary depending on the  type and intensity of treatment. 

But if you’ve been saving a more serious resurfacing treatment for the right time of year, fall and winter can be ideal seasons to discuss it with your provider. 

Best for: More advanced texture concerns, wrinkles, acne scarring and significant sun damage. The vibe: A bigger commitment with bigger resurfacing goals.

IPL vs. Fraxel vs. CO2: Which One Should You Choose? 

There’s no universal “best” laser because your ideal treatment depends on your skin, concerns,  downtime tolerance, medical history, and goals. 

If pigmentation and redness are your biggest concerns, IPL may be a great place to start. If  you’re looking to address texture, fine lines and pigmentation, Fraxel may make more sense.  And if you’re looking for more intensive resurfacing for deeper texture, wrinkles or scarring,  your provider may recommend CO2. 

Also important: Not every laser or light treatment is appropriate for every skin tone. Certain  devices and settings can carry a higher risk of burns or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in  deeper skin tones. This is why getting treated by an experienced medical professional who  understands different skin types is a must. Luckily, our NOUVADerm laser is colorblind and  therefore can be used to treat almost every skin tone including Fitzpatrick type VI. 

NOUVADerm: The New Laser on Our Fall Radar 

If you’re the person who wants to try the latest thing in aesthetics, NOUVADerm deserves a  spot on your radar. 

NOUVADerm is a fractional laser designed for skin restoration and resurfacing. It can be  customized based on your skin concerns and treatment goals, making it a great option for anyone  looking to give their skin a serious post-summer refresh. 

The treatment works by delivering controlled laser energy into the skin to kick-start the skin’s  natural renewal process. The goal? Smoother texture, more even-looking skin, improved tone,  and an overall refreshed appearance. 

One of the reasons we love talking about treatments like NOUVADerm during fall is that laser  resurfacing and sun exposure are not besties. With fewer beach days and less time spent soaking  up the sun, fall makes it much easier to prioritize proper post-treatment skincare and SPF. 

If your summer skin is giving sun damage, uneven texture, visible pores, or dullness,  NOUVADerm can be incorporated into a customized fall skin plan based on your needs. 

Best for: Uneven texture, visible signs of sun damage, pigmentation concerns, pores, and overall  skin rejuvenation. 

The vibe: Your post-summer skin reset, but upgraded. 

Your Fall Skin Reset Starts Here

We love summer, but our skin doesn’t always love what summer leaves behind.

Fall is the perfect time to trade beach days for skin days and start addressing the pigmentation,  texture, fine lines, and sun damage you’ve been noticing in the mirror. 

Whether your fall skin era includes IPL, Fraxel, CO2 resurfacing, Nouvaderm—or a  customized combination of treatments—the first step is a professional consultation. Your  provider can evaluate your skin, talk through your goals and recommend the treatment that  makes the most sense for you. 

Because your fall glow-up doesn’t have to come from a filter. 

Individual results and downtime vary. Laser and light-based treatments may not be appropriate for everyone. A consultation with  a provider is recommended to determine the appropriate treatment for your skin type.