Skin Treatments - About Halo and BBL

Boulder Medical Center Dermatology offers Halo™ and Broadband Light™ (BBL) Laser treatments. State-of-the-art technology is always operated by one of our highly qualified medical professionals to ensure optimal safety and desired results. Ask your provider for details during your next dermatology appointment.

Understanding Laser Skin Treatments

Since their initial production in the 1960s, lasers have been used to treat several skin concerns.^1,2,3 As technology advances, the safety profile of laser treatments has continued to improve, expanding the scope of dermatologic issues that can be effectively treated with lasers.

Ablative vs. Non-Ablative Lasers: Exploring the Difference

Lasers that treat the skin can be divided into two primary categories: ablative and non-ablative. An ablative laser removes the outermost layer of skin (the epidermis) and uses energy to heat the deeper layer of skin (the dermis).³ This process stimulates collagen growth and allows the top layer of skin to appear smoother and more firm.³ Non-ablative lasers use varying wavelengths of light to target different levels of the skin to stimulate collagen growth.^3,4 Both options leave microscopic areas of skin untreated, which helps to reduce side effects and speed healing times.³

Halo Skin Resurfacing: A Comprehensive Solution

The Halo Skin Resurfacing laser uses a combination of ablative and non-ablative wavelengths to treat wrinkles and fine lines, signs of aging, actinic keratoses (pre-cancers), scars, and skin texture changes.^5,6 The ablative component of this treatment allows for deeper penetration into the skin, which provides noticeable results quicker and requires a few more days of healing time post-procedure (an average of 7 days).

Broadband Light (BBL): Targeted Treatment for Diverse Skin Concerns

Broadband Light (BBL) is an intense pulsed light similar to a non-ablative laser used to treat vascular lesions such as cherry angiomas, acne, rosacea, brown spots, redness, and more.^7,8 Each of these issues resides at a different level in the skin; the wavelengths of the light can be adjusted to reach a specific area. This treatment is more superficial than an ablative laser, which results in less downtime and faster healing.

Choosing Between Halo and BBL: Tailoring Treatment to Individual Needs

Patients choose between Halo and BBL treatment depending on their skin care goals and desired recovery time.

Halo is used for skin resurfacing, aging, and wrinkles. It can also improve redness and facial blood vessels but is less targeted than BBL. Halo is safe for all skin types and penetrates deeper into the skin, providing more noticeable results after a single treatment. However, the downtime required after treatment is longer compared to BBL.^5,6,7,8

BBL addresses acne, pigmented lesions (age spots and freckles), and vascular lesions (telangiectasias, rosacea, and cherry angiomas). Since BBL targets pigment, patients cannot receive this treatment if they have a tan or have used self-tanner recently. Additionally, BBL does not remove the top layer of skin, so recovery time is faster; however, more treatments may be needed to achieve the desired results. An average of 3 treatments is recommended.

Side Effects and Recovery: What to Expect After Laser Treatment

Before and one month after the first treatment with BBL — Jenna Peart, MD.

Common side effects include redness, swelling, itching, pain, blistering, and crusting. These issues should be temporary and resolve over several days after treatment. Patients with occasional cold sores should inform their provider before undergoing any laser or light-based treatment so that medication can be prescribed to avoid flares during healing.³

Expert Dermatology Care at Boulder Medical Center

The advances in laser technology have made it a relatively safe and effective treatment for a wide variety of skin concerns. It is best to consult with your dermatology provider to determine the best treatment for you and review the risks/benefits associated with any intervention.

All BBL and Halo procedures are performed by the Dermatology team at Boulder Medical Center.

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