How do erbium and CO2 lasers differ?

The mistake is choosing a laser by its name alone. my.clevelandclinic.org describes one difference between them, and it is about side effects and recovery, not strength.

The one difference on record

Describing the erbium laser, my.clevelandclinic.org says: "This laser causes fewer side effects than CO2 lasers, such as swelling, bruising and redness, so your recovery time should be more rapid."

Read it carefully. The comparison runs one way, with erbium causing fewer of those effects than CO2 does. The source also says recovery "should" be more rapid, which is a hedge and not a guarantee.

What that sentence leaves out

It does not say how deeply either laser works, which skin it suits, or which one gives a stronger result. Do not fill those gaps with guesses from a forum or a sales page.

For general background, The Aesthetic Society's page on laser skin resurfacing and how dermatologists treat sun-damaged skin explain the procedure more broadly. To see where lasers sit among other choices, try a guide to wrinkle treatments from retinol to fillers.

Who picks erbium or CO2

Choosing between the two lasers belongs to a trained professional who has examined your skin. Do not pick one because it sounds gentler or stronger.

WebMD's overview of laser skin resurfacing, with benefits, side effects and average cost is useful for preparing questions. Take those questions to a consultation in the Mt Olive area and ask which laser the provider would use on you, and why.

Gentler is not the same as no downtime

A lower chance of swelling, bruising and redness is not the same as no recovery. Do not plan your week around the optimistic reading of a single sentence.