Thulium Laser
Thulium is a non-ablative fractional fiber laser operating at 1927 nm, targeting water in the epidermis. It is a gold-standard, low-downtime option for sun spots, melasma, fine wrinkles, enlarged pores, dull tone, and superficial actinic keratoses. The upper epidermis is renewed with controlled thermal zones — safe across all Fitzpatrick types (I–VI) with a low risk of post-inflammatory pigmentation.
Treatment Information
Duration
20-30 minutes
Body Location
Face, neck, décolletage, hands or selected skin areas after assessment
Preparation
Avoid sun exposure for 2 weeks pre-procedure — tanned skin is contraindicated. Stop retinol/glycolic acid products 5 days before. If you have a history of cold sores, antiviral prophylaxis is prescribed. Arrive with clean, make-up-free skin.
Follow-up Care
Mild redness and a "warm/bronzed" feel for 24 hours is normal; coffee-ground-like MEND microflaking follows in 2-3 days. Avoid direct sun for 72 hours and reapply SPF 50+ every 2 hours. No hot showers, sauna, or intense exercise for 48 hours. A series of 3-5 sessions at 4-week intervals is recommended.
How It Is Performed
The skin is cleansed and a topical anaesthetic is applied for 30-45 minutes. Protective eyewear is placed before the Thulium handpiece passes over the area in 4-8 overlapping passes. Simultaneous Zimmer external cooling maintains comfort. Post-procedure we apply a calming mask and post-laser barrier serum.
Frequently Asked Questions
A 1927 nm non-ablative fractional fiber laser that targets water in the upper epidermis. It creates controlled micro-thermal zones that are rapidly replaced by healthy surrounding tissue — clearing pigment, fine wrinkles, and uneven tone session by session.
Sun spots, melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, dull/tired tone, enlarged pores, fine wrinkles, and superficial actinic keratoses. For deep scars or lines we pair it with ablative alternatives.
Yes. Because Thulium is non-ablative and works at a superficial depth, the risk of post-inflammatory pigmentation is markedly lower than classic IPL/YAG in darker skin. I still start with a test spot for richly pigmented skin in my clinic.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, active herpes or acne infection, isotretinoin use within 6 months, tanned skin, photosensitising medications, and a keloid tendency are contraindications. A detailed history is essential.
A typical cycle is 3-5 sessions, 4 weeks apart. For pigment and melasma, 1-2 "boost" sessions per year preserve results cumulatively. Without sun protection new lesions can appear — SPF 50+ is non-negotiable.
Most patients return to work the next day. Mild sunburn-like pinkness for 24 hours and a sandpaper-like microflaking for 2-3 days is expected. Makeup can be applied safely 24 hours after treatment.
Yes. In my clinic I combine Thulium with post-session "drug delivery" mesotherapy (tranexamic acid or growth factors) — the first 24 hours of a permeable barrier can increase active penetration by up to 10×.
Thulium Laser — Related Medical Terms
Deep-dive in our glossary: definition, indications, side effects and FAQs.
Pico-Laser
Pico-laser (picosecond laser) is a laser technology that works with an ultra-short pulse duration of 10⁻¹² seconds (one billionth of a second), breaks down melanin and tatu pigment with photomechanical fragmentation (light-induced mechanical breaking), is injected without passing the thermal time thanks to the pulse interval as short as 1/1000 of Q-switched nanosecond lasers, collagen remodeling and laser-induced optical breakdown. (LIOB) is used for acne scars, benign pigmentary lesions, tatu removal and skin rejuvenation via dermal plasma formation mechanism.
Fractional CO2 Laser
Fractional CO2 laser; Carbon dioxide laser beam with a wavelength of 10,600 nm is fractionated to form heated microthermal zones (MTZ) and provides ablation (evaporation) and deep dermal remodeling on the skin surface. It is the laser treatment with the strongest indication for acne scars, signs of aging and skin texture improvement.
Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser
Q-switched Nd:YAG laser is a high-energy laser system that sends ultrashort nanosecond (5–20 ns) beam pulses at wavelengths of 1064 nm and 532 nm. Based on the photomechanical ablation and selective photothermolysis mechanism, it breaks down melanin, hemoglobin and tattoo pigments and removes them from the body through macrophages. It is used for tattoo removal, melanin lesions, melasma and vascular diseases. It is an FDA approved medical device for the treatment of lesions.
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is a device that uses non-coherent, polychromatic (420-1200 nm wide spectrum) beam produced by xenon flashlamp and is a non-laser photoenergy source that targets certain chromophores (hemoglobin, melanin, water) with the principle of selective photothermolysis; Medical device used in the treatment of pigmentary and vascular lesions, photorejuvenation, hair removal and rosacea.
Laser Hair Removal
Laser epilation; Based on the principle of selective photothermolysis, it is a medical aesthetic procedure that targets the hair follicles containing melanin and causes thermal damage to the bulb, bulge and stem cells through the laser beam, providing permanent hair reduction.
Chemical Peeling
Chemical peeling is a topical or clinical active treatment method based on peeling and renewing the skin surface in a controlled manner. It is an aesthetic dermatology procedure that provides acne, hyperpigmentation, fine lines and skin texture improvement by accelerating keratinocyte turnover through hydroxyl acids (AHA, BHA, PHA) and enzymes.
Microneedling RF (Fractional RF Microneedling)
Microneedling RF (Fractional RF Microneedling) is a category of fractional skin resurfacing devices that deliver bipolar radiofrequency energy through an insulated or non-insulated micro-needle array (25–64 pins) at a dermal depth of 0.5–3.5 mm, FDA-approved for the treatment of acne scars, striae (stretch marks) and superficial rhytids, marketed under multiple brands such as Vivace/Secret RF/Infini/EndyMed.
Niacinamide
Niacinamide (nicotinamide) is the amide form of Vitamin B3 and is the active ingredient in cosmeceutical serums that strengthens the skin barrier, provides sebum regulation, inhibits melanin transfer and supports collagen synthesis; As a NAD+/NADP+ precursor, it is active in cellular energy metabolism.
Keloid (Pathological Scar)
Keloid is a red-purple colored, itchy and non-shrinking pathological scar that exceeds the original wound boundaries as a result of TGF-β1 overexpression, fibroblast proliferation and apoptosis imbalance and uncontrolled accumulation of type I and type III collagen during the healing process after skin injury; It is the most common irchitic dermatological condition between the ages of 10-30, with an incidence of 16% in individuals of African origin and 0.09% in whites.
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