In a world where “Sephora Kids” is alive and well, it’s easy to think that stubborn skin issues are only reserved for the teenage years. For me, though, it’s quite the opposite: While my peers were struggling with unwanted acne and greasy T-zones as adolescents, my skin was clear, smooth, and fairly good to me. Fast forward to now, and we’re making up for lost time.
After developing mild rosacea in 2020, no amount of niacinamide or vitamin C has been able to kick the inflammatory skin condition to the curb. Recently, I decided to look into professional treatments that would help with my rosacea and came across ClearSilk, a non-invasive laser that promises to solve issues of redness (yes, please), can be done on your lunch break (check), and has zero downtime (sign me up).
I completed a series of four sessions of the ClearSilk laser treatment at the office of Ashkan Ghavami, MD, in Beverly Hills to see if it would help lessen the appearance of my inflammation. Keep scrolling to read about my experience.
Expert Featured in This Article
Ashkan Ghavami, MD, is a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills.
What Is ClearSilk?
ClearSilk is a Nd:YAG laser (in layman’s terms, a laser capable of deep skin penetration) ideal for treating unwanted facial redness and rosacea, an inflamed vascular skin condition. Dubbed the “lunchtime facial,” it works by depositing heat deep beneath the skin’s surface, which stimulates fibroblast activity and the body’s natural repair process. According to Dr. Ghavami, the laser also helps decrease bacterial load over time with consistent use. “Anything that decreases vascular blood flow also helps limit bacterial overgrowth, which is one of the causes of the inflammation of the vessels in patients with rosacea,” he says.
But reducing the appearance of redness isn’t the only benefit of the treatment — ClearSilk can also improve the skin’s texture, contributing to an overall smooth, glowy finish. Plus, Dr. Ghavami says it can lessen the appearance of enlarged pores. “All of this combined helps improve overall skin quality,” says Dr. Ghavami. (If you want to reduce the appearance of dark spots or sun damage, you’ll be better off with Moxi laser.)
Here’s the best part: Unlike other more invasive facial treatments, ClearSilk can be done year-round, even in the summertime (just stay out of the sun for 24 hours and wear a physical sunscreen). It can also be used on skin pigments of all colors and people of all ethnic backgrounds, though Dr. Ghavami recommends avoiding it if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or have active acne.
What to Expect During a ClearSilk Laser
One of the things I love about the ClearSilk laser is that it’s quick, gentle, and doesn’t require any numbing (sensitive skin, rejoice!). Before the treatment, I was instructed to remove all of my face makeup and put on a pair of safety goggles. The machine goes up to level seven (I started with a level two on my first session, and by the fourth session, I was on level six). Aside from a little bit of a heated zap, I remained comfortable throughout the entire 10-minute treatment and didn’t feel any pain. Of course, the higher the settings, the spicier it’ll feel, but the good news is that the machine is able to detect body temperature and will signal if it gets past 107 degrees Fahrenheit. One thing to note: If you have any fine hairs on your face, you may feel more heat and experience a burning smell as the hair absorbs the heat of the laser on those areas.
My practitioner, Lena Tcharfas, focused the laser on the areas I had the most redness, such as the center of my face, cheeks, and nose. She also did a few passes on my forehead to bump up the glow in this area. There’s no downtime associated with the treatment — I just experienced a small bit of flushing during the treatment and immediately afterward that subsided within a few hours.
ClearSilk can be done as frequently as every week, and is ideal for combining with other treatments. “Because of the minimal downtime of ClearSilk, I usually like to add this to radiofrequency microneedling, as the redness that’s stimulated by this treatment can be reduced and synergistically smoothed out with the addition of ClearSilk,” says Dr. Ghavami. It can also be done in conjunction with deeper laser wavelengths, resurfacing treatments, and light therapies.
My ClearSilk Results
For me, ClearSilk came with both short- and long-term benefits. For about five days post-treatment, my skin was noticeably more glowy. I also had significantly less pore visibility, and the overall texture of my skin was improved, resulting in smoother makeup application.
As for the long-term results, I noticed a more even skin tone over the span of my four treatments, especially in the center of my face where I had the most inflammation. While my rosacea isn’t completely eradicated, I feel more confident going makeup-free, and plan on continuing to get the treatment done as needed for maintenance.
If you’re getting this treatment done primarily for redness concerns, I’d recommend being smart about scheduling — get it done a few days before a special event so that you can really reap the glowing benefits. All in all, ClearSilk is a great introductory laser treatment if you’re new to lasers and looking for a non-invasive way to calm redness while at the same time giving your complexion a boost of radiance.
Michelle Rostamian is a Los Angeles-based beauty and wellness contributor with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She began her career as a publicist, content writer, and social media manager, representing beauty brands and industry professionals. Currently, she is a writer and editor on all things makeup, beauty, skincare, and lifestyle.
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