Residual scarring is common for almost all people who have acne problems. The laser acne treatment prominently focuses on minimizing the scars of the acne left from old outbreaks. This treatment cannot remove the scars entirely but can reduce the appearance and pain caused by acne.
The acne scar treatment aims the light on the top layers of the skin and also helps new cells to build up to replace the scars tissues, which result in healthy skin. However, if your skin has active acne or you have a dark skin tone, then this treatment might not be for you. Always make sure to consult a dermatologist to undergo laser treatment for acne.
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How The Treatment Works:
The acne scar laser treatment works in mainly two ways:
- Firstly, the top layer of the skin at the spot of the scar is removed with the laser’s heat. By removing the top layer, the scar becomes less visible, and the skin seems smooth too.
- Secondly, by removing the scar tissues as the healthy skin cells replace them, the blood flow increases in that area. The inflammation near the scar spot is reduced as the blood flow is increased.
Both these combine and make the scar less visible, along with healing the skin.
Methods Of the Treatment:
There are different kinds of lasers, such as Carbon Dioxide lasers, pulsed dye lasers, which are used in the treatment of acne scars. These devices have their specific way of treating the scars.
- Ablative Laser Resurfacing: This method uses mainly carbon dioxide lasers and focuses on removing the entire top layer of the skin in the area of the scar. The reduction of redness in the area due to the treatment may commonly take 3-10 days.
- Non-Ablative Laser Resurfacing: This method uses infrared lasers where the lasers’ heat reduces collagen production and promotes the growth of healthy skin cells in place of the scar tissues.
- Fractionated Laser Treatment: This procedure focuses on promoting the tissue under the scar to remove the dark pigment underneath the top layer of skin.
Target Areas of The Treatment:
The treatment of acne scars is targeted to treat the face areas but can also be used to treat other areas of the body. These target areas are:
- Face
- Arms
- Neck
- Back
Side Effects of The Treatment:
The acne scar treatment involves a certain number of risks which may vary depending on the type of lasers used for the treatment. However, the common types of threats are:
- Pain – The pain usually lasts for an hour or two after the treatment.
- Redness – The redness takes typically up to 10 days to reduce.
- Swelling – Swelling may last up to a week or so, but if the swelling is enormous, then you should immediately contact your treatment provider.
- Infection or Hyperpigmentation – These are generally very rare cases during the treatment, but if it occurs, then immediately seek a doctor’s consultation.
The acne scar treatment is effective but does not cure the scars fully. The patients need to attend several sessions of therapy to get specific results. And it should always be undertaken after a dermatologist’s consultation, or else these may result in particular risks to your skin.