Acne Scar Removal | Laser Resurfacing for Acne Scars | Acne Laser Treatment

Laser Resurfacing & Acne Scars

If you have acne scars, laser resurfacing might be an option for treating them. Acne laser treatment can result in smoother, more clear skin, when done by a qualified doctor. But because laser resurfacing is basically a controlled burning procedure, it's essential that you choose a good doctor, to achieve the best acne free result.

A superficial laser may be used to treat irregular acne scars. During this acne laser procedure, the damaged layer of skin is removed, leaving skin smoother. Your skin may be first injected with a local anesthesia in order to numb it. After about a week, you should see an improvement in the way the skin looks. It is important that only a qualified dermatologist do this type of procedure.

Acne treatment lasers can cut through tissue without causing excessive bleeding. In the course of treating acne scars with a laser, you may notice the surrounding skin looks better as well. There are different types of lasers and light therapies used to treat acne. These include low-intensity blue light therapy, pulsed light and heat therapy and diode lasers. Lasers to treat acne may work by either targeting the oil glands or the bacteria that causes acne. Laser therapy for acne may also be combined with other treatments, such as topical medications. It is very important that you see a qualified and board certified dermatologist for such procedures.

Pulse-dye lasers, Fraxel lasers, Smoothbeam lasers, CO2 laser sand the erbium (YAG) laser are examples of different types of lasers for scarring. With some, a laser vaporizes superficial layers of facial skin. Your doctor will decide if laser resurfacing is appropriate for your type of scar. In general, lasers work best on acne scars that are shallow or slightly raised. Lasers don't work as well on ice-pick scars.

In addition to removing the damaged layers of skin, laser resurfacing can also lead to more collagen production. This can be an added bonus to someone with acne scars, as the skin will look better. Collagen is a protein in the skin's connective tissue, and with more collagen, the skin looks fuller and better. This can also make acne scars less apparent. Sometimes lasers can help with blemish control, but sometimes they can make it worse, so you'll want to discuss this with your doctor.

If you are considering laser treatment for scar removal, talk to your doctor if you are still getting acne. It may be better to wait until the acne is under control.

After some acne laser treatment procedures, there will be bruising and swelling for over a week, with the skin looking scabbed and crusty. After the procedure, plan on at least 10 days of healing before applying any makeup. For satisfactory healing, that means following faithfully an after-care treatment, including proper skin cleansing, the application of a skin lubricant, and the frequent changing of dressings.

It's important to remember that after any kind of laser surgery, you must avoid sunbathing which will just increase the aging process and increase your risk of skin cancer. Anyone who's had a laser treatment procedure on their skin should make sure they use sun protection. Also, you should not get laser treatments while using isotretinoin (Accutane) for severe acne.

Cosmetic laser surgery is not for everyone. Some people with very sensitive skin cannot tolerate the medications used on the skin during healing. If you're still getting acne, lubricants used after the treatment may make your acne worse. People with darker skin can also have problems due to uneven coloration.

As with any medical procedure, patients may experience certain complications including:

• prolonged redness of skin and easy flushing - skin may remain pink for weeks
• tenderness
• hyperpigmentation, when the skin appears darker than normal, or hypopigmentation, which is lightening of the skin

It is essential that anyone considering this procedure see a doctor who is qualified to do the procedure, since laser resurfacing that goes too deep can result in bad scarring. In addition to acne scars, lasers can also be used for wrinkles and lines caused by sun damage, wrinkles due to age and facial expressions, precancerous and benign superficial growths, age spots, and some folds and creases around the nose and mouth

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Updated June 2011

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