A Guide To Laser Treatments for Acne Scars Acne is one of the most dreaded skin problems faced by teenagers and sometimes they even follow you into adulthood. Acne vulgaris can happen to anyone, resulting in unsightly clustering of pimples, skin inflammation, and whiteheads. They are more common in people with oily skin and are usually caused due to the overproduction of oil by the sebaceous glands. When the excess oil combines with dead skin cells, dirt, and impurities, they clog the skin pores causing red and inflammatory lesions. While acne eventually goes away, they leave behind hideous acne scars that remind you of the nightmare. When prescription drugs and home remedies fail, you can opt for laser treatment for acne scars to reclaim a radiant and healthy skin. Laser treatment is perhaps the most technologically advanced treatment available to get rid of stubborn acne. It can be used to correct several types of skin imperfections such as wrinkles, acne scars, and irregular skin pigmentation. It can also be used to reverse the skin problems caused by sun damage. The method uses short pulses of micro-fine laser light that reaches deep inside the skin s top epidermal layer. It stimulates the body s natural healing process to get rid of the damaged tissues and rebuild new collagen to reveal a clearer skin. This is a fast, painless, and simple procedure that can be done in about 40 minutes or even less, depending upon the area to be treated. It usually takes 4-6 sessions over a period of two years to completely remove the scars and reveal a more even skin texture. In general, laser treatments fall under two categories - Ablative Lasers and Non-Ablative Lasers. While both these methods can dramatically improve the skin and reduce imperfections, they vary in the final results they produce. Ablative Lasers are used to treat acne scarring, signs of aging, irregularities of skin, and unwanted lesions. Some of the side effects may include redness, swelling, minor infection and slight color changes. Non-ablative lasers are far less invasive and they work by heating up the scarred tissues. They are useful in treating fine lines, wrinkles, and scars. Some of the risks associated with non-ablative lasers are mild redness, blisters, skin color changes, etc. While we can t prevent acne from popping up every now and then, we can surely remove them using laser treatment for scars so that they leave no trails behind.
Types of Laser Treatments There are different types of laser treatment available for people with different skin types. It may also depend upon the severity of acne marks. A skin analyst or laser therapist will assess the number of scars and their condition to decide the type of laser treatment suitable. The therapist may apply a local anesthetic cream or gel on the area to be treated to make it numb. You then simply lie on a bed while the therapist applies laser light to the affected areas. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Lasers In this ablative resurfacing treatment, laser light is used to melt and vaporize the damaged tissues layer by creating fine holes into the skin. As these holes are extremely small and they are created using laser light, you hardly feel any pain. The idea behind this treatment is to stimulate the natural healing process of the skin to enable the body to create new collagen. This is a type of protein responsible for producing new and healthy skin in the place of dead skin cells. It usually takes 5 to 7 days for the laser treatment to show visible results. However, the procedure itself can be completed in just one session. Fractional Laser Treatment This method is often regarded as the most effective as the light is focused on a small area of the skin. In this treatment, only the scarred areas are impacted while the surrounding areas are left untouched. As the laser light in Fractional deeply penetrates into the specific area, it works best for deep and wide scars. As only a small area is treated using laser light, the recovery time is comparatively less than other laser methods. Fraxel Laser This is one of the most contemporary and technologically advanced laser treatments for acne scars. Instead of vaporizing the damaged outer skin, this non-ablative method heats the scarred skin tissues to clear out the old and pigmented skin cells. This is a milder form of laser treatment; hence it is suitable for people with sensitive skin. It takes only 3-4 days for the patients to recover and the skin to show noticeable results. However, this procedure requires multiple sessions at the clinic.
V-Beam or Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL) This form of laser treatment is used to reduce the skin redness caused by rosacea and acne scars. The highly concentrated laser beams attack the enlarged red blood cells that cause redness. The intense heat destroys the blood vessels and erodes the outer layer of the skin depriving it of oxygen and nutrients. As the dead outer layer sheds, the skin cells beneath it get the chance to grow back normally. It helps you rediscover a clearer and radiant skin. Fractionated Eribum or Pixel laser The Pixel laser is suitable for Asian skin types and it is called so because the laser light creates pixel sized holes on the skin, encouraging the cells to heal. These dots are nearly invisible and harmless to your skin. Your skin gets the chance to grow new collagen over the area that was once scarred. The treatment takes about 4 to 6 sessions, spread across a month and you can start seeing results in a few weeks. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) This type of laser treatment works best for dark or brown acne scars. In this procedure, the laser light doesn t attack the acne texture but improves the color of the acne scars to match it with your normal skin color. While doing so, it also kills the bacteria responsible for causing acne. The principle that works for this treatment is that darker areas absorb lighter, so dark colored spots and marks absorb the laser light faster than other areas of the skin. The intense heat breaks down the pigmented cells to treat acne scars. Active FX and Deep FX Active FX helps in healing smaller and shallow scars, while the Deep FX is more suitable for deeper acne scars. The biggest advantage of this treatment is that it does not damage the topmost sensitive layer of the skin. It only impacts the thicker inner layer known as the dermis. By the end of the treatment, you not only discover a scar-free skin but also a youthful glow that doesn t go unnoticed. Types Of Acne Scars And Their Treatment Acne scars differ widely in their shapes, size, patterns, and stubbornness. When you visit a clinic, an analyst will first determine the type of scar and then suggest a laser treatment. Some of the common types of acne scars and their treatments are as follows:
Keloids are raised, discolored and bumpy acne scars that are formed when the body tries to naturally heal itself and accidentally produces more skin cells. Pulsed dye lasers are known to be useful in removing keloids, however it may not be suitable for people with dark skin. For stubborn keloids, a combination of CO2 fractional laser and pulsed dye laser may be used for effective results. Rolling scars are caused by long-term inflammatory acne that gives a wavy texture to the skin. They appear like mini mountains and valleys. If not treated, these scars can become more prominent as you age and the skin loses elasticity. Laser treatment is by far the most common treatment for rolling scars. It removes the top epidermal layer of the skin revealing smooth and cleaner skin beneath it. Ice pick scars appear like mini depressions on the skin surface. It looks like someone has punctured the skin using a needle. This type scars are formed when you skin loses collagen and he overlying skin collapses creating a depression. Fraxel laser is the most recommended laser treatment for ice pick scars. This non-invasive method targets the scarred tissues and damages them, resulting in the growth of healthy skin cells. Boxer acne scars are shallow with sharp edges and they often cause depression on the skin. They can be healed by collagen-boosting laser treatments. Acne Scar Laser Treatment Side Effects Laser for acne scars is touted as a safe and effective procedure with minimum side effects. However, let s admit the fact that no treatment is 100% risk-free. The ablative form of lasers, mainly CO2 lasers may have more side effects than others. The skill and experience of the laser operator play an important role in determining the side effects you may or may not experience. Laser treatment should always be performed by an expert who has taken proper training for it. Make sure you do some online research about the clinic and ask for the operator s certifications and other qualification before undergoing the treatment. If you don t get satisfactory answers, consider this a red flag and stay away from places that provide low-quality treatment. If the laser beam is not focused correctly or the laser tool is not handled well, this may result in scarring, burning, altering skin color, and aggravating the existing condition. Even when the laser treatment is done by professionals, the sessions may sometimes be followed by mild to considerable redness, pain, and blistering (particularly if you have extremely sensitive skin). Skin infection is another possible side effect that cannot be completely ruled out.
Laser Treatment Cost There are several factors that come together to determine the cost of acne scar laser treatment. This includes the operator s fee, cost of the facility, anesthesia (if any), and expenses of the pre and posttreatment care. Before the procedure, schedule a consultation with the cosmetic dermatologist or surgeon to discuss the procedure and know what to expect from it. This will give you an idea of the number of sessions required so that you get a more accurate cost estimate. In the US, the cost of acne scar laser treatment may vary between $350 and $1,500 per session. This depends on the type of laser used, geographic location and the experience of the operator. As this is considered as a cosmetic procedure, most health insurance companies don t cover the cost. Although the laser treatment for acne scars is expensive, the radiant, smooth and scar-free skin you discover post-treatment is definitely worth every penny!