Laser Acne Treatment Guide

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Laser Acne Treatment Guide

Not all acne results in the formation of scar tissue. Most acne patients who show evidence scarring have had either moderately severe or severe acne. Often these people resort to a somewhat new form of treatment, a process called laser acne treatment.

What are acne scars and acne scarring?
A patient with moderately severe acne has either red, inflamed pimples (called papules) or red pimples with a white center (called pustules). As with all pimples, these pimples are the result of bacteria growing in clogged skin pores. A patient with severe acne can also have pus filled lumps called nodules. Severe acne can result in what is called acne scarring, due to incessant inflammation, breakage, irritation and eventual skin damage.

Traditionally acne scars were treated with creams and ingested medications, which did not have any guaranteed effects. With the advent and popularity of acne laser treatment, acne removal is now easier, painless and fast and laser treatment is considered one of the best acne scar treatments available.

There are different procedures with acne laser treatment, discussed below:

Laser Resurfacing
In this procedure, a laser is used to burn off the top layers of the skin on the scarred areas. The sudden disappearance of the top layer is recognized by the lower layers of skin, which immediately start cell reproduction and collagen production to replace the missing skin. The new skin is, in many cases, much healthier and normal looking that the previous scar tissue.

Fractional Laser Therapy
Fractional laser therapy is the use of a laser to penetrate deeper layers of skin, without damaging the top layer. Getting to the lower layers of skin without damaging the top layer was not possible before laser treatment. In many cases this process is used when scar protrude, or, are bumpy in nature. The burning away of underlying skin layers (and inflammation) helps smooth the scarred area and make it level with the rest of the skin.

Pros and Cons
Laser therapy is, in general, relatively costly. Not all laser surgery is covered by medical insurance. Topical laser therapy, or laser resurfacing, is less expensive than fractional laser therapy, but its results are not always as satisfactory. On the other hand, laser resurfacing is covered by insurance in more cases than is fractional laser therapy.

Fractional laser therapy is more expensive and is not always covered by medical insurance; however the technique is usually more effective and lasts a longer time than conventional resurfacing. Fewer visits may also be necessary. Talk to your specialist to see what acne scar reduction method is best for you.