Posts Tagged ‘Acne Scarring’

Acne is a lifelong problem for most people, adults and teenagers alike. Most people would want to get rid of acne due to vanity. But there is a deeper reason why people want to clear their faces of acne. Acne is understandably the cause of humiliation and self-consciousness for most people. Moreover, acne is also a cause of discomfort that it affects their professional and social performance.

There are now new ways acne can be treated, and they are available to patients. All they have to do is to choose the most appropriate medication according to their skin type. Acne is treated by various topical and oral remedies. When acne becomes inflamed, the aid of antibiotics may be needed. Moreover, other common treatments for acne are punch grafts, chemical peels and excision.

But another popular method to treat acne is through laser. Laser treatment can work as well as the aforementioned treatments. However, it also has the added benefit of lessening acne scars. As a matter of fact, this treatment is often recommended for acne cases where scarring already exists. Laser treatment can help lighten out the scars.

Laser as a treatment for acne has been around since the 80’s. It may be the perfect treatment for those people who are afraid of serious side effects of the drugs and medications.

(1) 2 Types of Laser Acne Treatment

Laser acne treatments are of 2 types. The first one is focused on restricting the bacteria’s growth in acne lesions. The other one is targeted to reduce the overactive sebaceous oil glands that are involved frequently in the development of blackheads and clogging of skin’s pores. The laser treatment can also reduce the breakouts and minimize the severity of acne.

(2) Duration of Laser Acne Treatment

Laser treatments usually last less than 30 minutes except in other cases where more treatments are required. Additional 3-5 laser acne treatments spread in months may be needed depending on the condition of the acne, whether severe or mild.

(3) Is Laser Acne Treatment Painless?

In general, patients should not feel pain with the laser acne treatment. Therefore there is no need for an anesthetic for the procedure. And this is just one of the advantages of this modern equipment for treating acne.

(4) What People Should Consider?

People should consider one’s skin color before having their acne treated with laser. The color of the acne scars will be different depending on the skin pigment. To ensure that no possible discoloration happens, or at least only a minimum occurs, one should talk to the dermatologist before treatment.

It is very important that the doctor is qualified to perform such procedure. The laser is not a cure but a treatment, and therefore should be treated with patience, like other forms of treatment. If one’s doctor is an experienced and licensed laser practitioner, there are minimum risks for patients.

A person who has an acne problem should make sure that the treatment chosen is the treatment they want to undergo. So, it’s best to talk to the doctor and ask for advice.

Although teenagers are the ones who suffer most from acne, many adults can suffer from it too. Acne can consist of occasional unwanted outbreaks to chronic severe outbreaks. Along with acne often comes the unwanted side effect of scarring. Acne scars can last a lifetime and for some people, they are cosmetically significant enough to cause a loss of self esteem, psychological stress or even suicide.

Acne Treatment Types:

There are a number of treatments for acne on the market today. Some can be purchased over the counter, whereas others require a prescription. This includes topical bactericidals, topical and oral antibiotics, topical and oral retinoids, hormonal treatments and laser treatments. As antibiotics have become increasingly ineffective due to overuse, we are seeing an increase in acne laser treatments.

Acne Laser Treatments:

More and more people are opting for acne laser treatments today to remove acne or acne scarring. People who are considering acne laser treatment, should keep in mind that this sort of treatment really should be considered as a last resort. Treatment of severe acne scars depends on their shape, depth, and location.

During laser resurfacing, a laser pen is held just above the acne or acne scar tissue. A concentrated beam of light is waved back and forth over the area, vaporizing the unwanted tissue and developing a new skin surface for growth. This is where the term laser resurfacing comes from. After the laser treatment, new collagen will form.

Types of Acne Scars:

There are a number of different types of acne scars and the type of scar as well as the severity can determine the type of laser treatment required.

Ice pick scars – Deep pits, most common acne scarring.


Box car scars – Angular scars similar to chickenpox scars.


Rolling scars – Scars that give the skin a wave-like appearance.


Hypertrophic scars – Thickened, or keloid scars.

Associated Pain

There is pain involved with acne laser treatments. Some people describe it like a rubber band being “snapped” against the skin. Deep laser treatments can often require anesthesia.

Associated Cost:

The cost of acne laser treatments depends on where you live, if multiple treatments are required and how much work is being done. A full face acne treatment is much more expensive then a treatment involving smaller sections of skin.

What You Can Expect Afterwards:

Make sure you plan for plenty of time off after your procedure. It isn’t unusual for a patient to experience both pain and swelling after an acne laser treatment. This can vary from person to person, but usually lasts for a week to ten days. During this time, the patient should not wear make up.

Doctor Consultation:

If you are considering an acne procedure, you need to do your homework. Talk to a few different doctors; check prices and check patient reviews.

By keeping all of the above tips in mind, you should be able to make a much more informed decision about laser acne treatments. Keep in mind that this doesn’t guarantee your results, but it will increase your chance of a more positive outcome.