Essential Facts About Laser Treatment for Acne Scar Removal

Acne is, probably, the most commonly found skin problem for all age groups of people around the world. While acne itself usually tends to subside with time, unfortunately, it almost always leaves behind some form of an unwanted blemish in the form of acne scars. These may range from discolored to a pitted appearance that may take years to improve. They can significantly impact a person's self-esteem and confidence.

For the modern dermatologist, however, new hope is on the horizon. In fact, new modern dermatological techniques promise to offer meaningful results to every single person wishing to reduce the appearance of old acne scars. Undoubtedly, laser for acne scars is the most popular used treatment. This article provides some important facts about laser treatments for getting rid of acne scars, necessary to allow you to make some wise decisions regarding this method of treatment.

Types of Laser Treatments for Acne Scars

The main types of laser for acne scars treatment can be grouped into two general groups: ablative and non-ablative. Here are the main differences.

Ablative Lasers:

They work by removing the topmost layers of your skin, which include the scarred skin. A controlled process stimulates the natural healing response of the body to produce new collagen.

• Fractional CO2 Laser: Delivers a focused beam of light, which creates a minute column or some tissue within the scar being treated. The surrounding healthy skin assists in healing and thus reduces downtime.
  

• Erbium: YAG laser: It provides more controlled and exact precision, so it is mostly recommended for the treatment of relatively much shallower scars or for the treatment of frail areas like those around the eyes.
  

Non-ablative Lasers:

Unlike ablative lasers that remove some of your skin tissues, non-ablative lasers will just shoot light energy beams into the skin. This heat energy stimulates collagen and at the same time does not damage the surface of the skin. Overall, non-ablative laser treatments are gentler than ablative treatments and usually require more treatment sessions to achieve similar results.

• Pulsed Dye Laser: It reduces redness and improves general appearance by targeting individual blood vessels in the scar.
  

• Fractional Non-Ablative Lasers: These lasers deliver laser energy with a fractionated pattern similar to that of a fractional CO2 laser but without the removal of the surface skin.
  

How Laser Treatment Works for Acne Scars

Scar Tissue Ablation (Ablative Lasers): As the name suggests, ablative lasers work directly on the principle of vaporizing the scar tissue, hence controlling injury. In turn, your body responds to the treated area with healing factors. This process subsequently rejuvenates and encourages the growth of new, healthy skin cells, which replace those previously damaged with scar tissue.

Collagen Stimulation (Ablative and Non-Ablative Lasers): These lasers, ablative or non-ablative, encourage collagen formation. In turn, collagen is the sort of protein that most frequently maintains the building block of healthy skin, enabling it to structure, flexibility, and even suppleness. Boosted collagen levels help to fill pitted scars and even out a rough texture to provide the skin with a polished look.

Benefits of Laser Treatment for Acne Scar

Reduced Scar Depth and Appearance: The depth and visibility of the scar depth are greatly reduced by laser treatment, hence making your skin less uneven.

Better Texture and Tone: The laser treatment can significantly improve the texture and tone of your skin, both of which will go a long way in making you look much healthier and radiant due to stimulated collagen production.

Comparatively Safe and Well-tolerated: Laser treatment is generally considered a safe method with minimal risk and well-tolerated, unlike other means of methods for scar removal, e.g., surgery, among others. However, consultation with the best dermatologist in this context may be required.

Who is a Good Candidate for Laser Treatment?

Various factors are going to decide if you would be eligible for acne scar laser treatment or not. Some of the important points are broken down in this regard:

Type of Scarring: Not all types of acne scarring will respond equally to this type of treatment. In general, the larger, more prominent, and deeper the scar, the more improvement will be noticed from its previous condition than with the smaller, shallower, icepick type.

Skin Type: Darker skin types may be at greater risk for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (darker color in the treated area) following any laser procedure. Always ask a dermatologist who treats a wide variety of skin types for his advice.

General Health: There are some lifestyle diseases and drugs that affect suitability for laser treatment. Full history about any of these should be supplied during consultation with your dermatologist.

Realistic Expectations: A laser treatment will improve the look of acne scars but not completely obliterate them. It is necessary to put up realistic expectations from the treatment with the dermatologist so that there is a set of realistic expectations and desired satisfaction from the treatment.

What to Expect During Laser Treatment for Acne Scar?

Pre-Treatment Preparation

Avoid Sun Exposure: Exposure to the sun could worsen the results and bring side effects to a more likely probability. A person will, most probably, have to avoid direct sunlight for several weeks before treatment. Sunscreen should be used generously after treatment.

Settings for Medication: Some medications can increase the sensitivity of your skin to the sun or interfere with the healing process. Open up to your dermatologist over the medication that you are under, to be able to mediate.

Tweak your Skincare Regimen: Your dermatologist may tweak the skincare regimen to bring out the best in your treatments. This may include stopping some products or incorporating healing-promoting ingredients.

The Treatment Process Itself

Consultation: A comprehensive consultation with the dermatologist will take place before the actual treatment. The physician will evaluate your scars, explain in detail the procedure to be done, and discuss your goals while answering all the questions you might be having.

Getting Comfortable: Most patients will be asked to sit in a very comfortable chair that reclines. Your eyes will be protected from the laser light by placing special eyewear over them.

Laser Application: The laser is applied very gently on all the areas under target by the dermatologist. Some types of lasers feel warm or prickly, and some may sting just a bit. Most treatments are well-tolerated, although a topical anesthetic cream can be given to enhance the patient's comfort if he so wishes.

Treatment Time: Usually, the entire laser session takes between 30 minutes to one hour, depending on the number and size of the treated areas.

Post-Treatment Care

Healing Time: Expect some redness, swelling, and even some small scabs in the treated sites. Normally, healing is complete within 7-10 days post-treatment; however, in cases where the treatment is more intensive, time may be longer.

Gentle Skincare: Clean the area gently with a fragrance-free cleanser recommended by your dermatologist. Avoid harsh scrubs and products that could create irritation.

Moisturize Gently: The area of treatment is supposed to be kept moist. It is only supposed to be moistened with fragrance-free moisturizers, following the advice of a dermatologist.

Sun Protection is a Must: Sun exposure can further precipitate the problems of pigmentation after laser treatment. Take great care in sun protection. Regularly apply sunscreen of a broad spectrum with an SPF of 30 or more. Wear protective hats when indulging in outdoor activities.

Risks and Side Effects of Laser Treatment

Temporary Discomfort: Following treatment, redness, swelling, and scabbing are frequent and usually go away in a week or two.

Pigmentation Changes: Some pigmentation changes are bound to occur post-laser treatment, manifesting as either hyper- or hypopigmentation of the treated area. This is more likely to occur in darker skin types and from too much sun post-treatment.

Scarring (Rare): It includes only very rare cases of paradoxical scarring due to the laser treatment itself. This is why it is of paramount importance to seek a board-certified dermatologist who has had much experience in treating scars with lasers.

Cost Considerations of Laser Treatment for Acne Scar

Kind of laser to be used: Different types of lasers have different costs, with ablative ones being higher in cost than non-ablative lasers.

Number of Sessions Needed: The number of sessions may vary, given that it will base the determination on the severity and complexity of your scars. Most patients need to return so that better and optimal results are realized.

Dermatologist Experience and Location: The experience of your dermatologist and the location of his or her office may be a determining factor for the cost.

Alternative Treatments for Acne Scars

Microneedling: A minimally invasive procedure in which the skin is punctured with a device that contains small needles. Such action literally encourages a cascade of healing within the body and may well encourage the production of collagen to fill indented areas and at times improve the texture of the scar.

Fillers: Injectable fillers can be used to plump up depressed acne scars, creating a smoother appearance.

Surgical Scar Revision: In some cases, a surgical procedure might be recommended for deeper or more prominent scars.