Laser Treatment for Acne Scars: The Essential Guide

A picture of Anne Marie Ponce de Leon

Anne Marie Ponce de Leon

Acne has always been a bothersome skin problem for many, especially since finding the proper cleansers and creams may be a frustrating experience. Some individuals even seek a prescription because over-the-counter acne medications are ineffective. Thankfully, other treatment alternatives, including micro-needling, injectable fillers, and dermabrasion, are now available. 

Acne develops when the sebaceous glands are clogged with sweat, debris, and other foreign particles. Pimples and even deeper cysts may develop as a result of this. Laser treatment for acne is an option in such conditions.

Laser treatment is regarded to be a non-invasive cosmetic surgery. With this treatment, the scars will be less noticeable, and it will alleviate the discomfort from acne. Here’s a quick guide to help you get started:

The Two Main Types of Acne Scars

Acne scarring may be divided into two categories: depressed scarring and elevated scarring. Depressed scars are caused by the lack of collagen in the skin.  

There are four kinds of depressed scars: ice pick, atrophic, boxcar, and rolling scars, resulting in big and tiny indentations in the skin. Scars that have excess collagen show up as lines or lumps on the skin.

Laser Treatment for Acne Scar

The heat generated by the laser is the first stage of a two-phase process—the heat aids in the removal of the top skin layer where the scar is located.

Skin will look smoother and less noticeable when the top layer of scar tissue is peeled away, and the scar will become less noticeable. The laser’s light and heat will cause the scar tissue to break apart, allowing healthy new skin cells to grow.

The heat generated by the laser will pull blood to the scar’s site and help decrease the inflammation. Following that, the process of promoting skin healing may commence.

Types of Laser Treatment

There are many laser treatment options, including:

Fractionated Laser Treatment

Fractional laser therapy targets a portion of the skin at a time, similar to enhancing or altering a photographic picture pixel by pixel.

Fractionated laser treatment is an excellent option for those with icepick or boxcar scars. It also removes darkly pigmented cells.

Ablative Laser Resurfacing

The laser removes the thin outer skin layer (epidermis) and warms the dermis underneath it to promote new collagen fibers. The treated region becomes smoother and much tighter as the skin regenerates and heals.

By eliminating the top layer of skin, this kind of laser therapy primarily aids in the reduction of acne scars.

Non-Ablative Resurfacing

Non-ablative resurfacing uses lasers to resurface the skin without causing any damage to the outer layer of the skin.

Acne scars are treated using infrared lasers. It attempts to increase collagen synthesis and promote the development of healthy new skin cells through this treatment.

Expectations for Laser Treatment Of Acne Scars

Acne scarring does not entirely disappear even after laser treatment, although it is less visible as a consequence. Even so, the treatment isn’t 100% safe and requires additional skincare for months after that as the scar area heals.

For approximately eight weeks, tanning salons are off-limits, and you should minimize your time in the sun. Every time they leave the house, patients should apply sunscreen. 

The physician may recommend a moisturizer or special toner as additional skin-specific care recommendations. Avoid wearing makeup for at least a week to help prevent infection.

Any swelling or redness that develops in the weeks after treatment should subside. Within ten days, you should see some improvement from the treatment.

Conclusion

Acne scarring may occur if the condition is severe enough or if it is not adequately managed. Topical and systemic acne treatments have been supplanted by introducing acne laser treatment in the last several years.

If you are looking for a facility that offers professional laser treatment for acne scars, Z Med Clinic is an excellent choice. We are a reliable family healthcare facility based in Texas, offering world-class medical treatment and first-rate health and wellness services. Book an appointment today!

Anne Marie Ponce de Leon

Medical Director

About Anne Marie Ponce de Leon

Anne Marie Ponce de Leon MD is a proud native Houstonian. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Houston Baptist University with a double major in Biology and History. For medical school, she attended the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston (recently renamed McGovern Medical School). She began her family practice training at Tufts University Medical School in Boston, MA, but subsequently returned to Houston where she completed her residency at the Memorial Southwest Family Practice Program.

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