Acne Laser Treatments and
Laser Therapy
Acne scars have long challenged dermatologists who treat patients
with severe acne. Over the years, doctors have used excision,
punch grafts, dermabrasion and chemical peels to remove acne
scars. Unlike acne laser treatments, these treatments
for acne, bring results which vary from person to person.
Now doctors have additional tools when performing an acne
laser treatment such as pulsed laser technology, dye technology
and carbon dioxide laser vaporization. All of these additions
to acne laser therapy target improved technology - significantly
increase the procedures success.
Application of both carbon dioxide laser vaporization and
dye technology can significantly reduce the thickness of ance
scars, and can discolor reddened scars so that they match
the natural skin tone, thus making them much less noticeable.
For optimal success in acne laser treatment, doctors recommend
patients com in for a pre screening. In a prescreen appointment,
the doctor can then categorize the type of acne and the actual
scars themselves, and are then able to prognose the best therapy
for that patient.
Six to eight weeks after the acne laser therapy, the patient
should be examined again. At this point, the doctor would
decide whether or not a second acne treatment is necessary.
Acne light therapy has now been intriduced as an alternative
to acne laser therapy. Acne light therapy seeks to mimic the
action of the sun. Acne patients already derive some benefit
from exposure to small amounts of sunlight. During the summer
months, acne patients find that their skin swells and begins
to exfoliate.
Blue light therapy helps the skin exfoliate and kills the
bacteria that causse acne. Despite popular belief, blue light
therapy does not expose the patient to UV light.
A patient who undergoes blue
light acne therapy does not have to remain under the light
for an extended amount of time. A typical blue light therapy
session lasts 15 minutes. A patient receiving blue light therapy
can expect approximately 8 sessions over a four week period.
Pulsed light and heat energy therapy provides another option
for acne patients. Patients with nodulocystic acne, for example,
should consider using pulsed light and heat therapy as opposed
to acne laser treatment and blue light therapy as nodulocystic
acne does not always respond well to those treatments.
During pulsed light and heat therapy a combination of pulses
(some caused by light and others caused by heat) hit regions
of the skin affected by acne. The pulses kill acne-causing
bacteria. In addition, they may decrease the level of sebum
production in the skin, thereby dimishing the magnitude or
further acne flareups.
Overall, acne laser therapy is fast becoming a common practice
as an acne treatment for people who want scar removal in a
more efficient, non traditional way.
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