| 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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