Laser Acne Treatment Guide
Not all acne results in the formation of scar tissue. Most
acne patients who show evidence scarring
have had either moderately severe or severe acne. Often these
people resort to a somewhat new form of treatment, a process
called laser acne treatment.
What are acne scars and acne scarring?
A patient with moderately severe acne has either red, inflamed
pimples (called papules) or red pimples with a white center
(called pustules).
As with all pimples, these pimples are the result of bacteria
growing in clogged skin pores. A patient with severe
acne can also have pus filled lumps called nodules.
Severe acne can result in what is called acne scarring, due
to incessant inflammation, breakage, irritation and eventual
skin damage.
Traditionally acne
scars were treated with creams and ingested medications,
which did not have any guaranteed effects. With the advent
and popularity of acne laser treatment, acne removal is now
easier, painless and fast and laser treatment is considered
one of the best acne scar treatments available.
There are different procedures with acne laser treatment,
discussed below:
Laser Resurfacing
In this procedure, a laser is used to burn off the top layers
of the skin on the scarred areas. The sudden disappearance
of the top layer is recognized by the lower layers of skin,
which immediately start cell reproduction and collagen production
to replace the missing skin. The new skin is, in many cases,
much healthier and normal looking that the previous scar tissue.
Fractional Laser Therapy
Fractional laser therapy is the use of a laser to penetrate
deeper layers of skin, without damaging the top layer. Getting
to the lower layers of skin without damaging the top layer
was not possible before laser treatment. In many cases this
process is used when scar protrude, or, are bumpy in nature.
The burning away of underlying skin layers (and inflammation)
helps smooth the scarred area and make it level with the rest
of the skin.
Pros and Cons
Laser therapy is, in general, relatively costly. Not all laser
surgery is covered by medical insurance. Topical laser therapy,
or laser resurfacing, is less expensive than fractional
laser therapy, but its results are not always as satisfactory.
On the other hand, laser resurfacing is covered by insurance
in more cases than is fractional laser therapy.
Fractional laser therapy is more expensive and is not always
covered by medical insurance; however the technique is usually
more effective and lasts a longer time than conventional resurfacing.
Fewer visits may also be necessary. Talk to your specialist
to see what acne
scar reduction method is best for you. |
