Laser Skin Treatment for Acne Scars

Acne is a problem that may appear due to hormonal changes or any unhealthy procedure done on the skin. Lasers can be used to treat acne scars and is considered a noninvasive treatment since no cuts are made on the skin. Treatment of acne scars with a laser gives very promising results. Lasers are also an alternative method for the treatment of scars like injuries, wrinkles and other types of scars.

Laser treatment is useful for all skin types and does not give any side effects after the treatment. It can also treat the scars that are present in deeper layers of the skin. There are four main procedures available for acne scars treatment by laser:

1. Laser Treatment Using Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide laser treatment is done by giving anesthesia in the particular area under treatment. Resurfacing of the skin is done and the area under treatment develops numbness after the procedure for some time. After the resurfacing, the treated area is covered by bandages and steps should be taken to avoid infections. Resurfacing removes the layer of skin and the new cells start generating from that area.  This treatment is used for acne scars that are not very deep.

2. Fractional Laser Treatment

Another term used for this method is microthermal treatment (MTZ). In this method, laser energy is used to treat the scars. Laser energy can be used for deep skin treatments. It is mostly used as a noninvasive procedure and don’t cause any side effects. No dressing procedures are required after the treatment. It deals with the scars that are present deep in the skin layers.

3. Erbium Laser Treatment

Erbium laser treatment is said to be less harmful than the carbon dioxide laser treatment and is used more frequently than carbon dioxide laser treatment. It is helpful in diminishing the scars of acne as well as wrinkles. This procedure requires three or four treatments in order to achieve the desired results. The erbium laser treatment activates the collagen that helps in the generation of new cells and makes the skin smoother. It is mostly useful for scars that are present in the upper layers of the skin. 

4. Pixilation

In the pixilation method, lasers with very small pixel size are used to treat the acne scars. It is a very particular method as it is used for treatment in a particular area of skin. If the acne scar is very small, the pixilation method is found to be most useful. In this method, laser energy is focused on a particular point using pin-sized laser energy in order to obtain the desired results.

Side Effects

Some of the side effects of laser treatment may be a lightening or darkening of the particular area under treatment. Some people may feel bruising, itching, redness or swelling for some time. Some patients may develop more pigmentation, as well as less pigmentation, in the treated area. Please consult with an experienced doctor before undergoing any type of laser treatment for acne scars.