Acne is not just a problem faced by teenagers. People of all ages can develop acne, not to mention the acne scars that remain. Acne and acne scars often cause people to feel self-conscious and insecure when it comes to their appearance. The best dermatologists understand that each case of acne or acne scarring needs to be addressed and consequently treated individually. Everyone’s skin is different and thus everyone experiences different degrees of acne-related issues.
One of the top beauty-related search terms on the internet is “laser treatment for acne scars.” The goal of laser acne scar treatment is to reduce the visibility of previous acne scarring. 95% of persons who have experienced acne have some degree of lingering scars. The top layer of skin’s scar tissue is destroyed by laser therapy for acne scars, which also promotes the regrowth of fresh, healthy skin cells to take its place.
Well, In this article I’ll be discussing laser treatment for acne as the following questions are discussed:
- Can lasers be used to treat acne scars?
- How many laser treatments are required to minimize acne scarring?
- What lasers are most effective for acne scars?
- What kinds of lasers do we have?
Contents
Can lasers be used to treat acne scars?
However, in general, most lasers treat acne scars by using thermal, or heat, energy to induce a wound healing response that prompts new collagen formation in the skin, according to Dr. Westbay. Yes, there are a variety of different laser treatments used by professionals to remove and reduce acne scarring.
The look of the skin’s uneven texture and atrophic acne scars is improved by the smoothing and resurfacing effects of new collagen synthesis. Another option for removing or diminishing post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and the discoloration that frequently persists after your pimple has healed is lasers that use light energy to break up extra pigment in the skin.
How many laser treatments are required to minimize acne scarring?
The severity of your acne scars, the type of laser you use to cure them, and the strength at which your doctor uses the laser all affect how many laser sessions you’ll need to get rid of them. Ablative lasers, however, frequently result in the most dramatic resurfacing impact, thus patients may only need one procedure to lessen the appearance of their acne scars. In contrast, softer procedures like IPL/BBL may need four to six sessions spaced a month apart to achieve the same results.
Ask your doctor how many sessions you will need to get rid of all of your scars, what to expect after your first session, and whether you will need any follow-up maintenance treatments before your first treatment.
By doing this, you’ll be fully aware of what to anticipate as well as the upfront costs. Another important thing to keep in mind is that the longer the downtime, the more severe the treatment, so if you’re not the kind of person who can hide out for two weeks after a procedure, a one-and-done laser therapy like CO2 or er: YAG won’t be for you
What lasers are most effective for acne scars?
Here are some of the most effective lasers for acne:
For acne scars, ablative lasers.
Fractionated, non-ablative lasers for acne scarring.
For acne scars, use radiofrequency micro needling.
IPL/BBL for scars from acne.
For acne scars, ablative lasers.
Ablative lasers—like CO2 and er: YAG—deliver an intense wavelength of light to remove the outer layers of skin while also heating the under layers of the skin, says dermatologist Arash Akhavan, MD. This process completely injures and resurfaces the skin, resulting in the presence of new, healthy tissue. The downtime associated with ablative lasers is about two weeks, says Dr. Akhavan, adding that “severe scabbing will occur during these two weeks, and patients should completely limit sun exposure and physical activity as this could harm the healing process.
Bottom line: These lasers are incredibly powerful and produce great results, especially for those with atrophic acne scarring, but need to be used by experienced medical professionals only.
Fractionated, non-ablative lasers for acne scarring.
A non-ablative laser just warms skin tissue; it leaves the top layers of skin intact. They don’t cause as much damage as an ablative laser, but they still use enough energy to stimulate collagen formation, according to Dr. Westbay. Because non-ablative lasers do not create the aberrant pigmentation that frequently results from using ablative lasers on darker skin, patients with darker skin tones are candidates for them, according to Dr. Westbay.
For acne scars, use radiofrequency micro needling.
According to Dr. Hartman, another office procedure that professionals can utilize to treat mild to moderate acne scarring is radiofrequency micro needling. It includes “stamping” the skin with a hand-held instrument, which presses sterile needles and heat into the skin to make microscopic incisions. These wounds increase the synthesis of collagen and elastin, which can lessen the appearance of acne scars.
IPL/BBL for scars from acne.
According to Dr. Westbay, IPL, and BBL are effective for reducing post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and/or erythema, the flat brown or red markings that people frequently have after their acne has healed. According to Dr. Westbay, these therapies are inappropriate for addressing any skin indentations because they don’t do much to increase collagen. Instead, explains Dr. Westbay, they employ light energy to target both melanin pigment and redness (it just requires switching to a different filter on the same machine). This causes markings and spots to progressively diminish after each session. IPL and BLL have minimum downtime, and with numbing cream, they are almost painless, in my experience.
What are the types of lasers we have?
Here are the types of lasers we have:
- Blue, red, and blue + red light devices
- At-home devices
- Blue, red, and blue + red light devices
- Infrared light
- Photodynamic therapy [PDT]
Photopneumatic therapy
These contraptions can heal pimples and are known as visible light since you can see the colors. Acne cysts, nodules, blackheads, and whiteheads cannot be removed by visible light.
At-home devices
Some visible-light LED devices (blue, red, and blue + red light devices) have received FDA approval for use in homes. These tools aren’t as strong as what a dermatologist employs. Visible light can only treat pimples, as was already said.
Infrared light
This kind of light is permitted by the FDA to cure pimples, even those that appear on the back. Cysts, nodules, cysts, and blackheads cannot be treated with infrared light.
Photodynamic therapy [PDT]
A solution that increases skin’s sensitivity to light is administered to acne-prone skin during PDT. A period of time, ranging from 15 to 3 hours, must pass while the solution is left on the skin. The skin is then treated by a dermatologist using a laser or light instrument.
Photopneumatic therapy
This procedure combines a mild suction with an intense pulsed light (IPL) laser. It clears congested pores by eliminating more oil and dead skin cells. The FDA has given it the go-ahead to treat certain pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads. Cysts or nodules from acne cannot be treated.
Read more: How To Use Mint Leaves To Cure Acne
FAQs
Does laser remove acne permanently?
As the skin starts to recover, the skin’s surface may become red and puffy. However, the effect ought to be long-lasting once the therapy is over and the skin has recovered. It’s crucial to seek individualized guidance from a qualified dermatologist if you’re thinking about laser therapy for acne scars.
Does acne come back after laser treatment?
Laser skin treatments can get rid of bothersome acne scars and leave you with smooth, healthy skin that looks good. But even effective laser treatments won’t stop acne from coming back if you don’t take the proper measures.
What happens if you have laser acne?
Ablative acne laser therapy eliminates a few layers of skin near the acne scar, allowing the skin to heal and regenerate without scarring or tension. Only utilized on deeper acne scars that don’t require surgical procedures, the skin recovers smoother and blemish-free.
Does laser acne treatment hurt?
The good news is that most of the time, laser removal is painless. In reality, the majority of patients say they experience a mild tingling or warmth during the procedure, which is actually rather calming. While some claim that receiving laser treatments causes a mild stinging sensation, others find the procedure to be rather pleasant.
What is the strongest treatment for acne?
Isotretinoin: This powerful medication targets bacteria, blocked pores, too much oil, and inflammation (redness and swelling), which are the four main causes of acne. After using isotretinoin for one course, about 85% of patients experience permanent clearance.
Is laser good or bad for your face?
Many men and women who have aging or skin flaws can benefit from the safe and efficient treatment of laser skin resurfacing. Moderate to severe aging symptoms are present in a good candidate. Scars, redness, and uneven texture are examples of skin flaws.
Can laser damage your skin?
Skin that has had laser resurfacing may become darker than it was before the procedure (hyperpigmentation) or lighter than it was (hypopigmentation). People with dark brown or Black complexion are more likely to see permanent changes in their skin tone. Find out from your doctor which type of laser resurfacing lowers this risk. Scarring.
What are the disadvantages of laser treatment?
Bruch’s membrane splits, macular damage, extremely acute or misdirected burns, choriocapillaris hemorrhage, and damage to other ocular structures are all possible side effects of laser therapy.
Does laser lighten your skin?
The effectiveness of the various types of lasers used to lighten dark spots of skin varies. The best device isn’t a particular one. Before beginning a full therapy, test laser treatments on tiny patches of skin are advised.
Why is skin darker after laser?
Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH): Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is a transient increase in skin pigmentation. Although anyone is susceptible to PIH, those with darker skin tones are at a higher risk
That is for this article, in which I have discussed laser treatment for acne, and the following questions were discussed:
- Can lasers be used to treat acne scars?
- How many laser treatments are required to minimize acne scarring?
- What lasers are most effective for acne scars?
- What kinds of lasers do we have?
I hope it was helpful, If so, kindly share this with others, thank you for reading, and see you around!
