Laser Resurfacing for Acne Scar Removal

Acne scars can mar appearance in an otherwise flawless face. If you too are in such trouble, it is time to find out a solution for the problem. Sometimes a single treatment or a combination of treatments works wonders in acne scar removal. Before you choose any skin treatment, ask yourself the following questions:

Do you have active acne? Dermatologists prefer scar removal treatments only after you get rid of the present problem.

What kind of scars do you have? The common types of acne scars are – ice pick, boxcar, rolling, and hypertrophic.

Is the problem mild or severe? Finding the best acne scar treatment for you depends on the degree of severity.

While chemical peels and microdermabrasion works well for mild scarring, you may need laser treatments if you have serious scars. How does this work? Laser resurfacing involves the use of a laser light on the problem area or 1-3 times. This helps remove the scarred skin and let new skin grow in its place.

Three options are available in this treatment:

Ø  The Carbon Dioxide Laser

Ø  The Erbium (YAG) Laser

Ø  The Fractional Laser

While the CO2 laser offers the most impressive results among all, the side effects are also more severe. In most cases, doctors opt for the Erbium (YAG) or the fractional laser resurfacing treatments.

Here are a few details regarding the laser therapy for acne scar removal.

Pain relief – the dermatologist uses local anesthesia to lessen the pain you may experience

Treatment time – depends on the area for treatment (may take 10-15 minutes or an hour or more)

Dressing – while the CO2 laser does need bandages, the others may not

Healing time – longest for CO2 (10-21 days), least for fractional laser (2-5 days)

Side effects – you may experience crusting, oozing, swelling, hyper-pigmentation or hypo-pigmentation, redness, etc.

The effects of this treatment remain for quite a considerable time. However, for prominent results, you may need to undergo repeat sessions of the laser therapy. Find a qualified dermatologist who offers this treatment for acne scar removal for an initial consultation. Clarify your doubts and get the answers you seek before you choose this.

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