It has been said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. When you are the beholder looking at your own skin, you want to see the same beauty you feel inside. You want to be comfortable and happy looking at your reflection.
Your skin is your biggest organ, and it has a big job protecting the rest of you from the elements. It deserves the best treatment, and so do you. Did you have acne in your younger years and are now left with unsightly and embarrassing scars? It is one thing to be an embarrassed teenager still going through puberty, it’s another to be an adult still dealing with the scars left by acne. We understand those feelings. We want you to feel confident again and offer multiple treatment options to restore the beauty of your skin.
How does Laser Treatment for Acne Scars Work?
Between light and heat, there are a few types of laser treatment for acne scars. Ablative laser resurfacing uses a CO2-type laser that removes the top layer of skin at the scar area, which can leave the skin red for three to ten days. It is often called “laser peeling” because it removes the top layer of skin, much like peeling after sunburn. Once the outside layer is removed, what is left is newer skin that has not yet been exposed to the elements. The laser also produces heat to stimulate the healing process for the underlying layers.
There are non-ablative laser resurfacing treatments that use infrared lasers to infiltrate and stimulate collagen growth and encourage cell growth in lower layers of the skin without hurting the surface layer. This type of treatment requires less downtime and is less intrusive to the body. However, going under the top layer and healing it from the inside out tends to take multiple sessions for the best result. It could take several months of treatments to reach the desired result.
There is another treatment called fractionated laser treatment which uses a fractional laser. This laser treatment also reaches through the top layer to stimulate the layers below. It penetrates the lower layers removing the altered pigment deep in the skin, allowing the natural pigment to glow once again. As it alters the cells, it gives energy to the collagen deep in the layers of the skin, allowing it to smooth itself. Multiple treatments are required with fractional laser treatment because it builds your skin back up from the bottom layer.
What Causes Acne Scars?
Acne scars are caused by lesions in the skin (a.k.a. pimples or zits) from a pore that becomes infected. The pore swells, creating inflammation causing a break-down in the wall of the pore allowing the infection to spread to surrounding cells.
When the walls break down, the skin is left with a permanent mark known as a scar. Sometimes scars are not very deep and can heal quickly. Then, the infection spreads, which takes longer to heal and spans larger than the original blemish.
Are Laser Treatments for Acne Scars Right For You?
There are multiple treatments for acne scars; however, laser treatment is more of a last resort unless the scars are too deep for the other treatments to be considered. The type and total depth of the scar will determine the specific type of laser treatment needed. Always make sure you trust the person putting the laser on your skin.
The more severe treatments like ablative laser treatment are best for patients with more extreme aging and more prominent acne scars. Just remember there is more downtime required with more abrasive treatments. For patients facing less severe aging symptoms that might have a tighter schedule non-ablative laser treatment might be more appropriate. Fractional laser treatment is more for patients needing to smooth a few laugh lines or smooth out the pigment of their face.
Schedule Your Appointment for Your Acne Scars Laser Removal
Here at the Skin Cancer & Cosmetic Surgery Center of NJ, we care about how you feel and how you feel you look. Your skin is a vital organ and must be treated as such. We will give it the care it truly deserves. Please schedule an appointment today so we can help you get your glow back.
