Are you struggling with the post-breakout consequences of pit formation, dark spots, and unevenness? Then chances are you’ve researched whether Laser Treatment for Acne Scars Work. And to cut to the chase, yes, laser treatment definitely does work, but there is an important catch involved.
Laser treatments are very effective at skin resurfacing, but that does not mean they will erase all your problems. In fact, they reduce the appearance of the scars considerably (usually between 50% and 80%), but very rarely make them completely disappear. Getting realistic about your expectations is the key step before scheduling your consultation.
How Does It Work?
When the skin heals after suffering the inflammation associated with breakouts, it pulls inward (forming pitted scars) or creates an excess of dense skin (raised scars).
To remedy this situation, lasers use carefully controlled bursts of light energy to destroy existing damaged collagen and trigger neocollagenesis, the process of creating new collagen. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, how well a Laser Treatment for Acne Scars Work depends significantly on the skill of the provider and the specific nature of the patient’s scarring.
Tech Choices: There are 2 Primary Types of Lasers
The dermatologist will select technology that is suited to your type of scar and skin color:
Ablative Lasers (CO2 and Er:YAG)
These are big guns. They burn away all of the outer layers of the damaged skin tissue. They produce impressive outcomes for deep pitted scars; however, recovery lasts from 3 to 10 days.
Non-Ablative Lasers (Fractional Infrared)
They leave the surface layer of your skin completely untouched, penetrating with their thermal energy down into the deep tissue layers. Recovery time is short (just a few days of sunburn-like appearance), yet to achieve the same outcome as ablative laser you will need 3 to 6 treatments.
Safety Important Fact: It Depends on Your Skin Tone
Laser resurfacing used to be highly risky for developing permanent spots in medium and darker skin tones. Although contemporary technologies of fractional resurfacing reduced the risk of unwanted effects dramatically, patients with dark complexions should find a certified dermatologist, who focuses on laser treatment of different skin tones. In some cases, other types of treatment may be better, for example, radiofrequency microneedling.
Treatment Aftercare
You will start noticing some immediate tightening effect after one week. However, it takes 3 to 6 months to see the final results due to a slow process of remodeling of the skin to make Laser Treatment for Acne Scars Work seamlessly over time. And the effects are long-term. But first, you should stop active acne breakouts.
