1. Why Me?
95 percent of acne patients will develop scarring of some sort. Sure, most people experience very minor scarring, but some people have scarring that affects their appearance and their self-esteem. Advances in acne treatments and laser surgery have made accepting acne scars a thing of the past. The more severe your acne, the more severe the scarring is likely to be. Genetics also plays a role in the extent of your scarring. The earlier you seek acne treatment, the better. If you wait a few years you'll probably end up with more significant scarring.
2. Right For You?
There are many choices for acne scar removal. Even though you want the very best treatment option, there isn't a single best option for every person and every acne scar. If you're trying to get rid of acne scars, laser surgery may be the answer because it's proving to successfully remove scars and enhance your skin's appearance. Laser surgery is a relatively new procedure that surpasses other scar removal options. The key is to design a treatment plan with your dermatologist to get the very best results from laser surgery and other procedures.
3. From the Inside out or Outside in?
There are two types of lasers used for acne scar removal. The first is called a resurfacing or ablative laser. It strips the outer layers of your skin, burns the scar tissue and stimulates the collagen to tighten up. That tightening action reduces the appearance of acne scars. Your dermatologist may also use an erbium YAG laser or ultrapulsed carbon dioxide laser to resurface your skin. Lasers essentially injure your skin and expose unprotected tissue. Yes, it's for the good of stimulating new skin growth. But, it's natural for your skin to get red for several months or a year after laser surgery. Your dermatologist will tell you how to care for the wounds and prevent infection.
4. Lunchtime Laser Treatment
The second type of laser used in acne treatment is called a non-ablative laser. It promotes change within the skin dermis but doesn't injure the epidermis. Think of it as a "lunchtime" form of acne laser treatment. It's quicker and less invasive but it can achieve results for milder forms of acne scarring. The newest FDA approved laser is called Smoothbeam. It targets the sebaceous gland and heats it, which helps reduce acne formation. The dermis tightens up, too, because of the heat and new collagen growth.
5. Protect Against Pain
Your dermatologist will use a topical anesthetic such as LMX 4 percent Topical Anesthetic Cream. It's applied one hour before the laser surgery and will make the laser surgery easier to bear. Your skin will be cooled down to prevent the laser from causing damage to the epidermis. You'll feel a cold spray, mixed in with some heat and stinging during the treatment session. One laser therapy session takes an hour and you'll likely have to have three sessions, once a month.
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