| Laser treatment for acne scars is a very | | | | lasers and erbium YAG lasers are those |
| useful way of diminishing or getting rid | | | | most often used during laser |
| of any scars you were unlucky enough to | | | | resurfacing. |
| get through having acne. There are other | | | | When treating scars with laser |
| treatments for scarring including | | | | treatment, unprotected tissue is exposed |
| dermabrasion, chemical peels, subcision, | | | | and the skin is injured. Wound care is |
| punch techniques and augmentation. Laser | | | | very important to prevent infection and |
| treatment is suitable if your scars are | | | | the skin might be reddened for up to 12 |
| relatively shallow rather than 'ice | | | | months after the treatment. |
| pick' type scars. | | | | A non-ablative laser works differently. |
| There are various kinds of scars which | | | | It will trigger changes within the |
| you might have if you have had acne. Ice | | | | dermis without affecting the epidermis. |
| pick scars usually occur on the cheeks | | | | The newest FDA approved laser for this |
| and they have steep sides and a jagged | | | | is Smoothbeam, which targets the |
| edge. They cannot be stretched by | | | | sebaceous gland and heats it which has |
| pulling the skin and might be shallow or | | | | the effect of reducing sebum and the |
| deep. Depressed fibrotic scars are quite | | | | visibility of acne scarring. |
| big. Ice pick scars might turn into | | | | Another type of laser is the yellow |
| these. You might have soft scars which | | | | pulse dye laser. This is good for |
| can be deep or shallow. Atrophic macules | | | | treating keliodal scars. It flattens |
| can occur anywhere on the body where you | | | | them and controls itchiness and redness. |
| have had acne. They are usually small on | | | | Laser treatments last between 5 and 20 |
| the face but can be bigger on the body. | | | | minutes and should not be too |
| On your chest or back you might have | | | | uncomfortable. It usually takes just a |
| follicular macular atrophy which are | | | | few treatments before results are |
| soft, small white lesions which look | | | | noticed. |
| like undeveloped whiteheads. | | | | Laser treatment can cause skin |
| 95% of acne sufferers will have scars. | | | | discoloration in people with darker skin |
| Minor scars might be a mere annoyance | | | | tones and is not guaranteed to work. It |
| but major scarring can lead to | | | | can also be expensive, costing anything |
| embarrassment, depression and emotional | | | | from $100 to $6000 depending on the |
| suffering. | | | | extent of your scarring, which part of |
| Laser treatment is one option to treat | | | | the body it is on and how many |
| scarring. There are two categories of | | | | treatments are required. |
| laser used in this process. There are | | | | If you have scars and they are causing |
| non-ablative and resurfacing (ablative) | | | | you depression or embarrassment, it |
| lasers. An ablative laser will burn away | | | | might be worth looking into laser |
| scar tissue and stimulate the dermal | | | | treatment for acne scars because it |
| collagen to tighten. This reduces scar | | | | could make a great difference to your |
| visibility. Ultrapulsed carbon dioxide | | | | life and outlook. |