The benefits of the laser resurfacing procedure are usually greater than those of other skin rejuvenation treatments. It is frequently the best procedure to give an overall improvement of skin which has been chronically photo-damaged. Scarring which occurs as a result of severe acne is a cosmetic disfigurement which can give rise to psychological issues for the sufferer. Many of these scars can be effectively treated using laser scar resurfacing.

The resurfacing procedure utilises a beam of light from a carbon dioxide laser. The intention is to vaporize the layers of scarred and damaged skin at specific and controllable levels of penetration. A major benefit of laser resurfacing is the fact that it causes less bruising, bleeding, and also less post-operative discomfort than is the case with other methods of skin resurfacing.

Prior to having laser resurfacing treatment, you should consult your doctor for an assessment. This will determine if the treatment is suitable for you, and will include assessment of the areas of scarring. Your skin type will affect your suitability, e.g. dark skin is more often affected by pigmentation problems after the procedure. Full-face resurfacing will probably give excellent improvements in older skin which has been sun-damaged and in which seborrheic keratosis, lentigines and telangiectasias are more prevalent. CO2 lasers usually give good improvements in appearance whatever the scar type. For saucer-shaped distensible areas, it is usually the best option, however dermabrasion is usually the best treatment for pitted scars. Atrophic scars, hypertrophic scars and traumatic scars also respond well to laser resurfacing. Laser resurfacing may also help to blend in the scar with the skin.

Undergoing laser resurfacing with a properly qualified and experienced surgeon will reduce the likelihood of having complications. However, it must be said that the results of the surgery are not completely guaranteed. Some risks associated with the surgery are: burns caused by the heat generated by the laser, scarring, and excessive darkening or lightening of the treated areas of skin. Healing may also appear abnormal or can be slow. These risks can be greatly reduced by choosing a surgeon who specializes in laser surgery.

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Although it is a physical condition, acne can have serious psychological effects. It can undermine self-confidence and in the worst cases turn people into virtual recluses and affect relationships. Treatment to improve the skin’s appearance can transform the way people feel about themselves and change their lives for the better.

photo credit: Ilares

Lasers can be used for treating either acne scars or acne itself. Laser treatment for acne scars is a proven cosmetic procedure which is used for improving the appearance of skin discolouration and scarring that can be left after acne has subsided. The technique resurfaces the skin to give a better look to the affected areas. Acne laser treatment is a different treatment, and is aimed mainly at treating the acne and therefore scar formation is avoided. It can also reduce acne scarring if there is scar tissue as well as acne.

The idea behind this acne laser skin treatment is to kill off the bacteria living in the pores of the skin which are involved in acne formation and to stimulate the natural repair mechanisms of the skin.

Killing the bacteria and stimulating the skin repair mechanisms can have positive effects which are said to last for several months.

Acne can be successfully treated in as few as two sessions and it is suitable for all types of skin. Areas of the body suitable for treatment include the face, neck, chest and the back.

A facial treatment takes approximately thirty minutes to complete for the whole face, and usually three separate sessions of thirty minutes are needed. Results are usually seen after two weeks, with the appearance of the treated areas improving for up to three months after treatment.

The improvements in skin appearance are said to last for up to nine months, and periodic repeat sessions will be required to keep the acne at bay.

The treatment is gentle and there is little chance of side effects. Lunchtime treatments in working days are possible.

Cinical trials have shown that after a single treatment, improvements were seen after two to four weeks. After twelve weeks 87% of people treated showed significant improvements with no side effects. The procedure is simple and can be carried out by nurses or laser practitioners.

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photo credit: titlap

Biological Treatments

Biological treatment of acne scarring is intended to stimulate the growth of new skin cells to replaced damaged and scarred tissues. Mucin, extracted from snails, is used in a topical cream which is applied to the scarred areas of skin. This is said to regulate healing of the skin to improve the appearance of scars.

Microdermabrasion

Acne scar microdermabrasion is a new technique, similar to a surface-only type of dermabrasion. Instead of a brush rotating at high-speed, the technique of microdermabrasion uses aluminum oxide crystals moving along a vacuum-tube to remove the surface of the skin. It is a technique that has a similar effect to traditional dermabrasion, but is less radical. It is a non-surgical, non-invasive procedure that only affects the upper most layers of skin. Microdermabrasion exfoliates only the external layer of skin and, therefore, rarely causes serious complications. It is great for all skin types and is especially recommended for people who are hypersensitive to chemical procedures. Microdermabrasion cannot produce great results against deeply pitted acne scars however.

Whichever method you choose, you should seek advice from an expert. He or she will be able to tell you how to get rid of acne scars in the best way for you.

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To determine a patient’s suitability for the treatment, the doctor needs to take into consideration the type of skin, medical history and colouring of the patient-to-be. The procedure is usually carried out in the doctor’s surgery, although it might also be performed at the hospital or at an outpatient surgical centre, depending on your doctor’s preferences in addition to your own. The procedure may be performed in combination with other resurfacing treatments, e.g. microdermabrasion, laser resurfacing and chemical peels.

photo credit: Norrel Blair

The actual acne dermabrasion procedure is usually performed using a hand-held electronic instrument (about the size of a pencil) which has a rotating sanding tool which contains diamond particles or a wire brush. Some surgeons will give sedation before whole-face dermabrasions while others may use local anaesthesia if the area to be treated is limited , e.g. a single scar. After the treatment , the treated area may be covered with a wet or waxy covering, an ointment, and/or a dry covering.

Not all individuals will have the same outcomes after treatments. Patients who have lighter skin tones usually have the best results from this type of treatment than patients who have darker skin. For example, those patients who have dark skin tones may find that their skin becomes permanently blotchy or discoloured following their dermabrasions.

If you are thinking about having this type of procedure, you should bear in mind that you will probably not be able to see the true results of the procedure until at least several weeks after surgery. Following the procedures the patient’s skin is likely to be red, and swelling of the skin is common. Patients may also have difficulty when trying to talk or eat. Any pain experienced after the process should treatable with pain-relieving medicines and any swelling is likely to begin to reduce starting from several days to a week after.

After this type of process, the most important thing to do is protect the treated skin areas from exposure to sun until the skin’s pigment has returned to normal. This might take as much as a year after the treatments have been carried out.

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Laser resurfacing involves burning the outer layers of skin to a certain depth. Laser resurfacing also helps to regain the elastic nature of the skin by means of reducing the length of the collagen fibres that are in the layers of skin, reducing or eliminating the visual apperances of scars. This form of treatment attempts to change the scar tissues and cut down the redness around healed lesions.

photo credit: Sarah G…

The different energy levels and tissue-penetrating powers of various lasers may be used to treat scars. For example, the deep penetration power of a YAG laser can be used to treat irregular scarring, whereas the infrared beam of a carbon dioxide laser can be used to increase tightness of collagen fibres in the skin and raise sunken scars.

Depth of penetration into the skin is more easily controlled with lasers than with other methods including dermabrasion. After the procedure, the skin can be pink and exhibit swelling for a week or more. A new type of non-ablative acne laser treatment created within the last few years works underneath the surface of the skin, using short pulses of light to treat scars, and also treat redness and capillary dilation commonly found with rosacea.

However, it should be noted that because individuals vary greatly in their physical makeup, their body’s reactions and also in healing abilities, the outcome of these type of treatments is never guaranteed. Overall, acne laser therapy is rapidly becoming a widespread form of treatment for patients who are seeking acne scar removal in a non-traditional and more efficient manner. One word of caution though, as these type of treatments are relatively new, they are not highly regulated. You would be wise to ensure that you’re going to undergo laser surgery under a trained and experienced doctor.

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