Laser Resurfacing for Acne Scars

One of the most frustrating skin conditions for men and women is acne scars. Fortunately, there are several different types of treatments available to reduce visible scarring and give your skin a more even tone and smoother texture. One of the most popular options is laser resurfacing.

What’s so great about laser resurfacing for acne?

Laser resurfacing can produce impressive results, when it comes to improving the appearance of facial acne scars. Yet it is gentler than alternatives such as dermabrasion, or invasive procedures.

Lasers use either intense light or heat to exfoliate the outer layer of skin cells, while also reaching below the surface to stimulate production of new collagen. The old cells slough off, and new collagen and cells are produced beneath, filling in the scars to reveal smoother, clearer skin. Your body will continue to produce new collagen and cells.

Treatments are convenient. Sessions take just a few minutes to less than an hour, depending on the size of the treatment area. And there is minimal downtime. You may experience some mild swelling, pain, itching, or redness for a day or two after your treatment. In most cases, Dr. Jeff Raval recommends multiple treatments in order to achieve optimal results. You can schedule them a couple of weeks apart, to give your skin a chance to rest in between.

You will start to see results shortly after your first treatment, and your skin will continue to improve with additional treatments and time. Your results will be permanent. Happily, laser resurfacing can not only significantly diminish acne scars, it can reduce the effects of sun damage such as pigmentation, leaving your skin looking smoother and healthier overall.

Is laser resurfacing for acne scars right for you?

When used to treat acne scars, lasers can be quite effective on almost all skin types and colors, even dark skin. However, it is important to know that there are different types of lasers that work in slightly different ways. Which is right for you depends on several factors, especially whether your acne scars are relatively or moderately shallow or you have very deep or ice pick scars.

Keep in mind that if you still have active acne, you won’t be able to undergo any kind of laser resurfacing treatment. You’ll have to clear it up first, and then wait until it’s in remission. Also, some laser resurfacing treatments are not appropriate if you are taking the acne medicine isotretinoin, or have used it in the recent past.

Laser resurfacing for acne scars is not a casual treatment

In the wrong hands, lasers can be very dangerous, causing temporary or even skin damage. To ensure your personal safety and get the best possible results, you should only trust a provider who has the proper medical knowledge and skill. Here at Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics, Dr. Jeff Raval and our team of medical aestheticians are highly-trained and use the latest equipment. We perform laser resurfacing procedures in our comfortable, friendly office.

And because Dr. Raval is an experienced facial plastic surgeon, we are able to offer a broad range of other minimally-invasive and surgical options to treat darker skin tones and more complex types of acne scars. (We’ll tell you all about that in an upcoming blog.)

Acne scars can make us feel self-conscious, but they don’t have to. There is a good chance that laser resurfacing can significantly reduce the visibility of your scars. So why not find out more? That’s easy to do, simply by scheduling a personal consultation.