Acne Laser Skin Treatment - The Answer to the Scar Problem?

Acne laser skin treatment has become quite common. With the technology available to us, treating pimples and other disorders has gone beyond kitchen concoctions and herbal mixtures. Laser therapy has been known to be effective in treating various ailments, including those that afflict the skin.

Acne laser skin treatment is used more for alleviating scarring. For people who have scars caused by severe acne, the procedure is often a highly recommended one. The onset of laser therapy and other technologically advanced treatments has eased the problems of most people who have suffered from these unsightly skin marks.

Laser surgery, although more commonly used to remove the scar caused by acne, has also been used to treat the skin condition. Laser works by burning away the follicle sac and the sebaceous glands that produce oil. It also serves as a tool that kills the acne-causing bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes by inducing oxygen that can get rid of it.

However, using laser to treat acne is still not as widely used as using laser therapy to remove scarring. The intense light emitted by lasers has been known to cause thermal damage and can cause discoloration, particularly to people with darker skin. Caution is still exercised by experts when it comes to recommending laser for treating pimples.

Removal of scars using laser is in two forms. First is the laser-based therapy which entails the use of a hand piece to remove the damaged cells. Fresh cells will then replace the burned off ones to create a smooth surface. The main advantage of this procedure is that the doctor or surgeon can pinpoint the affected parts and the rest of the skin will not be touched by the intense light.

The second form is the nonablative treatment. In contrast to the laser-based type, it does not burn off the damaged surface of the skin but works underneath it to stimulate the production of collagen and cause skin tissues to tighten. However, this form of treatment is not effective on all forms of scarring and must be discussed first with an expert or a surgeon.

Doctors who use laser to treat acne-related scarring use either YAG lasers or a carbon dioxide laser. YAG or ebium laser has precise wavelengths that target only the affected part of the skin. It penetrates the tissue and the skin then absorbs it. The carbon-dioxide laser, on the other hand, produces short bursts of high energy. It works by vaporizing the damaged skin one layer at a time. The removed skin will then be replaced and after a few days, a smoother surface will be evident.

Acne laser skin treatment has been known to be effective in removing scars and in preventing future scarring. However, patients should first talk with their doctors thoroughly about the treatment before going through with it. Revealing your medical history to the doctor, from allergies to medications being taken, will ensure that any potential side effects will be avoided.