Laser Treatment For Acne Scars: Side Effects, Recovery and Cost

laser treatment for scars

Acne is one of the skin conditions that people, especially teenagers, commonly face. You will often find people with reddish bumps and pimples on their faces, upper back, forehead, chest, and even shoulders.

The presence of the pimples makes a face quite distressing to look at. In this condition, the hair follicles of the skin get plugged with oil and dead skin cells.

Acne is quite difficult to get rid of because they keep coming back. You will find the pimples to be healing slowly, but others will crop up as some subside. Acne tends to scar the skin, so beginning treatment at an earlier stage is important.

What are Acne Scars?

The acne scars are formed when the pimples penetrate deep into the skin, causing damage to the tissues below it. This occurs when the blemishes become inflamed, and the pore swells.

If the rupture occurs near the skin’s surface, the infected material comes out, and the lesion is minor. While, if the same lesion is deeper and the follicle wall erupts beneath the dermis, all the contents flow into the healthy tissues and destroy them.

The skin produces collagen to repair the damage caused to the tissues, but the repair does not make the skin flawless.

These scars are mostly caused by inflammation, and it follows that more inflammation leads to bigger scars. Blemishes that are not inflamed like the whiteheads and blackheads usually do not cause scarring.

What is the Treatment of Acne Scars?

A face full of acne scars is distressful to the person. Treatment is essential for improving appearance, improving self-esteem and better health of the skin.

There are several ways for acne scar treatment, including laser resurfacing. You will have to get in touch with a dermatologist for the procedures. 

In the laser resurfacing procedure, the skin’s upper layer is either heated or removed with the help of laser heat in a controlled condition.

Patients recover much faster in the case of laser treatment. The amount of sessions recommended by the dermatologist varies from person to person.

Usually, two to three sittings are enough to get take care of scar removal. If you require one more sitting, then your dermatologist will inform you.

Preparing for the Treatment

Before heading for the dermatologist’s for your sitting, there are some things that you will be asked to do.

Getting ready for laser treatment:

Following a strict skincare routine is a must. This will help to even out any of the old spots that might be there and prevent the growth of new ones.

You will have to clean the skin using an oil cleanser every night and in the daytime with a regular cleanser. Also needed is an antioxidant serum for reducing the production of pigments and finally a sunscreen.

The doctor may use one or more types of lasers depending on the skin condition. These help the skin to get back its colour. Continuing with laser treatment ensures that the skin becomes light, and there is less need for a foundation or concealer.

With acne scar laser treatment, you must use sunscreen lotions with a high SPF (Sun Protection Factor) to protect the skin from tanning.

How do the sessions feel?

The laser beams do not hurt, and the tingling sensation vanishes within seconds, even if they do. You will not need an anaesthetic or numbing cream before the procedure starts.

The laser gives tiny flashes on the troubled areas to make the zapping feeling easy to bear. You can feel the pain if you are really concentrating hard to understanding the feel of the laser. You might have to wear an eye shield if the procedure takes place on your face to protect the eyes.

Recovery time:

It is straightforward to recover from the laser treatment because there is no time required.

You can get the treatment and head back to your routine. You will not find any swelling on the spots where it has been applied, and you can use make-up right after.

Avoid the sun:

Once the treatment is complete or a particular session has ended, it is essential to maintain the skin. Since the skin will be sensitive to UV rays, staying away from the sun at all costs is essential.

The marks are likely to darken a bit before they become light. The complete result is visible after six weeks from the session.

How much does acne laser treatment cost:

The cost of these treatment sessions is not covered by insurance and easily cost a few hundred dollars.

Approximately acne scar removal costs can range from $ 200 to almost $ 3,400, depending on the time duration of the treatment and the size of the scars.

Side effects of laser treatment:

Laser treatment does not normally have any side effects except swelling, skin redness, or irritation. Laser treatment produces permanent results, but certain guidelines will have to be followed to keep the situation under control.

People Also Ask

Can you remove a scar with a laser treatment?
  • Yes.
Does laser scar removal hurt?
  • No, it does not hurt.
How many laser treatments are needed for scars?
  • It depends on the severity of the scars.
Can a scar be removed completely?
  • You cannot remove the scar completely but to an extent.
Does laser cause cancer?
  • No.
Is laser treatment safe?
  • It is completely safe.

Conclusion

Acne can really affect your look and be demoralising. But with the right kind of laser scar removal, their appearance can be improved to an extent. It is a completely safe method that anyone can opt for irrespective of age.

But to keep acne scars at bay, it is important to avoid the formation of the scars in the first place. Also, once you have them, try not to pick or pop the acne to prevent damage to the healthy tissues underneath.

Remember, you will need to get rid of the acne before the laser treatment can be started. So, don’t take any stress and consult a good doctor before opting for any procedure.

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