Laser
treatment for acne scars is a common procedure performed in a skin and
beauty clinic or dermatologist’s office. The appearance of acne scars on
the skin will be disturbing and can reduce confidence. By using this
treatment, acne scars can be significantly reduced or even completely
erased. However, this depends on the severity level.
How does it work?
Basically,
it works by using a laser to destroy the outer skin layer called
epidermis. It works by making cuts or inflammation in the skin with the
help of a laser beam. The laser beam will kill acne bacteria on the
skin. Irradiation does not perform only once, it can be 2 to 3
times to clean the acne scars. The success can be up to 100% effective.
In fact, they include other treatments to nourish the skin.
The advantage of using laser treatment for acne scars
It does not cause pain.
Using
laser treatment for acne scars will not cause pain or discomfort unless
the acne is more severe. The laser light works quickly and precisely in
the center of the problem.
It takes a short time
It
only takes a relatively short time to undergo this treatment and takes
only several times for the treatment schedule. The difference will be
apparent in just a few treatments.
It kills bacteria
By
the time you do the treatment, the bacteria that cause acne are also
destroyed. This causes acne does not appear again and, of course, there
will be no more stubborn acne scars.
It reduces sebum production
By using laser treatment, the sebum production in your face as the primary cause of acne will decrease.
The side effects of laser treatment for acne scars
Although
it is fast and has some benefits, this method is not without risk.
There are some unpleasant side effects in case of treatment failure.
Pain
Post-treatment
pain is not a big deal comparing to the pain you experienced during the
actual skin laser procedures. Topical anesthesia is typically applied
prior to treatment to minimize the pain as much as possible.
Nevertheless, you will still feel discomfort after the procedure and the
doctor may prescribe pain pills for more invasive skin treatments. It
would also be painful to wait for your skin to recover.
Redness and itching
This
is a common side effect of laser treatment for acne scars. It will
physically vaporize the top layer of your skin so it will cause redness,
swelling, and itching. These symptoms will subside after a few days
although it will leave “pink” skin for weeks afterwards.
Sensitivity to the sun
For
the success of this treatment, there are rules that must be obeyed by
the patient. After the irradiation process is done, the patient should
not be exposed to direct sunlight in order to avoid infection. There is
another opinion which says that such a rule could be circumvented by
using anti-sun cream. However, it is also still being studied by
experts, the effect that would occur if the patient uses the anti-sun
cream after the treatment.
Dry skin
When the
treatment process takes place, the perceived effect is only slight
burning sensation on the skin. However, the actual sacrifice happens
during the recovery period. For certain types of skin, the skin will
feel very dry after getting the laser beam. But you do not have to
worry, your dermatologist will give you face cream to support the
recovery process and make it more secure.
Besides having to deal
with the risks and side effects above, laser skin procedures are also
more expensive than other treatments. You may feel disappointed after
spending thousands of dollars for laser treatment if your expectations
are not realistic. Therefore, make sure you are knowledgeable and
consult with a dermatologist to get the best laser treatment for acne
scars.