If you have been pondering over the best way to remove acne scars, perhaps acne scar lasers are what you are looking for.
Many people suffer from acne, and it can get out of hand before we know it, leading to acne scars that won’t go away. What do we do with the acne scars? One possible way to get rid of these scars is with acne scar lasers.
Understand acne scar first
There are, however, a few types of acne scar lasers that can be used for the removal of these pesky scars. That leads to the question of which acne scar laser is the best. This actually comes down to the individual and the type of acne scars. Therefore a consultation with a doctor would be required in order to determine which laser would work best for you.
But first, it’s good to know the differences between the types of acne scars. This will make it easier to determine which of the acne scar lasers would address the problem.
Types of acne scars
A common type of acne scar is the post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), which can also be caused by injury, besides acne. However, the hyperpigmentation is temporary and tends to clear with time. The recovery process can also be sped up with the proper use of lightening creams and sun protection.
A more complicated type of scarring is the hypertrophic (raised) and atrophic (rolled, box, or pitted) scars. Due to the nature of these scars, a combination of treatments is typically necessary as these are harder to get rid of. Thankfully, there are both ablative and non-ablative lasers that can help in improving their appearance.
So what are the types of acne scar lasers that can treat that?
Different types of acne scar lasers
Firstly, let’s take a look at the ablative lasers. The Erbium YAG, or Er: YAG for short, and the Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Laser are both ablative lasers. This laser removes the top layer of your skin, and they will improve the look of both hypertrophic and atrophic scars. However, as ablative lasers alter the top layer of skin, patients will experience downtime of several days.
Now, let’s look at the non-ablative lasers. The reason non-ablative lasers are the preferred choice these days is because they work on the deeper layers of the skin while leaving the surface layer intact, hence they have a shorter recovery period. The fractional laser, also known as Fraxel Dual, and the picosecond laser, like the PicoSure laser, are two types of non-ablative lasers.
The Fraxel Dual laser
How the Fraxel Dual works is by using a focused beam of light that not only rejuvenates the skin but reduces skin irregularities such as scars and blemishes. In addition, it also stimulates collagen production! So the Fraxel Dual laser is a popular choice, since it does not only work on scars but also helps in promoting new skin growth from inside out, all while being able to produce optimal results with less downtime.
The PicoSure laser
The PicoSure laser works by delivering short-pulse bursts of energy to the skin in picoseconds, which are trillionths of a second, and this is where its name comes from. PicoSure is able to penetrate the deeper layers of the skin dermis to revitalise the skin by activating the cell signalling process. This stimulates collagen and elastin production, which is essential for skin healing. The reason why the PicoSure laser is so well-liked is because it is able to deliver results with almost zero downtime.
The many benefits of the non-ablative lasers definitely put them at an advantage. Besides, you can make the most of your time because of their minimal or close to zero downtime. So there’s pretty much nothing to lose when you choose to have an acne scar laser treatment!
Of course, choosing the best form of treatment for yourself should be done after consulting the doctor. Your doctor would be able to prescribe the most appropriate acne treatment, including acne scar lasers, that can benefit you the most.
