Laser Treatment for Acne
As one of the foremost
areas of advancement in medical technology, the use of laser light as a
therapeutic and surgical instrument is receiving increasing acclaim and
popularity as a safe and effective alternative treatment for many forms of
affliction. In particular,
laser-based methods are presently being developed and refined to deal with
acne, perhaps the most common and persistent skin affliction on the planet
today. It is the hope of many a
dermatologist that lasers will play an important role not only in reduction
and revision of acne scars, but also to help stave off the formation of acne
in the first place.
The most conventional
use of lasers to deal with acne is through laser skin resurfacing, a
procedure that utilizes pulses of high-energy light waves to target and
destroy damaged skin cells, leaving healthy skin cells intact.
These fractional lasers, as they are typically known, focus several
hundreds or even thousands of beams into an area as small as a single square
inch, resulting in unprecedented treatment accuracy and faster healing.
Lasers of different settings are used to target and destroy sebaceous
glands that cause hyperactive acne growth, as well as to introduce oxygen
into the area, which kills bacteria.
As with other
resurfacing treatments, which include chemical peels and dermabrasion, the
objective of the procedure is to remove the top layers of skin and allow new
layers of healthy tissue to replace them.
The primary benefits of laser skin resurfacing are the accuracy of
the results, and the ability to target deeper layers of skin without
damaging the surface tissue. The
treatment lasts anywhere between a few minutes to an hour, depending on the
amount of resurfacing necessary to produce optimum results.
The laser emitter is passed over the area requiring treatment,
sometimes repeatedly, to remove all of the damaged layers of skin tissue.
The feeling has been described as having a rubber band snapped
against one’s skin. The laser
resurfacing is usually combined with other treatments for acne scarring,
including one of a number of surgical techniques, to provide the best
possible outcome.
Recovery from laser
skin resurfacing depends on the laser used, and where it is applied.
Generally, however, one can expect redness, swelling and mild
discomfort, which can be controlled with standard medication and ice packs,
and subside after several days.
The surgeon may bandage the area, and apply ointment to speed up
healing. Sometimes, patients develop reddish crusts on the treated area,
which lasts anywhere between 3 to 10 days, and should not be picked off or
scratched, or else scarring may form.
As with other skin treatments, patients are strongly advised to stay
away from exposure to the sun for a few weeks, and apply a strong sun block
to further prevent aggravation from the sun damage that may be inflicted on
the now healing skin. Make-up
should also not be applied to the treated area for one to two weeks.
Laser acne treatment
is not recommended for everyone, however.
Some skin types react adversely to the procedure, resulting in
permanent pigment changes, like dark spots, which can be just as unsightly
to behold. Also, some patients
are especially sensitive to the thermal damage caused by the lasers.
The laser treatment is also relatively expensive, so while it may be
a viable option, it may not necessarily be the most financially sound one.
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