Laser Treatment for Acne Scars

Lasers to Get Rid of Scarring Caused by Pimples

Nov 30, 2009
Hanish Babu

Laser Treatment: Effectively Get Rid Acne Scars. - Dr.Hanish Babu, MD

Lasers act in different ways, like resurfacing and soft tissue augmentation, to improve the acne scarring.

Different types of laser, including the ablative, non ablative and fractional lasers are very useful in treating superficial and medium depth acne scars.

The mechanism of action of lasers in acne scars is twofold:

Lasers remove the superficial scar tissue, known as laser resurfacing.
Laser energy stimulates new collagen formation in the dermis, which results in tightening and firmness of the skin, which restores the depressed ace scars to the surface

The combination of these effects makes the acne scars smoother and less visible.

Types of Lasers Used in Acne Scar Treatment

Depending upon the type of action, lasers are divided into two types: the ablative or non-ablative.

Ablative lasers used in acne scar treatment. These cause removal of the damaged scar tissue through melting, evaporation or vaporization. Examples of ablative lasers are the carbon dioxide laser and Erbium YAG laser. These abrade the surface and also help tighten the collagen fibers beneath. Ablative lasers are best avoided in darker skin types as the possibility of post inflammatory pigmentation is very high in such individuals.
Non ablative lasers used in acne scar treatment. There are different types of nonablative lasers available; the most commonly used are the NdYAG and Diode lasers. These do not remove the tissue, but stimulate new collagen formation and cause tightening of the skin resulting in the scar being raised to the surface. They are not as effective as ablative lasers in the treatment of acne scars.

Advantages of Laser Treatment in Acne Scars

Acne scar laser treatment, though costly, through ablative lasers is one of the best options available to treat scarring caused by acne.

Ablative lasers, through emission of high energy at extremely short pulses vaporize the targeted scar area with limited damage to the surrounding healthy tissue. This makes it a better option than chemical peels and dermabrasions for the treatment of medium depth and deep acne scars.
The carbon dioxide lasers have been shown to achieve 50-80% improvements in atrophic scars. The depth achieved with CO2 laser is 20-60micrometer and a thermal damage diameter of 20-50 micrometer.
Pulsed Erbium YAG produces less thermal damage than the CO2 laser, but has lesser efficacy. Hence useful in treating superficial atrophic scars.
If the acne scar is superficial and non-fibrous, good results are achieved with a single treatment. In most cases, though, multiple treatments are necessary to achieve the desired results.
After the laser surgery, skin returns to normal in two to four weeks, depending upon the depth of penetration of the laser energy.

Ablative and non ablative fractional lasers are also effective in treating superficial to deep acne scars, with lesser complications than the conventional ablative lasers. Non ablative laser treatments combined with chemical peels give better results than either used alone in superficial and medium depth acne scars.

Laser Treatment for Acne Scars: Related Articles

Laser Acne Scar Treatment Side Effects: Precautions to be Taken While Using Lasers to Get Rid of Pimple Scarring. Patients need to be aware of the limitations and side effects of the procedure before opting for the laser acne scar treatment.
Acne Scar Treatment: Management of the Scarring Caused by Pimples. Acne scar treatment depends upon the depth and extent of scarring and the type of the pimple scars.
Acne Scar Surgical Treatment: Cosmetic Acne Scars Removal. There are a number of effective surgical and cosmetic treatment options for acne scar removal.

Sources:

Diane T, Gollnick H et al. New insights into the management of acne: An update from the Global Alliance to Improve Outcomes in Acne Group. J Am Acad Dermatol, 2009; 60:S1-50.
Simpson NB & Cunliffe WJ. Disorders of the Sebaceous Glands in Rook’s Textbook of Dermatology. 2004; 7: 43.1-43.75.

Disclaimer

The information given in this article is for educational purposes only so that patients are aware of the options available. No diagnosis should be made or treatment undertaken without first consulting your doctor. If you do so, Dr.Hanish Babu, MD or Suite101 will not be responsible for any consequences. The images provided are for illustration purposes only.

Hanish Babu - Dr.Hanish Babu, MD is a dermatologist and a feature writer on Suite101.com with more than 200 articles related to skin diseases on the ...