It is a known fact that everything our body goes through reflects on our Skin. The good as well as the not so good. It being the most exposed organ in the human body, justifies the efforts some people make to ensure it appears flawless for as long as it is possible. Every few years, we hear of new cosmetic treatments that become a rage for a while and are then comfortably forgotten. Nevertheless, Laser Skin Resurfacing, which involves the use of a laser to treat skin imperfections, is a procedure that has stood the test of time and has continuously evolved over the years.

What Is Laser Resurfacing?

As mentioned above, Laser Skin Resurfacing is a procedure that helps to fade away the appearance of imperfections and face wrinkles present on the surface of the skin. During the treatment process, a laser is used to break down damaged skin cells in the top layers of the skin and simultaneously promote the production of collagen and fresh skin cells in the layers below. The new layer of skin that appears is tighter, healthier, and smoother in appearance.

Can Laser Resurfacing Remove Acne Scars?

The use of an appropriate laser depending on the depth and the severity of the scar in combination with other skin treatments (if required) has shown to drastically fade away the appearance of Acne Scars and other blemishes. Thus, employing lasers for acne scars removal is a viable option as this treatment is designed to improve the texture as well as the tone of the skin.

Pros And Cons Of Laser Resurfacing

Jumping in on the laser resurfacing treatment bandwagon without appropriate research and consultations with your dermatologist, will do you more harm than good. So, here are some broad pros and cons of the procedure to help you get an insight into what benefits do these treatments bring along as well as the disadvantages that you need to be wary about. It is essential to note that these will differ depending upon the type of laser being used for the process.

Pros

• Apart from helping with acne scarring, laser resurfacing also helps in the improvement of wrinkles, fine lines, sun damaged skin, age spots, birthmarks, blotchy patches on the skin, etc.
• Removal of skin growths such as moles, warts, and certain kinds of early stages of skin cancer.
• Mild to moderate facial scars left behind by previous surgeries or injuries are also treated.
• There is visible skin smoothening as well as tightening with increased collagen generation.
• Varying with the kind of laser used, the recovery period is still considerably low.
• Such a procedure involves way less bleeding when compared to the other surgical methods opted for resurfacing. No incisions are required.
• The results achieved here are relatively long-lasting, if a proper skin care regimen is adhered to.
• Performed in a controlled medical environment by experienced professionals.
• Apart from skin on the face, certain apparatus also work well on the skin on the hands, neck, and back.

Cons

• Relatively minor, common side effects like redness, swelling, and irritation in the treated area can be experienced.
• With some deep lasers, the face might tend to look skinned with crust formations in the initial days after treatment.
• Sensitivity of the skin can last up to 4-6 months in a few cases.
• Clients with darker complexions are prone to skin pigmentation and discoloration.
• In cases of acne scar removal, the presence of any active acne is a deal breaker in laser resurfacing procedure.
• As far as wrinkles are concerned, this procedure may prove to be unsuccessful if wrinkling occurs with movement in facial muscles.
• Clients under certain medications or those who are prone to scarring may not be suitable to undergo this procedure.
• In some cases, certain skin disorders, allergic reactions as well as cold sores can be aggravated.

Ablative Vs. Non-Ablative Laser Skin Resurfacing

Ablative Lasers For Acne Scars

This is a wounding procedure where the intensity of the laser light vaporizes the outer layers of the skin that has aged or is damaged due to excessive sun exposure. This is an invasive process, which leads the skin into its natural healing process of giving rise to new skin cells to replace the skin cells in the affected tissue. The laser also triggers the formation of collagen in the underlying skin, which ensures that the newly developed skin is healthier and tighter.

Non-Ablative Lasers For Acne Scars

These lasers are less invasive when compared to the ablative ones and are non-wounding in nature. They function below the surface skin layer, by heating up the targeted skin tissue but do not destroy it as such. This leads to speeding up of the healing and recovery period. The collagen production in the body is once again triggered here by the laser, which helps in filling up the skin imperfections that were the target for the procedure.

When compared to non-ablative lasers, the use of ablative lasers for acne scars treatment leads to a longer recovery period and downtime in addition to increased risk of infection and scarring. It is also worth noting that non-ablative laser treatments will require multiple sessions to arrive at the desired results.

Best Lasers For Acne Scars

There are several different types of lasers that can be used for skin resurfacing and they are differentiated based on their wavelengths, their pulse durations as well as the way they are absorbed by the skin tissue that is being treated. Let’s take you through some of the best lasers for acne scars that are available in the Indian market.

1. Fraxel Laser: This is a non-ablative laser that does not destroy the superficial top layers of the skin. Multiple Fraxel laser sessions will be required to see significant fading in acne scars. It is a pain-free process with zero downtime and the chances of post-treatment side effects are extremely low.
2. Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) Laser: The CO₂ laser for acne scars is ablative in nature and owing to its high intensity, the candidates wishing to opt for this procedure need to satisfy a specific set of requirements to be able to qualify for such an invasive treatment. The latest development in CO₂ lasers sees the use of very short-pulsed light energy or continuous light beams that are delivered in a scanning pattern to vaporize thin layers of outer skin with the least amount of heat damage. The recovery period can last upto two weeks.
3. Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing: The use of fractional lasers for acne scars was a major technological shift in the laser world, when a single laser beam was split into multiple smaller beams to treat microscopic columns of skin. This allows areas of skin to remain unaffected within the area of treatment, which resulted in visible improvement without much bleeding and crusting.
4. Pixel Resurfacing: This is a fractionated erbium YAG laser that is ablative in nature and is extremely safe for people with darker skin tones too. Pixel is much more precise than CO₂ laser for acne scars and works by creating many tiny laser holes in the skin, thus vaporizing the top skin layer but still leaving the surrounding skin cells intact which aids in the healing process. The use of Pixel also leads to an improvement in the color and texture of the skin with a downtime of one week to recuperate. However, there are chances of the client developing post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) in some cases.
5. V-Beam Laser: This is a pulsed dye laser and is essentially used to treat redness caused by dilated blood vessels on the face but its use is not limited to this. The V-Beam laser can also be used to treat acne scars, bruises as well as damage caused due to sun exposure.
6. eMatrix Laser: This non-ablative laser is relatively new and uses bipolar radiofrequency energy to generate intense heat under the surface of the skin without damaging the top layer. It stimulates the production of elastin and collagen. The use of eMatrix laser for acne scars, stretch marks, and mild wrinkles among other things has yielded great results in the past.

What Is The Best Laser Resurfacing Process For Acne Scars?

There is no “one size fits all’ option when it comes to zeroing down on the best laser treatment for acne scars. Your dermatologist will arrive at a suitable option for you, depending upon various factors like the severity of your scars, the amount of downtime that suits your lifestyle, the side-effects, your medical history, the other scar treatment options that you have tried, etc.

However, if we still had to zero down on a popular treatment process in the current scenario, it would have to be the Pixel laser for skin resurfacing.

What Is The Cost Of Laser Resurfacing In India?

The cost of laser resurfacing in India, particularly targeted at acne scars varies drastically depending on the intensity of the scars, the affected area, and the thickness of the skin and also the type of laser treatment the client is opting for. The total expense further goes up owing to the fact that multiple sessions are required to see desired results. On an average, per session cost can range between Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 30,000.

Important Things To Remember

• It is extremely important for a client to approach a clinic or a skin care institution that is certified by the concerned authorities and works with trained professionals under rigorously tested protocols. This brings down the risk of mishaps that can cause severe and irreparable harm to your skin.
• Do not be tempted to look for cheaper options in order to save money.
• Also, ensure that the equipment and technology being used is up to the mark and is handled by trained and certified professionals that are aware of the different settings and controls the equipment comes with.
• Ensure that you discuss your medical history in detail with your dermatologist before deciding to go in for the treatment. Take into consideration the number of sittings required along with their costs and the side effects (if any) before taking the final decision.
• Religiously follow the pre and post-treatment guidelines that are given by your doctor to ensure that the risk of side effects and complications is minimized.

In conclusion, remember that every individual case is different and results vary from person to person. So, if unwanted acne scars have negatively affected your life and other milder treatments have not worked to your satisfaction, contact a qualified and experienced dermatologist at the earliest for a consultation session.

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