There was a time when women stricken with acne were afraid of exposing their faces to light lest the blemishes of present and past acne scars be
revealed.
In a twist of fate, "light" specifically, laser light has come to be one of the newer methods employed in the treatment of atrophic acne and the removal
of scars.
Lasers used in treatments are described as "emitting laser pulses" to create measured damage to the second layer of acne-scarred skin in order to
induce the body's formation of new collagen cells that will fill in the space of atrophic scars ("Lasers Get under the," 2005, p. 35)
Laser Resurfacing or "Lasering" was actually discovered by accident, says Richard Felten, a senior reviewer for the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) "In the course of treating acne scars with a laser, surgeons noticed that after resurfacing the skin around the scar to make the scar less visible,
small adjacent wrinkles were greatly diminished."(Greeley, 2000, p. 34)
The process of laser resurfacing involves a controlled "burning" procedure where a laser is used to "vaporize" top layers of facial skin. This eliminates
wrinkles and lines caused by sun damage and facial expressions as well as remove acne scars. Burning of old skin produces a fresh surface for new
skin to grow. (Greeley, 2000, p. 34)
Noted plastic surgeon president of the Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Dr. Stephen Perkins describes laser treatment as "very
appealing to people." The opportunity of freshening up the skin's surface as well as getting more youthful, non sun-damaged skin is something which
most people would like to have, he further states. (Greeley, 2000, p. 34)
Laser treatments are not for everyone however, Perkins cautions.
"Certain people with very sensitive skin cannot tolerate the medications and lubricants used on the skin during healing." (Greeley, 2000, p. 34) He
further adds that people from darker skinned ethnic groups may also experience problems as laser treatments can alter the color of skin in rather
dramatic and unpredictable ways.
Plastic surgeon Dr. Tina Alster of the Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery in Washington also advises people about thinking of laser treatments as
easy. She says potential patients must be prepared for a period of recuperation where they may experience bruising and swelling.
"They will have a crusty, oozy, bruised, scabbed, raw-appearing face," she says. In addition to this, patients should not expect completely unlined and
unscarred skin. "I can't deliver that," she says. "I am not able to give unlined, unscarred skin." Patients, however, can expect a 50 percent or greater
improvement. (Greeley, 2000, p. 34)
Prolonged redness of skin, tenderness, easy flushing and changes in the skin's pigmentation or hyper-pigmentation are just a few of the possible
side-effects of laser treatments according to Dr. Rox Anderson, director of the Laser Center at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. (Greeley,
2000, p. 34)
Patients are also advised to make sure of their treating physician's credentials.
In 2005, 60 women filed suit against London surgeon Fayez Abu Mahfouz for leaving them with burned and scarred faces after they're been treated
with laser for various skin problems.("60 Patients to Sue," 2005, p. 9)
Of this Dr Perkins blames unscrupulous manufacturers of lasers who puts profit over making sure that buyers of their product are sufficiently trained to
operate such devices. There are also equally unscrupulous and unqualified doctors and cosmetologists who are quick to take advantage of the high
prices patients are willing to pay to have their skin problems treated. In some states in the United States like New York and Tennessee, operators of
laser tools are not required to have medical degrees.
Potential patients should also keep in mind that skin abrasion whether done with the use of chemicals, abrasive materials or laser basically removes
one or more layers of skin which can be painful and cause skin flushing, swelling and in some cases, scarring ("Laser Facts", 2002)