What Is Laser Acne Treatment And Why Is It Right For You?
Thursday, October 8th, 2009There can be no doubt that laser acne treatment has proven to be a very successful treatment option for many sufferers of chronic acne. Yet questions remain in many people’s minds about the safety and long-term effectiveness of the procedure. This article will attempt to give an overview of acne laser treatment, including a look at both its advantages and disadvantages, so that you will be better equipped to determine if it might be the right choice for you.
Acne laser treatment uses a laser resurfacing method similar to methods used in the past to treat scars, wrinkles and blemishes of various kinds. Applied now to the treatment of acne scars, laser acne treatments have become a more expensive option than the more standard methods of treatment such as chemical peels and dermabrasion.
Among the major benefits of laser acne treatment is that in the hands of a skilled surgeon it is possible to target only the affected areas of the skin while leaving unaffected skin and tissue alone. Furthermore, since laser treatment for acne is a non-invasive procedure, complications such as bleeding or infection of the skin, which are associated with other treatment methods, can be avoided.
Generally speaking, laser acne treatment is less painful and uncomfortable than treatment by dermabrasion or chemical peel, although this can vary depending upon the type of procedure employed as well as the extent of the damage to the skin beforehand. Both pain and discomfort can be reduced even further by the use pain medication and sedatives. This also tends to shorten the procedure, which can last anywhere from several minutes to up to one hour.
Another benefit to laser acne treatments is that any accompanying side effects, such as swelling to the skin or redness, are usually on the mild side and only temporary. Occasionally there may be a mild burning to the skin caused by a high energy laser used during the treatment.
The good news is that there are no major complications or side effects associated with acne laser treatment, and whatever discomfort there might be can usually be alleviated by proper use of the right aftercare skin products. Certainly there is no expectation of any long term effects once the process of recovery is finished.
Acne scar laser treatment works because the building of new skin cells and healthy tissue occurs, replacing the areas damaged by acne scarring. Depending upon the degree of damage to the skin and the exact treatment procedure employed, complete recovery usually takes place in about 4 - 6 weeks.
The main drawback to laser acne treatment is its cost, which can run as high as $2500. At the very least be ready to spend about $800. While this may seem high, to many former acne sufferers this is money well spent.