There 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 is similar to the laser skin resurfacing technique used to treat different kinds of scars, blemishes and wrinkles. Having garnered FDA approval, it is now used to treat acne scars. And although it is a costlier option than more traditional treatment choices such as dermabrasion and chemical skin peels, laser acne treatments are proving to be the more popular option.
One of the reasons why laser acne treatment is superior to other treatment methods is because with it the doctor can precisely target damaged skin while leaving untouched any healthy skin or tissue. Additionally, due to the non invasive nature of laser treatment for acne, problems like bleeding and/or skin infection, both of which are complications experienced with other procedures, can be eliminated.
While the degree of discomfort or pain associated with laser acne treatment varies depending upon the specific procedure and the condition of the patient’s skin, it generally results in less pain and discomfort than either chemical peels or dermabrasion. This is even more than case when pain medication and/or sedation is employed, which also serves to shorten the time required for the procedure to just a few minutes in some cases and to not more than an hour for most.
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.
Recovery from acne scar laser treatment lasts usually about 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the severity of the problem at the outset and which treatment you choose. During that time new skin and issue are forming that will take the place of your damaged skin. This is what helps to make the treatment so effective in the end.
The major drawback to laser treatment is the price. In the end it might cost you as much as $800 - $2500. But, as the saying goes, you get what you pay for and in this case laser acne treatment usually yields excellent results.
