An Overview of Acne Laser Treatment

If you're one of the millions who suffer from acne problems, no one needs to tell you how stressful and embarrassing it can be. You've probably tried almost every lotion, cream and medication on the market. If you've had limited success with these products, or have been left with unattractive scars from your acne, there is another alternative you can consider.

Acne laser treatment has been gaining popularity over the last few years as an effective treatment option. This is a fairly new procedure that has shown some promising results for those who have had no luck with other types of treatment. Maybe it's time for you to take a look at acne laser treatment.

What Is It?

Acne laser treatment is a process that is used to clear up existing acne, as well as the scars left behind by previous acne. There are a few variations of this type of treatment, and the kind you receive will depend upon the type of blemishes and scarring you have. Your dermatologist can advise you as to the best treatment options for you.

Acne laser treatments usually fall into one of three categories. They are carbon dioxide lasers, non-ablative lasers, and erbium lasers. The carbon dioxide type is probably the most popular and effective type of laser treatment. Basically, this involves peeling away the infected and blemished skin by using short pulses of light. Non-ablative and erbium lasers work a bit differently. They do their work below the surface of the skin, removing blemishes and healing scars from the inside out.

Advantages

The actual procedure itself is relatively quick and painless. It is an outpatient surgery that usually only takes a few minutes. There is usually no recovery time needed. In fact, many people will schedule treatments during their lunch breaks. The most important advantage of acne laser treatment is that the end result will be skin that is virtually free from blemishes and scars.

Disadvantages

There are also several downsides to this type of treatment. Although a single treatment takes only a few minutes, in many cases you need to continue to receive treatments for up to several months. Even after your treatments are complete, it may take several months to notice the results once your skin is completely healed. The cost of acne laser treatment is another factor that eliminates it as an option for many people. One session can cost up to a few hundred dollars, and most health insurance policies will not cover it. You can imagine how that can add up over six month's time.

If you have acne scars or blemishes that you just can't get rid of no matter what you do, you may want to sit down with your dermatologist and discuss the pros and cons of acne laser treatment.