Archive for the ‘Laser Treatment for Acne Scars’ Category
Top 4 Lasers for Removing Acne Scars
December 5th, 2009 | 
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The Food and Drug Administration has approved several lasers for treating acne scars. While these lasers come from various manufacturers, the lasers generally receive FDA approval because the functions and safety levels of one laser are almost identical to previously approved lasers.
For example, enhanced lasers such as the CoolTouch CO2 (carbon dioxide) laser and recently approved Fraxel IV laser earned FDA approval because the devices have the same or similar wavelength and operating principles as previously approved devices.
Since a substantial portion of laser devices attain FDA approval based on the effectiveness of previously approved devices, how is the consumer to discern which laser is best for removing acne scarring?
Before we tackle that issue, another item makes reviewing medial studies of laser treatments for acne scars even more puzzling.
Thomas Rohrer, a dermatologic surgeon in private practice in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, elucidated this point in a Skin and Allergy News editorial. Dr. Rohrer gave an example of how evaluators of patient improvement levels after laser treatments could not independently or unbiasedly concur on the level of improvement in the patient’s skin.
For instance, in four separate studies, the same physician performed laser procedures on different groups of patients using the same type of laser. Yet, when study evaluators examined before and after images of the study participants, their opinions on the cosmetic improvements in the patient’s skin varied enormously.
The laser treatment conundrum Dr. Rohrer’s exposes is, ‘How could such varying results come from using the same device with the same technique, especially considering that the four studies were all performed by the same investigator?’
Dr. Rohrer proposes this inconsistency arises from the three categories of laser study evaluators. The the laser ‘enthusiasts’ give the procedure the best scores. The ‘ambivalent’ evaluators give scores in the middle range. And finally, the laser doubters give the lowest scores.
Regardless of the grave variables tainting laser studies, the number of treatments needed and the overall acne scarring improvement level do allow a means to rank cosmetic lasers. Here’s how four competing lasers to treat acne scars compare.
#4 1,064-nm Nd:YAG pulsed light system
Treatments: 8
Improvement rating: 29.36%
Marketed names include PhotoSilk Laser
Last year, a study in Dermatologic Surgery tested the efficacy of the 1,064-nm Nd:YAG laser at removing acne scars. Nine patients received eight treatments for moderate to severe acne scarring. Three independent physicians assessed the overall improvement level of acne scarring severity for the group at 29.36%.
# 3 1,320-nm Nd:YAG
Treatments: 5
Improvement rating: 40-60%
Marketed names include CoolTouch Laser
An investigation from the same journal featured eight patients with facial acne scars. The group received eight treatments with the 1,320-nm Nd:YAG laser. After five treatments, independent observes assessed the overall acne scarring improvement rate between 40-60 %.
# 2 1,450-nm diode laser
Marketed names include Smoothbeam Laser
In a split test comparison between the 1,450-nm laser and 1,320-nm laser at treating mild to moderate atrophic (indented, or lost skin tissue) acne scarring, the 1,450-nm laser demonstrated greater improvement in acne scarring.
#1 1,550-nm erbium-doped fiber laser
Treatments: 3
Improvement rating: 51-75%
Marketed names include Fraxel Laser
This past March, a study in Dermatologic Surgery tested the 1,550-nm erbium-doped fiber laser on fifty-three patients with mild to moderate atrophic facial acne scars. After three treatments, two independent reviewers judged a 51-75% improvement in the scarring of 90% of the study participants.
Again, these ratings are based on the improvement levels patients coping with mild to severe acne scarring experienced after various laser treatments. As Dr. Rohrer explained, it is difficult to predict what your skin will look like after a laser treatment for acne scarring because many of the patient assessments during the studies were based on opinions of before and after photos.
To reduce the unpredictability surrounding laser correction of acne scars, ask your laser surgeon for before and after images of laser cosmetic procedures she has performed in the past months. Then judge the overall acne scarring improvement level for yourself.
Sources:
Alster, Tina; Elizabeth L Tanzi & Melissa Lazarus. The Use of Fractional Laser Photothermolysis for the Treatment of Atrophic Scars. Dermatologic Surgery; March 2007, vol 33, no 3, pp 295-299.
Lipper, Graeme M & Maritza Perez. Nonablative Acne Scar Reduction after a Series of Treatments with a Short-Pulsed 1,064-nm Neodymium:YAG Laser. Dermatologic Surgery; August 2006, vol 32, no 8, pp 998-1006.
Rohrer, Thomas E. Ethics in Cosmetic Laser Treatments. Skin and Allergy News; May 2007, vol 38, no 5, pp 14-15.
Sadick NS & AK Schecter. A Preliminary Study of Utilization of the 1320-nm Nd:YAG Laser for the Treatment of Acne Scarring. Dermatologic Surgery; July 2004, vol 30, no 7, pp 995-1000.
Tanzi, Elizabeth L & Tina S Alster. Comparison of a 1450-nm Diode Laser and a 1320-nm Nd:YAG Laser in the Treatment of Atrophic Facial Scars: A Prospective Clinical and Histologic Study. Dermatologic Surgery; February 2004, vol 30, no 2, pp 152-157.
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Acne Scar Laser Treatments – Types of Acne Scar Removal
One of the most advanced techniques today in removing acne scars is acne scar laser treatments. Two types of laser treatments prominently followed by doctors are laser resurfacing and fractional laser therapy. Since these treatments come under beauty conscious, the insurance coverage is not provided.
You will need to foot the medical bill yourself. Therefore, you should consider carefully before opting for the surgical procedure.
Laser Resurfacing Technique
This is the popular treatment for many skin defects. The dermatologist or the cosmetic surgeon can apply this method to cure acne scars. The laser light is beamed through the rough and affected areas of the face and is gently vaporized to reveal smooth, fresh skin underneath. A local anesthesia is often needed during the operation to lessen the pain.
The result of the treatment vary from patients in some it may be progressive but some people require multiple treatments. About 80% of the scar damage is cured in the process and the wounds will be healed usually under 10 days.
Fractional Method
This also comes under laser treatment for acne scars but it is very expensive. Well trained physicians of this technique promises that the healing time is very less than the resurfacing. The laser is used to treat the deeper scars underneath and smoother the skin.
Only one treatment is just enough for quick remedy. This surgery is done under administration of local anesthetics.
The laser machines used for acne scar laser treatment are marketed in full swing for their popularity. The TotalFX or Fraxel is the most familiar names found in the internet. It is essential that before choosing the treatment for acne scar, you must consult your dermatologist first so he/she can advise which type of treatment is suitable for you.
The above treatments require only a few days for the scars to be removed and to enhance the results of the treatments, acne skin care creams and painkillers are recommended by doctors.
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Laser Surgery For Acne Scar – Should You Use Laser Surgery to Get …
Using laser surgery for acne scar treatment has become popular within the last several years. As more and more people struggled with deep set scars that would not fade, they began to look for a more permanent solution to their problem. Laser surgery can reduce and even eliminate acne scarring, but it is not without its risks. This surgery can be a good alternative as a last resort, but there are many factors that you need to consider before making this important decision.
How does it Work?
Before you even think of using laser surgery for acne scar treatment, you need to understand how it works. In this procedure, a laser is used to deliver high intensity heat and energy to a specific location on the face. It removes the damaged skin one layer at a time, until there is an undamaged layer left on the surface.
The laser surgery procedure takes about an hour to perform, and has up to an 80% success rate for eliminating acne scars. This treatment can only be performed by a licensed doctor however, and does come with medical risks and slight discomfort as well.
Common Problems
There are some common problems that can come up when you are looking into using laser surgery for acne scar treatment. These problems are part of the reason why this procedure is considered a last resort for eliminating acne scars.
1. Only doctors can perform laser surgery, and unfortunately not all doctors are trained how to do it properly, or get enough practice. To ensure that you are receiving high quality service, you would want to opt for a specialist which can be more expensive.
2. As we just learned, to get the best results from laser surgery it needs to be performed by a dermatologist, which can be quite costly. The high cost of this treatment method is one of the reasons that it is less popular than the others. This is something you may want to consider before using laser surgery for acne scar treatment.
3. There are high risks involved when you treat acne with lasers. As with all other types of surgery there is always the chance that something can go wrong.
4. Laser s can also be painful, as can the healing process when you will often have bruising and tenderness. Other treatments such as natural creams and microdermabrasion could save you the pain.
5. Aside from the high cost and risks involved, this treatment does not always work out as well as you might have hoped.
There are several reasons why using laser surgery for acne scar treatment isn’t always the best idea. However, if you have exhausted all of the other options, or if you have a very bad case of acne scarring, then laser surgery may be the only chance that you have of achieving smooth skin again. It is far more effective at smoothing out deep scars than other treatments, but for lighter damage you would be better off exploring other options first.
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Laser Acne Scar Removal – What it is and How it is Done?
Acne can cause some unsightly scarring that can also be disfiguring. And for this doctors have come up with a new form of treatment – laser acne scar removal. Various techniques of scar removal have evolved into this. Though there are other laser based surgeries for skin treatment like the non ablative laser that stimulates collagen beneath the surface and tightens the tissue overall they are not useful to remove acne scars.
In laser acne scar removal, your surgeon will use a laser hand held piece that is like a wand. Using this he will burn off the skin cells that are scarred. These cells that are burned off are replaced by fresh cells. The procedure is very precise and so the surgeon will only be able to target the skin tissue that is affected and this leave the unaffected skin as it is. The surgeon is able to precisely judge to what depth the laser penetrates.
This enables him to entirely remove the affected area of your skin. This is very necessary in any surgery involving facial skin as it is delicate. Two kinds of lasers are used for this surgery – erbium YAG laser and carbon dioxide laser. The former produces energy that is of a precise wavelength and it penetrates your skin while being absorbed readily due to the moisture content. The heat of this laser scatters and leaves unaffected areas as they are.
The latter of the lasers is a recent development. It emits bursts of very high energy that are short and laser light that is highly focuses so it vaporizes the scarred tissue one layer at a time. This leaves only fresh and new unscarred skin.
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Acne Scar Laser Treatments – Types of Acne Scar Removal
One of the most advanced techniques today in removing acne scars is acne scar laser treatments. Two types of laser treatments prominently followed by doctors are laser resurfacing and fractional laser therapy. Since these treatments come under beauty conscious, the insurance coverage is not provided.
You will need to foot the medical bill yourself. Therefore, you should consider carefully before opting for the surgical procedure.
Laser Resurfacing Technique
This is the popular treatment for many skin defects. The dermatologist or the cosmetic surgeon can apply this method to cure acne scars. The laser light is beamed through the rough and affected areas of the face and is gently vaporized to reveal smooth, fresh skin underneath. A local anesthesia is often needed during the operation to lessen the pain.
The result of the treatment vary from patients in some it may be progressive but some people require multiple treatments. About 80% of the scar damage is cured in the process and the wounds will be healed usually under 10 days.
Fractional Method
This also comes under laser treatment for acne scars but it is very expensive. Well trained physicians of this technique promises that the healing time is very less than the resurfacing. The laser is used to treat the deeper scars underneath and smoother the skin.
Only one treatment is just enough for quick remedy. This surgery is done under administration of local anesthetics.
The laser machines used for acne scar laser treatment are marketed in full swing for their popularity. The TotalFX or Fraxel is the most familiar names found in the internet. It is essential that before choosing the treatment for acne scar, you must consult your dermatologist first so he/she can advise which type of treatment is suitable for you.
The above treatments require only a few days for the scars to be removed and to enhance the results of the treatments, acne skin care creams and painkillers are recommended by doctors.
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Posted in Laser Treatment for Acne Scars | 
Tags: Acne remover, Acne scar laser, Body acne scars treatment | 
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Acne Scar Laser Treatment – Vanish Acne Scars For Good
Acne scars are tough to live with, specially because a lot of times, they stay forever. If you are reading this, it shows that you are looking for a great solution to get rid of them. This option currently is called "acne scar laser treatment".
Currently there are different types of lasers used for this procedure and it will depend on what your doctor determines. However one of the aspect that most people seek when looking for this option is the cost of the treatment. This treatment is known as the most expensive treatment to get rid of acne marks.
First off, it is important to state that the costs of the full treatment will depend on your type of skin and the severity of the scarring. Usually, patients need to good a Fraxel treatment for 3 consecutive months, and then this same treatment period must be repeated 6 months later to get the full effective results.
After the first period of treatment, a lot of improvement is observed in around %90 of patients. This improvement is obviously not complete. In some cases, you should know that acne scar laser treatment could bring side effects; they include swelling and redness, these side effects are treatable and do not include discoloration problems that other scar removal treatments could bring.
Another factor to keep in mind in this type of treatment is the shape and size of the scars. The larger the scar, the more treatment needed. Also, some doctors consider laser not so effective to treat with laser, this is something you should discuss in your personal appointment.
Having considered all these factors, it has been estimated that in the case of severe deep acne scarring, the cost for acne scar laser treatment can go up to $6000, while a treatment for minor scars can cost up to $1700; these are average costs. Know that the cost of this treatment is not covered by insurance companies.
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What Do I Need to Know About Acne Scar Laser Treatment?
Are you someone who likes the idea of getting rid of your acne scars? While acne scars tend to heal up on their own, you will find that the scarring that they leave behind can be something that can trouble you for ages. Take some time and look into what your options are when you want to treat your face. If you are looking at a way to get rid of acne scars that have been there for a while and that have not responded to other forms of treatment, one option that you might want to look into is laser resurfacing. Laser resurfacing will take care of shallow acne scarring, rather than deeper blemishes, but it can be very effective!
Essentially, when you are looking at laser resurfacing, you are looking at the use of an intense beam of bright light that is going to vaporize the skin tissue that is standing out. While laser resurfacing is primarily used for acne scars, you will find that it is also in demand for use on wrinkles, aged skin and skin that has been damaged by the sun. The laser is produced from a handheld device, and you can watch as the undesired skin cells are simply vaporized out of existence. The process will also excite the growth of new skin cells and there are many advantages to be had from them.
In the first place, you will find that the process itself is relatively bloodless. Unlike dermabrasion, there is less pain and there is less redness in general. You will also find that the process is more easily controlled. The treatment will be able to address very small areas of skin very safely, and this can be quite important when you are looking at a treatment that is going to be used for more delicate areas. Remember that the laser itself is also going to be able to penetrate a deeper layer of the skin itself, which can be quite important when you are looking at getting the result that you are interested in.
If you are interested in acne laser treatment, you will find that the professionals that you need to seek out are going to be dermatologic surgeons. These surgeons are going to have some fairly extensive experience with laser surgery and when you are dealing with a procedure that is very dependent on the skill of the person using it, you need to find someone with experience. Take some time and look into the different options that are available in your area. This can make a difference to the way that you end up moving forward!
It is also important to remember that laser treatments for your acne scars can be expensive. In many cases, you are looking at something that can run you upwards of 3000 dollars for a full run of treatment. Treatment of this sort might very well be an investment, but it may very well be one that is worth it for you!
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Get Rid of Acne Scars Using Acne Laser Treatment
Acne scar laser treatment can give you a great change in your life. Acne scars have a huge impact on your life, trying to cover it up with makeup usually does not help and it you spend the majority of your time thinking about it.
A procedure you should stay away from that is being used to treat scars is called dermabrasion. Using a dermabrader the skin is removed by abrasion or otherwise called sanding. As you can imagine, this cosmetic procedure is very painful and will leave the skin looking red and raw. It takes months for the skin to heal. This procedure does not work on deep scars.
Thankfully there are laser skin treatments now that are less painful and let your skin rejuvenate itself faster. Getting rid of scars used to be tough, but there are laser treatments today that do get the job done. The great thing about laser skin treatment is that the doctor has precise control of where to use the lasers. The lasers are used to vaporize your skin’ upper layer, this will heal leaving you with a less noticeable scar or the scar will be gone for good.
When using the laser method to remove acne scars, the surgeon uses a laser that burns away the scarred skin. This sounds more painful than it actually is. Because using a laser does not cause blood loss or skin peeling. Your face will regenerate and new skin cells will be produced where the scar was located. A great advantage about this procedure is that the laser is very accurate, so only the exact scarred part of the face will be worked on.
Surgeons have the option to choose between two types of laser acne scar removal. One is called the Erbium laser. This Erbium laser uses heat to vaporize skin. It is very safe and reliable.
The second type of laser that a surgeon can use is the CO2 laser. This one emits light that is absorbed by skin, this results in removing layers of your skin tissue.
The treatment itself is pretty quick. It takes about fifteen minutes to one hour for the surgeon to finish the procedure. The surgeons who use these laser acne removal procedures are skilled and very precise in handling the laser.
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Laser Treatment For Acne Scars – Remove Acne Scars Permanently
Acne is a skin disorder which is common among the age group of 18-25. This skin disease is usually associated with a lot of pimples, scars and huge open pores. There are several treatments for acne scars. The most recent latest treatment is the laser treatment for acne scars.
This laser acne treatment is the latest technology advancement in the field of medicine to ensure the complete removal of the acne scars from the face and the back of the human body. This medical procedure is usually done by dermatologists and they are done in laser clinics in hospitals.
The acne scars laser treatments are mainly done with the help of wave lengths that are usually assorted. The laser treatments are also of several intensity levels, which is mainly due to the different levels of scars and acne in the human body.
Laser acne will not only remove the occurrence of the acne bacteria but it also helps in reducing the red skin that is usually caused by acne and its pimples. This procedure which is done in the hospitals takes a bit of procedures to be done before hand.
The dermatologist will have to first determine whether the patient is suitable for this type of acne treatment. After this, he/she determines the type of laser to be used for the laser treatment for acne scars.
The intensity of the laser treatment can also be determined between you and the doctor to ensure that you get the results that you wanted. The tissues that are not needed are completely removed with the help of the carbon dioxide laser.
For most acne patients, a single acne laser treatment is enough, but for others who have more severe acne problems, more than one treatment is required. There is another kind of laser which is known as ablative laser treatment for acne scars. This laser eliminates the outer layers of the skin along with the tissues of the scar which helps a lot in lowering the visibility of the acne scar.
Laser acne treatment cost is expensive but is the most effective way to remove acne scars fast and permanently.
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Laser Treatment of Acne Scars – 2 Permanent Methods Used For Acne …
For those wanting permanent removal of acne scars, keep in mind that there are many laser treatments that you might want to consider. The majority of scars will fade over time so if the scarring isn’t causing you any psychological problems maybe time is the best course of action.
There are a variety of different options one can consider for the fast removal of acne scars. One option is by collagen injection which is a normal substance created by the body and injected under the skin to fill or stretch out certain types of scars.
These offer a smoother complexion as well as instant results however the procedure is often repeated every three to six months and can end up being quite costly.
Another similar and equally beneficial method is when fat is taken from the patient’s body and injected into the skin, like collagen. This treatment usually lasts a lot longer, normally anywhere from six to eighteen months, depending on how quickly the body re-absorbs its own fat.
Other treatments that one can use for a more permanent look is through Microdermabrasion, laser treatment, skin surgery and also skin grafting.
Here are two permanent methods used for acne scar removal:-
Fractional Laser Therapy: – This therapy used a laser to penetrate deep into the layers of the skin without damaging the top layer. This treatment is used for those whose scar is protruding or bumpy in nature. Burning away the underlying skin layers (including inflammation) helps smooth the scarred area, making the skin more even.
Laser resurfacing: – When this procedure is performed, its main aim is in burning off the top layers of the skin on the scarred areas. By removing the top layers of skin, it encourages the lower layers to immediately start cell and collagen reproduction to replace the missing skin. This creates healthier new skin replacing the previous scar tissue.
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