Expert Skin and Hair Treatment in Tirunelveli 

How Laser Treatments Can Help in Diminishing Your Acne Scars 

Topical skin care products (such as vitamin C serums, glycolic acid peels, and retinol creams) can help reduce the appearance of acne scars over time, but what if you want to get rid of acne scars and the dark spots and marks left behind after an outbreak? Laser treatment is the most effective and efficient means of treating acne scars, from pitted scars to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Professional laser acne scar treatment in Tirunelveli at the renowned AKJ Skin and Laser Centre can treat acne scars with world-class standards. Here, you'll find out everything you need to know about acne scar lasers from the professionals, including how they work, what to expect, and which lasers are best for each type of acne scar and skin tone.

All About the Different Types of Acne Scars

There are a variety of laser treatments performed by specialists to remove and diminish acne scars. Most lasers heal acne scars by using thermal radiation, or heat, to trigger a wound-healing response that stimulates the synthesis of new collagen in the skin. The smoothing and rejuvenating actions of fresh collagen production improve the appearance of uneven skin texture and atrophic acne scars. 

Lasers that use light energy to break down redundant pigment in the skin are another option for eradicating or reducing hyperpigmentation and post-inflammatory discoloration that commonly remains after the pimple has healed. Before delving into the lasers available to treat acne scars, it's crucial to understand the types of scars and acne marks patients commonly experience after a breakout. Here's a quick rundown of the three main categories:

Atrophic acne scars 

Atrophic acne scars resemble hollow indentations in the skin. The concave appearance of the skin is due to the rapid loss of collagen-induced inflammation that occurred while the acne lesion was active. Atrophic or "pitted" acne scars are classified into three types: ice pick scars, boxcar scars, and rolling scars.

• Ice-pick lesions are small, thin, and deep.

• The wagon wounds are massive and sharp-edged.

• Boxcar and rolling scars are similar, but rolling scars are significantly shallower and have smooth, wavy edges that make the skin's surface look uneven.

Unlike the normal small bump that disappears in a few days, these types of acne scars are frequently caused by cystic acne.

An Overview of the Effective Lasers for Acne Scars

The four most commonly used lasers to treat acne scars are ablative, fractionated non-ablative, IPL/BBL, and pico lasers. Let us discuss them in detail here.

Ablative lasers

Ablative lasers create an intense wavelength of light that removes the top layers of skin while burning deeper layers. This process destroys and renews the skin, revealing fresh, healthy tissue. The recovery period after ablative laser surgery is around two weeks. During this period, "extensive scabbing will develop, and patients should avoid sun exposure and physical exertion at all costs, as this can impede the healing process." The bottom line is that these lasers are potent and produce excellent results, particularly for patients with atrophic acne scars, but trained medical professionals should only use them.

Non-ablative fractional lasers 

A non-ablative laser only heats skin tissue while keeping the top layers intact. People with darker skin tones are suitable for non-ablative lasers, as they do not induce the aberrant pigmentation that occurs when they are used on darker skin. They don't do as much damage as an ablative laser, but they use enough energy to induce collagen synthesis.

Fractional lasers often provide faster recovery times and a lower risk of complications since the treated regions are separated by healthy, untreated skin that serves as a reservoir for tissue regeneration and remodeling. The vast majority of non-ablative lasers are also fractionated, meaning they only treat a limited area of skin at a time by producing small columns of destruction around the surrounding skin. The "fractions" treated are called microthermal zones. 

This means that non-ablative fractional lasers have fewer side effects and require less downtime than ablative lasers. They may not have much of a rejuvenating impact, but they are considered a safer option for most patients with atrophic and hypertrophic scars and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Radiofrequency micro needling for acne scars

Radiofrequency micro needling is another office procedure that doctors can use to treat mild to severe acne scars. It involves "stamping" the skin using hand-held equipment that presses on sterile needles and heats the skin, creating tiny incisions. These wounds stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, which can reduce the appearance of acne scars.

Radiofrequency micro needling is widely used for skin tightening and smoothing patients with wrinkles and lax skin, healing atrophic scars, and improving overall skin texture. RF micro-needling is considered safe for all skin types and tones.

IPL & BBL 

IPL and BBL help diminish post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and/or erythema, the flat brown or red marks patients often have after their acne clears up. These procedures are ineffective in treating any break in the skin as they do nothing to promote collagen.

IPL and BBL have minimal downtime and are nearly painless when used with an anesthetic cream. They use light energy to target both melanin pigment and redness (simply by switching to a different filter on the same machine). This allows marks and blemishes to gradually fade after each session.

Elaborating on the Number of Laser Treatments Required to Reduce Acne Scars

The extent of the scars determines the number of laser sessions required to remove acne scars, the type of laser used to treat them, and the power with which your doctor uses the laser. Gentler techniques, such as IPL/BBL, may require four to six sessions spaced a month apart to achieve the same results. However, ablative lasers generally have the most significant resurfacing impact, so patients may only need surgery to reduce the appearance of their acne scars.

Before your first treatment, ask your doctor how many sessions you will need to get rid of all your scars, what to expect after your first session, and whether you will need any treatment. Another thing to remember is that the longer the downtime, the more intense the treatment, so if you're not the kind of person who can hide for two weeks after an operation, CO2 laser therapy will not be the right option for you.

The bottom line

Laser treatments like the ones mentioned above will give the best and fastest results if you want to make your acne scars less visible. These lasers are "powerful," and when misused by unqualified personnel, they can cause harmful side effects, such as severe burns and long-lasting scars. If you decide to get a laser acne scar treatment in Tirunelveli, walk into AKJ Skin and Laser Centre, which has experience treating patients with varying skin tones suffering from different kinds of acne scars.

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