Lasers and Acne Scarring

December 22nd, 2005

One of the unfortunate results that can occur from more inflammatory acne is scarring. In many people, getting the acne under control is just the first step. Once the acne is under control, many people would like to improve the texture of the skin that can often be damaged from acne.

In the past, most techniques for correcting acne scarring involved “intentional wounding” of the skin. This included modalities like dermabrasion and ablative lasers. With these forms of treatment, the skin was “injured” with the hope that as it healed, extra collagen would be produced and a smoother texture would result.

Recently, there has been a trend towards less aggressive treatments. Enter the non-ablative lasers. Non-ablative lasers do not injure the skin and are thought to penetrate deep into the dermis to encourage collagen production. Non-ablative lasers have been shown to help with fine lines and it was natural to see how they could help improve acne scarring.

A recent article in Dermatology Times addresses a study that is under way. Read the article here.

Entry Filed under: Acne Treatments