Laser treatments on acne scars are indicated only when the patient's skin is acne free; otherwise, the acne must be cured first. Once the skin is clear, the dermatologist help patients to find the right laser treatment on acne scars. Dermatologists know that their patients have different types of acne scars; everyone has his own facial topography. Laser treatments on acne scars are addressed on a case by case basis; there is no universal treatment, right for every patient.



The decision to seek for laser treatment on acne scars depends on the way the patient feel about his scars. He can wait for them to fade over time or, if the scars are severe, the scarring is disfiguring, the laser treatment becomes imperative. The dermatologists' opinion is very important and they are deciding whether treatment can be undertaken.

Acne scars are really difficult to treat; dermatologists are using chemical peels or excision as treatments without spectacular results. In meantime, additional scares can appear. The pulsed laser technology has an important role in the treatment of scars. The best solution seems to be a combination between carbon dioxide laser vaporization and pulsed dye technology.

In reality, the treatment must be adapted to every type of scare, for every patient because any individual as his own collagen and wound healing response. A preoperative patient evaluation is essential to choose the best procedure for him or her. If the acne scars are thick, two or more treatments are necessary to have a favorable response. Laser treatment on acne scars is not a simple procedure and it is used only by specialists.

If the needed procedure is pulsed dye laser, local anesthesia is more indicated than general anesthesia. Local anesthesia is easily administered using nerve block, intra lesion injections or an anesthetic cream. Laser treatment on acne scars means also to deliver over the scars none overlapping laser pulses; after the laser procedure, the scars change their color, becoming purple. After 8 weeks, the results are evaluated and, if necessary, a new laser treatment on acne scars is applied, at a higher strength if necessary.

If the dermatologists are using intravenous sedation or regional nerve block, a carbon dioxide laser resurfacing may be needed. This treatment depends on extend of the scars. After the laser treatment on acne scars, many careful examinations and skin cleaning are necessary during the first postoperative week. The patients receive the indication to keep the treated area moistened with healing creams or cooled compresses. Long term scars can be prevented with early laser treatment on acne scars. The patients must know also the laser treatment of scars will give a more acceptable appearance to the skin; the total restoration is impossible in many patients.

Laser treatments on acne scars are preferred for thick or red scars; carbon dioxide laser treatments are used to treat atrophic scars, replacing chemical peels. Laser treatments on acne scars are helping, improving the patient's skin aspect.