Laser treatment for acne is a quick and effective way of handling acne cases that do not respond to over the counter and other traditional acne remedies.
Those who are suffering from mild acne can usually get relief with over the counter medications; after all, there are many treatments for moderate acne including creams, washes, and oral medications.
Unfortunately, many people suffering from mild or moderate acne cannot handle the side effects of these over the counter medications which can include skin irritation, dryness, and even resistance to common antibiotics.
If mild to moderate acne is not responding to these over the counter remedies, then laser treatment for acne may be a safe and effective alternative.
Is Laser Treatment for Acne Right for You?
It depends on the severity of the acne. In a laser treatment for acne, the laser shrinks the sebaceous oil glands lying below the surface of the skin; and reduces their oil production capabilities.
Since oil production is the root cause of acne, laser treatment addresses the problem at the source.
And laser treatment for acne can also be used on various parts of the body to treat acne; not just the face alone.
Many people suffer from acne on the back, neck, upper arms, and chest, and these topical medications may not be effective for these types of acne at all.
For this reason, laser treatment is an excellent option for helping to clear up acne on all parts of your body.
What to Expect
Laser treatment for acne is actually proven safe, effective, and (in most cases) absolutely painless.
There are three main laser treatments available to anyone; and the different types of lasers and treatments used will depend on the severity of the individual acne case.
Here’s how each one works…
Blue Light Laser for Acne
The first type of laser treatment uses a “blue light laser”.
This safe, gentle treatment uses a blue light laser to target overactive sebaceous glands in your skin which produces facial oils.
Blue light lasers such as Smoothbeam or Fraxel laser are safe and have been used for over 20 years to treat moderate to sever acne; and this is the most common type of laser treatment for acne.
One of the advantages of this treatment is that it’s painless, but it must be done over the course of multiple sessions. While each individual is different, in general, three to five treatments are advisable at two to three week intervals to obtain optimal results.
Pulsed Green Laser
The second type of laser treatment works through pulsed green-yellow lights combined with heat energy.
This laser treatment is similar to the blue light laser, as it helps shrink the sebaceous glands, thus making them produce less oil.
The only known side effect of this treatment is that it causes the affected areas to be reddened for a brief time.
Usually, with moderate cases of acne, either the blue light or pulsed green laser will be used.
Diode Laser
The last type of laser used for the most severe cases of acne is the diode laser. These lasers pierce the outer layer of skin and destroy the sebaceous, oil producing glands without damaging the outermost skin layers.
Unfortunately, this treatment, unlike the blue light and green pulse treatments, can be quite painful. However, doctors generally provide some sort of painkiller to dull the pain during the procedure.
Like the green pulse laser treatment, the diode laser can cause redness of the affected areas; and some patients have reported swelling of the affected areas as well.
However, the diode laser treatment provides some of the best acne reduction after a couple of treatments; especially in the case of severe acne.
Success Rate & Side Effects
With laser technology, precision is guaranteed and only specific, targeted areas are actually treated. This results in stunting the oil production of sebaceous glands which is the underlying cause of acne in the first place.
Side effects of any laser treatment for acne are usually limited to soreness of the skin, irritation, and (in some cases) minor swelling that lasts for three or four days. There is no scarring, wounds, or discoloration incurred because of laser treatment.
However, it is not an instant cure. Laser treatment for acne may not give you excellent results the first time you undergo it. According to results posted online, a 55% to 70% improvement can be seen in around 90 % patients after 2-3 months of treatment.
How Much It May Cost & How to Pay
The only real disadvantage to laser acne treatments is that they can be hard to get and difficult to afford.
They are often only used for people with severe acne problems –mainly because of the expense. After all, laser treatment for acne can run anywhere from $150 to $300 per treatment; and with a minimum of five to six treatments, it can add up to a large number very quickly.
Also, laser acne treatments are generally considered to be “cosmetic” procedures; so many insurance companies may not cover the cost of laser acne treatment.
The best course is to go over the procedures with your doctor before starting laser acne treatment, and understand the costs for the full course of treatments; as well as any possible side effects you can expect.
Conclusions
One thing every individual undergoing any type of acne treatment needs to take into consideration is that it takes time.
Laser treatment for acne can take anywhere from 1 to 3 months to complete; and you do not see immediate results.
However, laser treatment for acne is a proven, safe, and effective treatment option; especially for those individuals that are not responding to more traditional acne cures.
Naturally, before deciding on any laser treatment, it is very important that you consult your physician or skin specialist and get the proper advice and go over all of your options.
