If you do your research about laser treatments for acne, you will run into a lot of terms where you have no idea what they mean or are about. Terms like erbium, CO2, smoothness, photodynamic therapy, Fraxel and pixelation are some of them. Let’s do a breakdown of laser treatment for acne and understand what it entails.
Basics of Laser
A laser is a device that produces a beam of light focused on a particular thing. We have light around us on a daily basis, and this light consists of the rainbow colors, but a laser light specifically consists of only one color out of the rainbow colors – blue or red.
Each laser light will have different strength levels and wavelengths and is used for different purposes. Stronger laser lights can be used to cut through metals like steel while a less strong light can be used as a flashlight. Laser treatment for acne have about the same strength as laser lights used for flashlight, but those used for acne have enough power to cause side effects.
How do Laser Treatments Work?
Laser acne treatments can be used to treat Propionibacterium acnes, or P. acnes for short, the bacteria that is responsible for skin breakouts. This form of treatment is also great for treating big blemishes which are mainly caused by cystic acne. Most medications contain ingredients like benzoyl peroxide to kill off the bacteria while laser does the same thing with heat. Laser treatment also gets rid of the oil in the skin by heating the sebaceous glands in the skin. This shrinks the glands and reduces the oil they produce. Less oil means less pores and ultimately fewer breakouts.
Another laser treatment for acne scars is resurfacing which involves stimulating the growth of collagen under the skin with the help of a type of laser. This, then makes the skin under the scar firmer. If you decide to use laser treatment for your acne, you should have a professional dermatologist perform this treatment on you. Though you can do it on yourself at home by getting a laser device, it is more preferable for you to schedule an appointment with a dermatologist who will be more experienced with such procedures.
Performing Laser Treatment for Acne at Home
If you choose to carry out laser treatment at home by yourself, there are lots of laser devices that you can use at home. These devices use either a combination of red and blue lights or low-intensity blue light. The blue light kills acne-causing bacteria while the red light helps to reduce inflammation. Although you may be doing it in the comfort of your own home, experts have said that home Laser treatment devices are not powerful enough to produce long-lasting or permanent results.
Side Effects
Laser treatment for acne has side effects, whether you get the treatment from a dermatologist or you do it at home by yourself. Some of its side effects include dryness, itchiness, bruising, redness and flaking. It is also possible that the treated area will get lighter or darker depending on how your skin reacts to the treatment.
Conclusion
Most treatments will have its side effects, same goes for laser treatment. Despite this fact, you should not be scared of this treatment because it is a great acne scar removal treatment if you have any scars you want to get rid of. All you should do is be cautious about choosing a treatment because of the numerous choices available. Consult with a professional dermatologist so you can pick a treatment method that works with the severity of your acne and your skin type.