When you wake up with a big zit, your first impulse is to pop it. But doing so can lead to a lifetime of frustration. The ghosts of pimples past often remain in scar form for years to come.
Studies show that people with acne scars are perceived to be less attractive, confident, happy, healthy, and successful. Individuals with acne and acne scars also had significant emotional problems, including feelings of embarrassment, self-consciousness, frustration, and anxiety.
Dr. Vera Carlson at Cache Cosmetics & Laser has seen this effect firsthand, which is why she offers laser skin resurfacing to address your acne scars and give you clearer, confident-boosting skin.
What causes acne scars?
When your breakouts penetrate the deepest layers of your skin, they cause significant damage to the tissue below. Your body attempts to repair this damage as the acne clears by producing collagen — a structural protein found in your skin.
A scar appears if your body produces too much or too little collagen. With too little collagen, you develop acne scars that look like depressions, pits, or pockmarks. If your body has been overzealous in its collagen production, you develop raised acne scars.
Who’s at risk for acne scars?
Of the 80% of people between ages 11 and 30 who have acne, one in five will develop scars. Your risk increases if you pick, squeeze, or pop your acne, or if you have inflammatory acne that causes cysts and nodules to form deep in the layers of your skin.
Family history and genetics also play a role in your likelihood of developing acne, but you put yourself at the greatest risk for acne scars if you delay getting treatment.
Letting your acne fester below your skin or delaying treatment until it becomes severe can lead to significant scarring.
Fortunately, there are a variety of treatment options that can help you reduce the appearance of acne scars, including laser skin resurfacing.
How can laser skin resurfacing help with acne scars?
Laser skin resurfacing is a versatile aesthetic procedure that addresses a variety of common cosmetic concerns from hyperpigmentation to wrinkles and fine lines. It’s also an effective treatment for stubborn acne scars.
We use the MiXto® CO2 fractional laser system, the most advanced laser technology, to help you achieve brighter, smoother skin.
The MiXto system uses the power of heat energy to remove the top layer of skin where your scar has formed, leaving you with smoother skin and less noticeable scars.
But it doesn’t stop there. The heat and light energy go into the deepest layers of your skin to stimulate new, healthy skin cells and collagen production. Laser skin resurfacing triggers your body’s natural healing response, encouraging blood flow and reducing inflammation.
What can you expect from laser skin resurfacing?
When considering a new treatment, we understand that you have lots of questions. We want you to be fully informed before you begin laser skin resurfacing. Here are a few of the questions we get most often from patients.
Does it hurt?
The level of discomfort you feel during your treatment session depends on your personal threshold for pain and other factors, such as the length of your treatment.
Shorter treatments may not cause you any discomfort, but longer treatments aimed at addressing more severe acne scars may require a local anesthetic to keep you comfortable.
Talk to Dr. Carlson about any concerns you have when it comes to pain.
Is there a long recovery time?
Our patients react differently to laser skin resurfacing but most only report only mild side effects that are similar to a sunburn.
After about 5-7 days, you’ll notice dry skin that peels easily. That is a natural part of the process as your body sheds the dead outer layers of skin.
When will I see results?
You’ll start to see results and enjoy luminous, supple skin after 10-21 days, with full results becoming visible over the next few months. It may seem like a long time before you start to see healthier, smoother skin, but waiting is worth it.
If you’d like more information, don’t hesitate to request an appointment online or over the phone at our Providence, Utah, office.