When you have excessive acne and acne scarring, you’ll likely go to great lengths to find a solution. Acne is difficult enough to deal with on its own, but when it leaves permanent scars behind, it can be a major source of frustration.
These types of scars often leave the skin’s texture bumpy and uneven, making it difficult to hide them or cover them up with makeup. This is due to the fact that acne scars are often caused by the excessive production of collagen during the healing process of a blemish.
With few options for those looking to permanently eliminate their acne scars, laser acne scar removal is often the chosen solution. Fractional lasers are able to penetrate the deepest layers of the skin without causing any visible damage to the skin’s surface. The lasers encourage collagen production, which then smoothes out the skin’s surface and reduces the appearance of scars. This goes hand in hand with laser resurfacing, which is also useful when addressing acne scarring.
As with any acne treatment, getting results can never come soon enough, leaving those interested in seeking laser acne scar removal treatments wondering exactly how long it will take for them to see results. It’s for this reason that we have produced a timeline demonstrating what can be expected.
Day One:
After your first laser acne scar removal treatment, your skin might feel slightly burnt, similar to having a mild sunburn. While there will be no visible wounds on the skin’s surface, it may still appear red or swollen depending on how sensitive your skin is. These side effects often last just an hour or so before your skin begins to calm down.
Day Two:
Signs of better-looking skin will begin to appear right away. You may still experience some redness and swelling if you have very sensitive skin or if you received an aggressive treatment. As acne scars are found in the deepest layers of the skin, recovery will often take longer than similar treatments used to reduce signs of fine lines and wrinkles. Other factors that will affect the time it takes for your skin to begin healing are age, whether you smoke or not, and general skin health.
Day Three:
At this point, your skin’s reactions to the treatment will have faded and your face will begin to appear as it did before your laser acne scar removal session. You’ll notice a slight reduction in the appearance of acne scars, as well as a smoother complexion.
Over the Next Six Weeks:
Your skin will continue to improve long after your laser treatment. Over the next few weeks, your skin will continue healing in the deepest layers, encouraging collagen growth where it’s needed most. The skin’s texture will become smoother and more manageable, but you’ll likely require a second treatment.
Days One and Two:
Most of those who suffer from acne scars will need more than one laser treatment to completely eliminate them. While the average number of treatments needed is two or three, only a licensed medical laser technician can tell you how many you will need after examining your skin and seeing how you react to the first laser session. Your skin will likely have little reaction to your second laser treatment; however, depending on the skin’s sensitivity you may once again experience slight redness, swelling, and a mild burning sensation.
Days Three and Four:
While you will definitely notice a difference in your skin after your first laser acne scar removal treatment, after your second laser session you will begin to notice the complete disappearance of scars. Your skin tone will even out as more collagen is being naturally produced to promote healing within the layers of your skin.
Over the Next Six Weeks:
If you have mild acne scarring, it’s during this time that you will begin to feel more confident in your skin. Whole areas of the face that were once covered in acne and acne scars will appear smooth, and harsh marks that were impossible to cover up will have faded or completely disappeared. If you suffer from severe acne scarring, then at this point you will still see a significant change in your appearance. Some may need to have one or two more treatments.
While laser acne scar removal is a permanent solution for existing scars, you’ll want to do your best to keep up with a steady skincare routine so that the problem doesn’t occur again. Here are a few tips to ensure your laser acne scar removal is long lasting:
Don’t let your acne scars get in your way. Start your laser acne scar removal treatments now and you’ll soon be on your way to achieving the complexion you’ve always wanted.