Los Angeles Acne Scar Treatment

Los Angeles patient before and after her laser acne scar treatment

Patients in Los Angeles might find the process of choosing the right options for acne scar treatment  to be daunting. To simply matters, it is important to first understand how acne scars are formed. Then it becomes easier to tell which course of action make the most sense.

Many people are unaware that scar tissue is made of collagen fibers, which are present throughout the skin. The only difference between normal collagen fibers and acne scar tissue is the way they are arranged.

Awareness of this principle is key to determining the best acne scar treatment.  Most topical products which claim to remove acne scars cannot change the collagen structures that are involved in this type of tissue.

Fraxel As an Acne Scar Treatment

Fraxel lasers  utilize the body’s natural ability to produce healthy, normal collagen fibers. Although laser technology involves highly focused light, this energy turns into heat once it has penetrated the skin at the dermal layer. The skin responds to this as a type of trauma by producing collagen as a way to repair itself.

Acne scar removal is accomplished as the new collagen gradually fades out the densely configured fibers from the scars over the course of several procedures.

There are two types of Fraxel laser systems that can effectively improve the appearance of scars.

1. Fraxel Dual

Fraxel Dual can be applied as an acne scar treatment for patients of all skin colors. It uses the 1550nm wavelength to apply precise levels of heat energy to the dermis, enabling specialized cells to produce new collagen fibers that work to override the collagen irregularities of the scar tissue.  This particular wavelength is not easily absorbed by melanin, which is relatively abundant in patients with darker skin tones. The risk of overheating, burns and scars becomes almost negligible as a result

 Los Angeles Acne Scar Treatment Case Study With Fraxel Dual

This Los Angeles patient underwent Fraxel Dual for her acne scar treatment.

2.  Fraxel Repair

Fraxel Repair uses the 10,600nm wavelength which makes it very intense as an acne scar treatment. The laser creates numerous microscopic columns of light in the skin which vaporizes the surrounding tissue. These light induced burns affect the surface layers of the skin as well as deeper layers. New collagen forms in the depressions of the acne scars.

Unlike Fraxel Dual, however, Fraxel Repair is only recommended for patients with lighter skin

(Fitzpatrick types I-III)

Punch Graft Excision As An Acne Scar Treatment

As the name might suggest, acne scars removal in punch graft surgery is achieved through the use of a surgical tool to excise individual acne scars.

Skin grafts taken from other parts of the body (e.g. behind the ear) are then used to replace the tissue that was removed.

After the skin has healed, irregularities in the skin’s surface are addressed through chemical peels or microdermabrasion.

Microdermabrasion and Dermabrasion As Acne Scar Treatments

Microdermabrasion is a relatively mild exfoliating process that uses fine particles of magnesium salt crystals.  Although it is offered as a way to get rid of acne scars, the  treatment does not  result in a significantly change in the appearance of the acne scars.

Dermabrasion on the other hand is far more aggressive as an acne scar treatment. This involves the use of a diamond fraise or a textured metallic surface to sand the surface of the skin which ablates the outer skin layer.  Recovery time is quite extensive as a result. And there is also a very high risk of scarring and unwanted skin discoloration.

Some patients are ideal candidates for this type of procedure. Results can be quite positive of these individuals.

However, dermabrasion is not recommended for patients of darker skin color.

Topical Acne Scar Treatments

Retinoids are derived from Vitamin A. Related products include Retin A (tretinoin), retinol and retinoic acid. Retinol is has an alcohol base in its chemical structure which allows it to moisturize the skin. On the other hand, retinoic acid will cause the skin to become dry.

Retinoids help improve the rate of skin cell turnover. They can be helpful in milder forms of acne scarring.

Los Angeles Acne Scar Treatment

Fine Touch Dermatology offers free consultations for individuals interested in learning which Los Angeles acne scar treatment  is most appropriate for their needs.