A growing trend in the field of dermatology is acne treatment by laser. In fact, laser treatments are used on a variety of skin ailments beyond acne related problems. The basic goals of laser acne treatment are reducing inflammation, destroying acne-causing bacteria and starting the skin’s healing process. Dermatologists use several different types of laser treatment for acne. Not all of them will work on your particular condition, so it is important to thoroughly discuss all of your options with your dermatologist before the procedure begins.

When you go to your appointment for laser acne treatment, there are a few basic things you can expect. First, you and your doctor will discuss your skin problems and what options are available to you. The three main types of light treatment are nonablative lasers, erbium(ER) lasers and carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers. Nonablative (or non-heating) lasers work under the surface of the skin, rather than peeling the outer layers. The light stimulates collagen growth to heal and strengthen the tissue from the inside out. Erbium lasers are similar in that they work beneath the surface, but these treatments transfer heat to the skin to treat and remove blemishes. Finally, CO2 lasers are potentially the best acne treatment and work by literally blasting the infected tissues away through short bursts of light.

Once you have established the type of treatment that will work for you, you will then move to the treatment room. Laser acne treatment is an “in-and-out” procedure, and the actual process reflects that simplicity. Some day spas even offer laser skin therapy. Since most patients only feel what they’ve described as snaps from a rubber band during the procedure, you may not need any type of numbing product. However, if discomfort is an issue, you doctor will offer a topical anesthetic so you won’t feel a thing. He will probably coat your skin with a gel, and then rub the laser back and forth over your skin as the lights begin to work.

Each treatment session only lasts a few minutes, but the must be continued until your skin is clear- sometimes up to six months. In some severe cases, you may need to continue follow-up appointments periodically for an extended amount of time. Sessions can vary in cost from a couple hundred dollars to more than a thousand. After the procedure is complete, you may experience side effects such as skin discoloration, crusting or swelling. These will subside, however; and, in the end, you will be left with beautiful, radiant skin.