Acne Scars: Lasers Used to Treat them (For Professionals)

Lasers Used to Treat them (For Professionals)

Type of Scar and Corresponding treatment:

• Atrophic Scars ( en pic à glace(Icepick), rolling and boxcar scars):

1. ablative laser (CO2 laser 10600nm, Erbium YAG 2940nm): most effective, but carries the highest risk of scarring and dyschromia. Not effective for treating sebaceous hyperplasia.
2. fractional laser (Fractional Co2 and Erbium): special nomenclature=MTZ (Microthermal Zone) and MENDS (Microscopic Epidermal Necrotic Debris)
3. non ablative laser: visible or non visible light. Visible light 585nm, 595nm has fallen out of favour. 1064nm and 1320nm Nd:YAG, diode (1450nm) and Erbium.Glass (1540nm) are the most effective. These lasers are less invasive, and the reduced effectiveness also means that the risks of complications (scarring and dyschromia) are reduced.

Acne Scars of the atrophic type (

• Protuberant Scars (papular, hypertrophic, “keloidal”)

1. CO2 laser (10600nm)

Keloidal acne vulgaris (acne keloidalis)

• Flat (Macular) Scars (macular, macular hyperpigmented and “bridges & tunnels”)

1. macular scars: vascular non ablative laser (purpose: to treat the red colour)
2. macular hyperpigmented scars: pigment laser
3. PS: No treatment is proposed for the lesions with “quotation marks”

Contributors:

Dr Christophe HSU – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland

Source: CHEONG Lai Leng. Shedding Light on Laser Therapies for Scars – How well do they work ?