March 22, 2025

The Best Acne Scar Treatment: Does Fractional CO2 Laser Work?

Acne is a facet of life; about 80% of people aged 11-30 would have had acne at some time in their lives.

Acne also has the risk of producing acne scars. Acne scars could linger on one’s skin (let alone their face) and have a negative impact on many sufferers’ self-esteem. The depressed or atrophic acne scar is a typical form of acne scar.

The CO2 fractional laser is one of several acne scar treatments used to reduce the appearance of acne scars by leveling the depression on the skin.  The downtime could last up to one week, occasionally more, based on each person’s recovery.

The Fractional CO2 Laser’s laser radiation generates microscopic incisions in your skin, reaching deep into the dermis to break fibrous tissue. In reaction, the skin closes these gaps by pushing out uneven and damaged skin and replacing it with healthier, noticeably even skin tone.

The laser speeds up the repair procedure even further. The residual heat of the laser encourages the skin to manufacture new collagen, a building block in the skin. It’s known as collagen remodeling. The end result? More radiant and even-toned skin.

What Causes Acne Scars?

The skin is the largest organ in the body. There are 3 basic levels to it. They’re the dermis, hypodermis, and epidermis. The layers protect the delicate inner organs from UV rays, elements, and germs, and they also help manufacture vitamin D from sunshine. Acne might occur everywhere with sebaceous glands, although it’s most commonly found on the back, chest, and face.

Acne scars occur due to acne lesion inflammation. The acne pore expands, and the pore wall begins to collapse. Some acne lesions are small, with shallow scars that recover fast. Blemish fluids can also leak into adjacent tissue, leading to deeper scarring. The response of the skin is to create new collagen strands to mend the scar.

Remember that simply because you get acne does not guarantee you will get scars. And if you get one (one in every five persons with acne would have scarring), don’t worry: acne scars are not lifelong! There are treatment options. Some procedures almost completely eliminate the scars, while other treatments assist the skin in healing itself using its own collagen.

Depressed or Atrophic Scarring:

Ice pick: An ice pick has a broad shaft narrowing to the tip. This indentation is prevalent and is among the hardest scars to treat. They could develop on the upper cheekbones and forehead, where the skin is thinner.

Rolling scars are more commonly found on your lower jaw and cheekbones, where the skin is thicker. The indents possess sloping borders, providing the skin with a wavy and irregular appearance.

Boxcar scars are indentations with sharper edges. Those edges enter the skin deeply. These scars are commonly found on the jaw and lower cheeks.

Keloid or hypertrophic scars: These scar tissue lesions extend from your skin. They occur once fibrous tissues, such as collagen, in your skin’s area overgrow. These scars, which are most commonly on the back, chest, jawline, and shoulders, could be itchy, uncomfortable, or painful.

How Does Co2 Fractional Laser Work for Acne?

On the treated surfaces, the CO2 fractional laser generates a zone of small micro heat beams. Thousands of beams would enter the skin, causing minute thermal damage zones while unaffected surrounding tissues.

The small damage stimulates collagen formation, letting the skin begin healing. To restore injured skin, fresh collagen generates new skin cells. Simultaneously, the skin will gain suppleness and elasticity, resulting in youthful-looking skin.

Collagen formation would occur in both the targeted locations and the surrounding healthy tissue, allowing for total skin regeneration. When compared to completely ablative lasers, this acne scar treatment offers less downtime and negative effects.

 

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