Laser Surgery For Acne

Acne, also referred to as pimples, is a common skin condition, especially among adolescents. Acne is generally caused by an over secretion of sebum or oil by the sebaceous gland, which in turn is stimulated by excess production of testosterone. This excess oil produced by the sebaceous glands builds up in the skin pores leading to the development of acne or pimples. Sometimes, this condition can create a favorable environment for bacterial growth, which, in turn can cause inflammation and pain. Common treatment for this condition includes laser treatment to remove acne and its scars, among other options.

Treatment for Acne
There is no permanent cure for acne, and hence most of the treatment options are directed towards the alleviation of the symptoms like swelling, redness and pain. For mild to moderate acne, the most commonly used over the counter medication is benzoyl peroxide, which is an anti-bacterial agent. Azelaic acid, retinoids like adapalene, and antibiotic lotion, such as clindamycin (e.g. Dalacin T) or erythromycin (e.g. Stiemycin) are other medications for topical application. However, for treating inflammatory acne, oral antibiotics like tetracycline can be required.

In females, hormonal acne treatment has shown promising results in acne control or prevention. Generally these hormonal treatment methods aim at suppressing the level of the male hormone androgen, which is responsible for stimulating the sebaceous glands to secrete excess sebum or oil. Sometimes, cortisone injections are used to treat very large acne, especially when all the other treatment options fail to give the desired result. However, in recent times, one of the most talked about treatment options is laser surgery, which can be applied for both acne and acne scar removal.

Surgery for Acne
Laser is actually an acronym for 'light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation'. So, laser surgery involves the use of laser beams to dig the very core of the acne in order to clear the clogged pores. It can effectively destroy the bacteria and the specific glands secreting excess sebum. But, the effectiveness of the process depends to a great extent on several factors including the skill of the surgeon or the dermatologist. Sometimes, this surgery may require several sessions, as it may not be able to deal with all the glands and bacteria at one time.

Acne can be problematic even after their disappearance, as often they leave behind ugly scars, which are actually a result of the natural process of healing. Laser treatment or resurfacing is considered one of the most effective ways to get rid of acne scars, mainly due to its precision and accuracy. There are two types of laser treatment, ablative and non-ablative.

Ablative laser resurfacing removes the outer layer of skin to make the scarred area smooth and even. Generally, CO2 or Er:YAG lasers are used for this purpose. Laser surgery for scars due to acne not only removes the layer of the skin, but the heat produced in the process helps to tighten the inner layers of the skin by stimulating collagen production. As this method involves the removal of the outer layers of the skin and burns away scar tissue, it is regarded as an ablative method and the lasers used for the purpose are known as ablative lasers.

On the other hand, the non-ablative laser treatment is a milder approach, which uses non-ablative lasers like yellow pulse dye laser and smoothbeam lasers. This method relies on triggering changes within the dermis by heating the collagen. This in turn tightens the skin and make the scars less visible. The process does not cause any injury to the epidermis or outer layer of the skin unlike the ablative laser treatment. However, application of topical anesthetic cream is required before starting the procedure.

Like all types of surgical treatment, laser surgery also involves some common surgical risks like burning and an uneven appearance of skin due to inconsistent application of lasers. Its cost can also be quite significant. Moreover, this acne treatment may not be able to address the underlying causes required for acne prevention. Besides these, all individuals may not be suitable for this treatment. Therefore all these issues should be properly discussed with an expert dermatologist to evaluate all the aspects before opting for such a surgery.