Acne scars can be a major problem for people who have had acne. Not only do they cause physical and emotional pain, but they also leave behind an unsightly, permanent reminder of the acne.
On the bright side, acne scars can be treated with a variety of treatments, but if you’re looking for an effective option, it’s laser treatments. This is because it involves removing the top layer of the skin, which helps flatten any irregularities on the skin’s surface.
Read on to learn more about the laser treatment for acne scar removal in Singapore.
Before laser treatments became synonymous with acne scar removal, laser therapies were already being used to treat various medical conditions like removing tumours and growths in the body, improving vision, stopping hair loss, and treating physical pain.
Today, laser treatments are also used to improve the appearance of acne scars, burn marks, dark spots, and other types of hyperpigmentation. However, because this procedure involves heat and light, you are advised to consult a trained healthcare professional to see if you are a good candidate.
Before you treat your acne scars with laser, know that it doesn’t make the scars disappear; instead, it makes them appear less noticeable.
This is because laser treatment for acne scars is a procedure that uses intense pulses of laser to break down the scar tissue and create collagen remodelling. It also stimulates the production of new skin cells. Laser creates thermal heat to stimulate fibroblast cells to produce collagen, thus collagen remodelling.
Once the skin cells are broken down, the body will begin the skin repair process, similar to wound repair after a skin injury. A scab will develop over the injured spot to protect it from germs and eventually fall off.
Depending on the depth of the acne scar, it may remain after the scab falls off. Subsequently, these scars may fade or become lighter with time. Bear in mind that several laser treatments may be required to obtain the desired results.
The laser acne scar removal in Singapore can be done on different parts of the body, with the most common areas being the face, neck, chest, and back. Depending on the area being treated, it is generally done in a doctor’s office, taking about 30 minutes to an hour.
There are several different types of laser procedures that can be used for acne scar removal:
This laser procedure involves delivering an intense wavelength of laser to your skin, removing the outer layer (epidermis) and heating your underlying skin (dermis). This will stimulate collagen production in your skin. A local anaesthetic will be used to numb the area of treatment prior to the procedure.
Due to the laser’s intensity, it may take a while to recover, but your skin will appear smoother and tighter with reduced appearance of scars, warts, and wrinkles.
Ablative laser resurfacing includes using carbon dioxide (CO2) and erbium. The CO2 laser diminishes deep scars, warts, and deep wrinkles, while the erbium laser treats surface-level scars like fine lines and wrinkles. More trauma is caused to the skin by ablative lasers, but this will result in increased collagen production which is helpful for scar reduction.
This non-wounding laser procedure is gentler compared to the previous laser treatment. Instead of removing the outer layer of your skin, it works to heat your underlying skin (dermis) to boost collagen production and promote the growth of new skin cells.
Due to the laser’s intensity, you can expect mild discomfort during the treatment. Your doctor will apply a topical anaesthetic to numb the area, so you don’t feel any pain. Given that this procedure is milder, it may not be as effective for acne scars. Instead such lasers are usually preferred for pigmentation, PIH (Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation) and visible red blood vessels issues.
Non-ablative laser resurfacing includes the use of pulsed-light and fractionated lasers. It is generally used to treat acne-related concerns. This less invasive procedure requires minimal downtime compared to the ablative laser treatment.
Fractional laser creates microscopic columns in the skin, heating the skin and causing it to heal faster than normal healing would occur on its own.
Compared to ablative and non-ablative laser resurfacing, fractionated laser resurfacing works at both the epidermal and dermal layers of the skin.
This means it can penetrate a deeper layer of the skin’s surface to remove dark pigmented cells. Fractionated laser resurfacing can also stimulate collagen production and skin cell renewal, making the scars appear less noticeable.
Treatments for acne scars are usually personalised to the individual as no one person has the same type of scars. Thus, no one treatment is the best for acne scar removal in Singapore. Besides, acne scar removal treatment varies and depends on the type of scarring.
At SL Aesthetic Clinic, we offer several acne scar removal treatments using laser, including:
Other than laser, SL Aesthetic Clinic also offers other types of treatments for acne scars.
If you want to treat your acne scars with laser, consider consulting a qualified medical professional to give you the proper guidance and treatment. Here at SL Aesthetic Clinic, we are happy to provide said guidance and address any further questions or concerns you may have, so contact us today for more information.
Like what you read? Share them!
Opening Hours
Mon-Fri 10am-9.30pm
Sat 10am-8.30pm
Sun 10am-7.30pm
