Acne Scar Removal: Is It Worth a $2500 Laser Treatment
by Naweko San-Joyz
Given the choice between clear skin and nursing a cluster of acne scars, most sane people would go for the flawless face. But when it comes to acne scarring, achieving that ideal look can get costly.
Dermatologists across the country offer cosmetic services featuring neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) lasers to treat acne scarring.
Nd:YAG lasers direct dermis damaging wavelengths to the basal layers of the skin while leaving the less absorbent epidermis relatively unscathed. This pinpointed dermal injury promotes collagen growth and mitigates appearance of scars.
Numerous medical studies have documented the effectiveness of Nd:YAG laser treatments for acne scarring.
For instance, a studied released in the August 2006 edition of Dermatologic Surgery involved nine patients with severe acne scarring who received eight treatments with a 1,064-nm Nd:YAG laser.
All the patients witnessed an improvement in the acne scarring. For about eight of the patients, the self-assessed acne scarring improvement level was greater than 10%.
A related investigation, published in the March 2006 edition of the same journal, examined the 1,320 nm Nd:YAG laser. After five treatments, patients typically rated their satisfaction level 5.4 on a scale of 1-10.
Like the Ng: YAG, the Fraxel laser also alleviates acne scars. The Fraxel laser works by creating multiple microscopic wounds in the skin. This induces collagen production and ultimately the formation of new, less scarred skin.
In a study published in the Journal of Dermatology in September of 2006, researchers treated ten patients with the Fraxel SR Laser. Although scarring can result as a side-effect of Fraxel laser treatments, patients in this study noted an improvement in their skin�s condition with nominal adverse effects.
While laser treatments for scarring show promising results, their price makes them more of a luxury than a viable medical service. Typical costs range from $150-$2500 per treatment depending on the type of laser used, session time and the size of the treated area.
In most documented studies, patients needed 5-10 sessions before noting a marked improvement in their skin.
Is acne scar removal worth $2500? Briefly, the decision to go with laser scar removal should be made among you, your expectations, your doctor and your wallet.
Naweko San-Joyz founded Noixia- a self-service image makeover company based in San Diego. Noixia creates custom acne scar removal products for the face and body. San-Joyz has authored several books and articles that focus on do-it-yourself beauty makeovers including �Acne Messages: Crack the code of your zits and say goodbye to acne� and �Skinny Fat Chicks: Why we�re still not getting this dieting thing�. San-Joyz lives and works in San Diego, California.
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