Rufus R. Noble Dermatologists can utilize lasers to diminish the appearance of a scar and reduce itching and pain. Laser treatment also helps stop faults from developing following surgery.
The laser can stimulate new, healthy growth of the skin. While laser treatments cannot fully erase scars, they make them less visible and uncomfortable.
Patients can receive laser therapy on scars like surgical marks, acne scars, and injuries-related scars. It is safe for use on the face.
The article below will look at the way laser treatments work, their benefits and process, and the factors to consider before undergoing this procedure.
What laser treatments can assist with scars?
Laser treatments can make scars less visible.
Laser therapy penetrates the skin’s outer layers to stimulate healthy, new skin cell development. Lasers remove older, damaged skin layers to ensure that healthy, new skin cells can develop on top of it.
Laser treatments create the appearance of a new scar on an existing one. But the new skin is expected to be more uniform.
The growth in scar tissue can be a normal bodily reaction to trauma. The scars are not dangerous and don’t require removal due to medical reasons. If they’re challenging to heal, limit or affect someone psychologically, several options can be used to minimize their appearance and ease of discomfort.
Laser treatment may help reduce the appearance of scars through:
- lessening the pain or itchiness
- They can be less noticeable
- increasing the movement of the skin surrounding the scar
Doctors can choose among a range of lasers that use various wavelengths of light that alter the skin in a variety of ways. Some lasers are ablative, meaning they take off the skin’s top layer, and other lasers are nonablative and keep the skin’s surface but affect the layers beneath.
Specific lasers are not suitable for particular skin colors because they can make the skin get discolored over time.
The types of lasers surgeons use to treat scars include:
- ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser
- intense pulsed light
- long-pulsed 1064-nm Nd: YAG
- nonablative fractional laser
- pulsed dye laser
- Q-switched Nd: YAG
A doctor must carefully evaluate any scar before suggesting a laser treatment use. They should outline a specific laser’s potential advantages and its possible adverse consequences.
What types of scars can it assist with?
Laser treatments can aid in treating the most common scars, such as acne and injury scars.
Doctors generally suggest it for superficial scars. Scars that are deep or hinder movement typically require more extensive treatment.
A physician may suggest laser treatment for the following kinds of scars:
- acne scars
- burn marks
- surgical scars
- Injury scars
The American Academy of Dermatology states that laser therapy is not a solution for scars but does not entirely eliminate them. In some instances, the doctor might recommend the use of a variety of treatments, like injectable fillers, in conjunction with laser treatment to reduce the appearance of scars. Evident.
How do I prepare ?
One might not be eligible for removing scars using lasers if they suffer from sunburn or tan.
Doctors suggest taking specific steps before an operation to ensure it is as efficient and safe as possible. This could include:
- Avoiding herbs and medicines that can increase your risk for bleeding. Some examples include aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication ( NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, naproxen, and herbal supplements like garlic or Ginkgo biloba. It is crucial to inform your doctor about any blood thinners.
- Avoid products that contain glycolic acid and retinoids over two to four weeks.
- Avoiding the sun and not exposing the surface to UV (UV) radiation for prolonged durations. Doctors might be unable to perform laser therapy when a patient is tanned or burned.
- Refraining from cosmetic procedures like chemical peels, collagen injections, and waxing.
- Stop smoking cigarettes at minimum two weeks before the procedure. Smoking can affect the skin’s ability to heal, which could impact the results of treatment.
When the laser treatment is scheduled, it is advised to avoid fragrances, lotions, deodorants, or any other product that may interfere with any laser therapy. Also, the skin must be kept clean.
For the part of the body that needs medical attention, doctors generally recommend wearing simple clothes to remove and put back on, like a comfortable button-up shirt and loose-fitting pants.
Procedure
Before the person is treated with laser therapy, a physician will inspect the scar area and mark it using a pen to keep the region to be treated.
Here is an illustration of how the treatment process could perform:
- A doctor will scrub the scarred area and might inject a local anesthetic or apply a cream to numb the size of the scar.
- If the wound is on the face, they can require the person to wear protective glasses.
- The doctor will apply gauze or wet towels over the affected area to help absorb laser light pulses that could otherwise cause harm to healthy skin.
- The doctor will apply the laser through the tissue that is scarred. Sometimes, they may use a cooling saline solution or water.
- Once the treatment has been completed after which, the doctor will apply ointment and an unclean dressing to cover the affected area.
The area treated may be red for a few hours following the procedure. There might also be some swelling and stinging that could appear similar to sunburn.
Following surgery, physicians suggest applying moisturizing lotion to the area daily and not wearing makeup for a few days until redness has subsided.
Do you have any risk?
The doctor must discuss possible adverse effects and risks with the patient before taking laser treatments. The potential side effects could depend on the kind of laser used, the wound’s size, and the patient’s skin tone.
