What is the most effective treatment for acne scarring?
The best treatment for most patients with acne scarring is the Fractional CO2 laser. Examples of this laser include the Fraxel Re:pair, the MiXto laser, the TotalFX and the Matrix CO2. These “fractional” lasers treat only a “fraction” of the skin’s surface during the treatment, leaving the neighboring tissue intact for faster healing.
What is the Fractional CO2 laser?
The fractional CO2 (carbon dioxide) laser is an effective laser for the treatment of acne scarring. The new “fractional” technology treats only a portion of the skin, leaving healthy intact skin surrounding the treatment area. This allows for fast healing and very safe treatments for all skin types.
How are acne scars treated by the Fractional CO2 laser?
The fractional CO2 laser makes small microscopic holes in the deeper layers of the skin. This process leads to the generation of new, healthy collagen to smooth out the acne scars. Improvement in acne scars can be seen in as early as one week following the Fractional CO2 laser treatment. Improvements in acne scarring will continue for up to 6 months following the initial treatment. Approximately 30-70% improvement of acne scarring is seen after one treatment, though results vary by the individual. Most patients require only one treatment to reach the desired improvement.
