Does Acne Laser Treatment Work?

Does it work? What should I expect? Does it hurt? How much does it cost? Find answers to these questions and more.

It’s estimated that around 650 million people are affected by acne worldwide, with 85% of those being aged 16-24. In the UK, Acne is one of the most common skin conditions leading to 3.5 million treatments being performed yearly. Safe to say, it’s a very common condition that can cause discomfort for many.

Acne is a condition that can flare up without warning, causing physical discomfort and effects to emotional and mental wellbeing.

To help those dealing with acne, whether moderate or severe, we’ve put together a guide to acne laser treatments. In this guide, our skincare experts cover everything there is to know about this popular treatment. If your questions or concerns are not covered, speak to our dermatology specialists at our clinic in Southampton.

One of the main issues with acne is the scarring left following a flare-up. Over time, scarring can build and leave skin noticeably damaged, even when acne is not present. If left untreated, this can cause what is known as acne scarring. We can only perform this treatment once the acne is subdued and isn’t at risk of flaring up.

At our clinic, we use laser treatment for mild and severe cases of acne and acne scarring. The laser treatment we use resurfaces the skin by using light energy to remove the top layers of the skin cells. This is to help relieve the signs of ‘pitting’ and scarring and to stimulate collagen production in the treated area.

Treatments for Acne scarring are often part of a full treatment plan. Acne laser treatment usually requires multiple sessions to remove any scarring caused by acne, in full.

Following your treatment, our experienced skin care professionals will provide you with a full aftercare breakdown. This will include recommendations of which topical, off-the-shelf products will be suitable for your healing process. Some lotions can even help to reduce scarring further following a laser treatment.

At our clinic in Southampton, we use the Harmony laser for all ClearSkin Acne laser treatments. The Harmony is considered the industry-leading laser treatment for acne, scarring, blackheads, open pores and oily skin. The ClearSkin treatment is available and suitable for all skin types with little to no side effects.

This FDA-approved laser treatment works by both non-ablative laser wavelengths and vacuum technology. Both the laser and vacuum are used at the same time to target the acne at its core to cleanse the skin.

The Harmony laser targets the sebaceous gland, where sebum causes blocks inside hair follicles, which can result in acne. The vacuum then cleans the area to remove any dirt that is blocking your pores. By applying the laser to the surface skin cells, the body’s natural collagen production is increased. This helps to reduce the appearance of acne scars and helps to produce a smoother complexion.

One of the main benefits of this treatment is that it doesn’t hurt or only produces a very mild and tolerable discomfort. From our experience, most patients don’t find laser acne treatment very painful at all. Many say that the treatment is nowhere near as bad as they expected!

The reality is that the worst it could be is that you feel a bit hot on the surface of the treated area. Before treatment, we apply a numbing cream to the area being treated. This relieves any discomfort caused by the heat from the laser, making the treatment feel essentially painless.

Acne laser treatments are considered very effective, however, results vary from person to person due to the severity of acne. Mild to moderate acne scarring is where this treatment is effective, any deeper scarring may require alternative surgical treatment.

In fact, laser treatment is 90% effective for mild and moderate acne scars. Most patients that come into our clinic experience at least a 50% reduction in scarring. As more treatments take place, the visibility and prominence of scars are reduced with each session.

Although we stand by the effectiveness of our acne laser treatments, there is no guarantee that scars will be completely removed. This treatment does extremely well to reduce the visibility of scars and provides our clients with the smooth skin they were after. Our experienced clinicians will be able to provide a detailed roadmap of what to expect at an initial consultation. They will be able to assess your scarring and tailor your treatment plan exactly to your unique needs.

Laser treatment can safely treat many types of scars, including those caused by acne.

The results for acne laser treatments depend most on the person performing the laser treatment. At our clinic, we ensure that our clinicians are trained regularly on the latest techniques and applications for treating acne scars with lasers. You’re in safe hands with our trained and certified skin care specialists.

Before any acne treatment, we will always require a full medical consultation. We will never recommend or promote a treatment or service to you if we believe it could cause risk to you, or your skin. If someone tells you that they can treat your scar before providing a consultation, we would recommend walking away.

Before undergoing laser treatment for acne scars, there are some risks and side effects that you should be aware of. Side effects vary from person to person depending on your skin type, the type of laser and the number of treatments you may need.

Common side effects of laser treatment include:

• Swelling
• Redness
• Slight discomfort at the site of treatment

Any issues or pain from your acne scar treatment usually go away an hour or two after your treatment. Redness can take up to 10 days to subside but often is gone in under a week.

Our ClearSkin acne laser treatment starts at £990. At your initial consultation, our specialists will be able to provide a more accurate price depending on your unique needs.

Prices may vary depending on the severity of acne scarring and the number of sessions needed to achieve smoother clearer skin.

We’re a team of highly qualified and trained skin care and dermatology professionals with a vast amount of experience in the medical industry. We can answer any questions you may have and strive to give you the best experience possible.

At our medical dermatology clinic in Southampton, we provide a safe and professional environment where you can feel at ease before, during and after your treatment. We will only ever recommend treatments that are suitable for you and your skin. Our aim is to ensure that you leave the clinic feeling confident in your skin and knowledgeable about your treatment.

We understand how acne laser treatments can sometimes feel daunting, so making you feel comfortable is a fundamental part of our experience. Contact us to book a consultation and discuss your treatment plan with a fully qualified medical expert.