If you finally have your acne problem under control, but are left with a few scars on your face, you may want to consider letting a dermatologist remove them. One way to do that is with a laser resurfacing treatment. The laser is directed at your scars, so the rest of your skin is untouched. The treatment is fairly quick, but it does take a while for your skin to heal. Here is a quick look at this cosmetic procedure.

Laser Resurfacing Erases Imperfections

Laser resurfacing can be done to treat different kinds of scars. It works on bumpy scars that form from the production of collagen, and it also works on pit and crater scars. You can have a single scar treated, or you can have your entire face treated at the same time if scarring is extensive. While lasers can also treat active acne breakouts, a different type of laser is used for that purpose. When you have laser resurfacing, your skin must be free of acne at the time.

How the Treatment Is Done

Laser resurfacing is done in your dermatologist's office or clinic. Your skin will be numbed first, and you may also be sedated if a large area of your face will be treated. The dermatologist uses the laser to peel away the scar a layer at a time until it is gone. If you have a crater scar, the doctor will burn off the skin around the edges of the crater a tiny sliver at a time until the surface of your skin is smooth.

Since your skin is numb, you won't feel much discomfort during the treatment. The length of the procedure depends on how many scars you need removed and how deep they are. When the doctor finishes your laser treatment, the area treated is wrapped in a bandage to protect the skin.

Recovering from Laser Resurfacing

The day after the treatment, you'll need to start caring for your skin to prevent the formation of scabs or an infection. To do this, you'll clean the area several times a day and follow each cleaning with an application of ointment. You'll probably have some soreness and itching for a few days that's similar to the sensation you have after a bad sunburn. You should protect your skin from the sun during this time, and also, you shouldn't wear makeup until your skin has completely healed.

After a few days, the skin on the treated area will slough off, and new pink skin will show through. This new skin is very delicate, so you should protect it from the sun with sunscreen or a hat. At this stage, you can apply cosmetics to your skin to tone down the pinkness of the treated area. It will take a few months for the redness to completely disappear, but it also all depends on your skin tone. If you have very fair skin, the redness could last for up to six months. However, even though your skin will be pink for a while, your scars will be gone immediately after the treatment. For more information, talk to a professional like Desert Dermatology.