ACNE SCAR TREATMENT
To avoid the appearance of scars, it is vital to carry out early treatment of acne. However, in many cases, the patient attends consultation years after the evolution of the acne.
Traditionally, the treatment method for these scars consists of deep chemical peels or intense dermal abrasions that cause a destruction of the dermis layers, aimed at skin renewal and attenuating the imperfections. Results are good, but they do have several drawbacks: the recovery period is long and the ability for cosmetic improvement is limited to the ablation of the epidermal and superficial dermal layers. Moreover, patients treated with these resources need a long period to recover their normal appearance.
The search for effective treatments that do not reduce the patient’s normal activity and accelerate the recovery period has led to the development of fractional lasers.
For the treatment of acne scars, IML uses StarLux 1540 Fractional Non-ablative Laser (Palomar, USA), a device that produces heat columns very deep in the epidermis and dermis, surrounded by areas of healthy skin. These columns of heat induce a regeneration of the skin, with formation of new collagen and remodelling of the existing collagen. It also destroys small capillaries, improving reddening and inducing the migration of melanophages, improving residual pigmentation.
StarLux 1540 is a fractional non-ablative laser; its headpiece is applied to clean skin, with several passes in the treated area. A typical facial treatment session lasts for approximately 30 minutes. The patient presents reddening after the session, which usually lasts two to three days, but it can easily be covered with light makeup and patients can resume their normal daily routine. Instituto Medico Laser recommends an average of 4 sessions, with a month between each.
StarLux 1540 is the ideal device for treatment of acne scars, its frequency can penetrate to a depth 10 times greater than previous generation devices, remodelling the collagen and elastin without injuring the skin surface.
The patient distinguishes an improvement in the skin’s appearance little by little, the scars are attenuated, the pores close and there is even a decrease in sebaceous secretion. Various studies estimate that 6 months should pass after ending treatment to obtain maximum results, since it is a regenerative process that requires time to assess the final results.
Patient satisfaction with respect to treatment results is high. In a study performed by Instituto Medico Laser, excellent results were obtained with 80% of the patients satisfied with the treatment results.
