Acne Laser Treatment

Getting acne laser treatment may sound incredibly expensive, but the truth is that it’s really no more costly than other cosmetic surgeries.  In fact, it’s much cheaper than purely cosmetic enhancements.  There are several different types of laser treatments one can get.  The difference is in the type of laser used.  Generally, these different types of treatments cost about the same.

So how much money does it cost to laser away those pimples?  Well, it’s about $500 for a session, which generally lasts around 20 minutes, although some treatments can be much more.  That does sound like a lot of money, but if you break it down, it really isn’t.  You may pay around $10 or so for the best acne creams out there, maybe more if you use prescription creams.  If you do the math, you’ll see that $500 really isn’t that much since you may spend that in a year on other acne treatments.  With laser acne treatment, you won’t be buying any acne creams afterwards, nor will most patients need follow-up treatment.

During acne laser treatment, the dermatologist shoots a laser beam over any areas of skin affected by acne.  This laser actually shrinks the sebaceous glands beneath your skin.  These are the glands that get blocked by oils and various other things, creating pimples.  Shrinking them does not hurt your skin or cause any major side effects, so there is no worry in that regard.  In fact, the only possible side effects from laser treatment are slight skin discoloration and, in extreme cases, swelling.  These side effects very rarely occur, however.  Also, laser treatment is completely painless, unlike older forms of acne control like dermabrasion and chemical wraps.

While this nonablative laser treatment works great for most people, there are two other types of laser treatment that some patients may need.  The first is erbium laser treatment.  This type of laser treatment is often used to remove facial wrinkles, scars, and other blemishes, and it is a good option for patients who have acne scarring.

Carbon dioxide lasers actually vaporize parts of the skin, so this form of treatment may be a bit painful.  These lasers fire a burst of high-energy light onto the pimple, removing it permanently.  This form of laser treatment is actually highly effective, and many specialists see it as the best laser acne treatment form.  It can, however, cause patients’ skin to produce more pigmentation following treatment for a short period.

No matter which form of laser treatment you need, you should not let the cost hold you back.  For $500, you could have a completely clear face, and many find that the self-confidence they get from having an acne-free face is more than worth the price.