Lasers for Acne & Scars

Here are a range of laser and energy-based devices that Dr Nicole offers to treat acne and acne scars:

AviClear laser

How It Works: Acne is driven by an overactive sebaceous glands which causes an overgrowth of bacteria colonisation and subsequent inflammation in the skin. AviClear laser uses the 1972nm wavelength to selectively target and suppress the overactive sebaceous glands.
Benefits: By targeting the sebaceous glands, this laser treats acne at the source, and the clinical trials have shown that AviClear laser provides long-term results.

2. Cutera Excel V+ laser

How It Works: Cutera Excel V+ laser uses dual wavelength 532nm and 1064nm to target both superficial and deeper red blood vessels, which causes redness on the skin. These two wavelengths can also target some pigmentary lesions and the deeper wavelength of 1064nm also targets collagen which stimulates collagen synthesis and remodelling.
Benefits: By getting rid of the damaged red vessels due to severe inflammation from acne, this laser is effective at improving acne red marks and gives an overall glow to the skin.

3. Cutera Enlighten SR laser

How It Works: Cutera Enlighten SR laser uses dual wavelength 532nm and 1064nm at picosecond duration to selectively destroy excessive pigment in the skin. This laser uses a photo-acoustic effect which causes minimal heat damage to the surrounding tissues, therefore making it an effective and safe laser for treating pigmentation in darker skin types. It also has a resurfacing Fx mode to improve the overall skin texture and treat acne scarring.
Benefits: By selectively destroy pigment in the darker areas, this laser can help to improve post-inflammatory pigmentation due to acne. The Fx resurfacing mode can treat uneven skin texture due to acne scars.

4. Tixel resurfacing

How It Works: Tixel resurfacing uses Thermo-Mechanical Ablation (TMA) technology to transfer heat into the skin to stimulate collagen remodelling. This device offers a non-invasive way of resurfacing and remodelling the skin.
Benefits: Tixel resurfacing is a non-laser way of stimulating collagen synthesis and remodelling, which helps to improve acne scars. Published trials have shown that the heating effect in the skin by Tixel can be comparable to Co2 and erbium laser beams, but with reduced downtime and faster healing.

Considerations before Lasers

Skin type: Different lasers are suited for different skin types. At your consultation, your skin type will be assessed and the appropriate laser technology will be discussed with you.
Severity of disease: Depending on the severity of your acne and/or acne scars, a combination treatment approach incorporating skin care, topical treatments, different laser technology may be needed to tackle each aspect of the condition effectively. A combination treatment approach is usually most effective at getting the best outcome for your condition.
Treatment regime: Lasers / Tixel resurfacing are usually recommended at monthly intervals for 3-6 sessions (ie. once a month for 3 to 6 times) to get an improvement in your skin condition. Maintenance regime is usually recommended after a course of the initial treatment, to maintain the results against skin ageing, and the regime is usually 2-3 times per year.
Side effects: Common side effects of lasers include most commonly redness (usually 1-3 days, rarely longer) and potentially mild flakiness/scabbing. Rarely, swelling, sunburn-like reaction, pigmentary changes and scarring can happen. A test patch is always recommended at the start of treatment to reduce the risk of these potential side effects.

Consultation with a Dermatologist

Consultation with a Dermatologist is key in getting the diagnosis and treatments right. Some patients can have more than one diagnosis, for example, it is not uncommon for Dr Nicole to see both acne and rosacea occurring in the same individual, or acne and eczema occurring in the same individual. These complex cases will need to be managed carefully. With her experience in lasers, aesthetic and medical treatments, Dr Nicole is able to combine the different treatments with lasers to help you achieve the best desired outcome for your acne and acne scars.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Lasers for acne & scars

- Which is the most effective laser for acne?
  
  AviClear laser is the most effective laser at treating acne as it targets acne at the source. As acne is driven by overactive sebaceous glands, this laser uses the 1927nm wavelength which selectively suppresses overactive sebaceous glands, giving long-term acne improvement. Other lasers and IPL on the market are treating acne by targeting the bacteria overgrowth in the skin, which gives only a temporary effect in acne improvement, as bacteria can grow again with excessive sebum production in the overactive sebaceous glands.
- Are lasers suitable for all skin types?
  
  While laser treatments can be effective for various skin types, certain lasers may be more suitable for specific skin tones to reduce the risk of post-inflammatory pigmentary changes. Dr Nicole offer Enlighten SR picolaser to treat pigmentation in darker skin types as this laser uses a photo-acoustic effect to break down pigment which gives minimal surrounding tissue damage. It is therefore important to have a consultation with a specialist before proceeding with any laser treatments.
- Is there any downtime after laser treatment?
  
  The typical downtime for our lasers including AviClear, Cutera Excel V+ and Cutera Enlighten SR lasers are 1-3 days of redness. Other side effects are rare.
- How long do the laser effect last?
  
  The effect of AviClear laser based on clinical trials are long-lasting, with published results up to 2 years of acne clearance after only 3 treatment sessions. As with our other lasers such as Cutera Excel V+ laser and Cutera Enlighten SR lasers, we recommend maintenance treatments of 2-3 times per year due to ongoing skin ageing.
- Who should avoid laser treatments?
  
  Although lasers have been used to treat hypertrophic and keloid scars, patients with a history of hypertrophic and keloid scarring should be careful with laser treatments. Patients who are sensitive to light (photosensitive) should also be careful with laser treatments. You must discuss your medical history at your consultation with your specialist.
- How should I prepare for a laser treatment?
  
  We usually recommend avoiding skincare with active ingredients such vitamin A, retinol or tretinoin for 5 days before having a laser treatment. You must also avoid having a sunburn and sun tan on the treated skin, as they can increase your risk of getting side effects from your laser treatment.
- What aftercare is required after a laser treatment?
  
  We generally recommended avoiding exposure to extreme heat for 1-2 days after your laser treatment to prevent worsening of redness and swelling of the skin. We also advise patients to practise strict sun protection for at least 2 weeks after treatment.

Consultation

At your consultation, Dr Nicole will assess your medical history, examine your skin, explain your diagnosis and treatment options that are appropriate for your skin type. Dr Nicole will go through each treatment option that is suitable for you and explain the pros and cons with these treatments. You can then discuss your preference and desired outcomes, Dr Nicole will tailor your treatment approach accordingly to achieve your desired outcome.

The Treatment

Dr Nicole is experienced in using a range of laser technologies, and she can also combine the laser treatments with medical treatments where appropriate to get the best outcome for your skin. Many studies have shown that combination treatment approach is most effective at getting the best treatment outcome. Dr Nicole can advise you on skin care and medical treatments (only if needed) that can be safely performed together with lasers to get the best outcome for your skin. A laser treatment always starts with a test patch to ensure that your skin is suitable for the laser treatment, and the correct settings are determined before we start the treatment. Dr Nicole has a team of laser and aesthetic practitioners that work collectively to deliver the entire laser treatment journey for you.

Aftercare

After your laser treatment, you will be advised on aftercare which usually includes avoidance of exposure to extreme heat for 1-2 days and sun protection for at least 2 weeks. If you skincare contain some active ingredients such as retinol, Vitamin A, AHAs, BHAs, then we would suggest resuming them after 1 week, or at least when the redness from your laser treatment has settled.

Effective laser treatments for acne and acne scars