Most people develop scars as a result of their acne problems. How severe a condition is will depend greatly on the type of acne they have. So quick and effective acne treatment is also a key factor in the prevention of acne.

The gentlest treatments for acne scars include scar removal creams, microdermabrasion, and dermabrasion. The added benefit of using scar removal creams and microdermabrasion creams is that they can be used in the comfort of your own home. Their results take a while to manifest so be patient and consistent if you want definite results.

Microdermabrasion treatments can be performed in a spa while dermabrasion treatments are performed in a doctor's office. Microdermabrasion is gentler and requires no anesthesia. Dermabrasion does require a local anesthetic and some downtime.

Acne scars are usually caused by ineffective acne treatments, and most people don't know that. Consequently, the best acne treatment is a proactive acne treatment. The only problem is, not everyone sticks to a rigorous treatment routine.

For all of those people that don't like rigorous routines or have a hard time sticking to them, the laser therapy treatments outlined below can prove to be a great treatment for acne scars.

Laser Acne Treatment Options

Laser Skin Resurfacing

This type of laser therapy can be used to treat sunken or atrophic scars . Deep boxcar scars are difficult, although not impossible to treat using this type of laser therapy. The laser removes the top layer of the skin and tightens the middle layer to make the skin smoother.

The two types of lasers used in these treatments are called ablative and non-ablative. Since each type leads to different results, the one your doctor chooses to treat your skin will depend on the type of scarring you have.

Ablative lasers usually produce lesions because they treat the epidermis, so you will have to take time off from work. You will also need to apply dressing for a certain period after the treatment. This is why ablative laser is not the best treatment for facial acne scars.

The first signs of improvement will appear two weeks after initial treatment. Some people begin to see results 18 months after the treatment.

Non-ablative lasers do not cause lesions because they treat the dermis and, therefore, require no downtime. However, it is necessary to undergo several treatments. This type of treatment is probably the best for treating acne, even though ablative laser treatment has also been known to help some cases of acne.

Fractional Laser Therapy

Fractional laser therapy works at both the epidermal and dermal level. This type of treatment is wonderful for acne scars because it gives the specialist greater control allowing them to focus only on the damaged part of the skin without damaging the healthy skin. This makes the healing process quicker and more effective.

Be warned, however, fractional laser therapy can cause a sunburn-like sensation after the initial treatment. This treatment may also leave a pinkish tone on your skin that will dissipate within a week along with slight swelling that will subside within a day or two.