In the 1980s, I wasn’t focused on beauty trends or skincare innovations, more preoccupied with navigating graduate school and multiple jobs. I recall suggesting to a friend that I wanted to ‘sandpaper’ my face to lessen the appearance of acne scars and open pores.
Imagine your face as a clay sculpture marred by gouges, dents, and blemishes. Picture using a tool to fill those imperfections with new clay, creating a smooth, pock-free surface, reminiscent of pre-adolescent skin. This analogy reflects modern techniques used to improve acne scars. Alternatively, visualize your face as a piece of furniture being resurfaced. Today, we have advanced re-sculpting methods, most notably, laser treatments for acne scars.
Laser treatment, also known as resurfacing, is effective for both acne scars and wrinkles. A plastic surgeon explained that CO2 or erbium lasers ‘vaporize’ superficial, damaged skin cells, which stimulates existing collagen to thicken and become healthier.
It’s crucial to understand that laser treatment improves skin, diminishing acne marks, but it doesn’t offer a magical cure. Honest practitioners emphasize managing expectations and results. The degree of improvement varies.
Depending on the specific laser treatment, it should be approached with the seriousness of a surgical procedure. This may involve sedation or anesthesia. The outpatient procedure can last from 15 to 90 minutes, followed by a recovery period of three days to three weeks to allow for swelling, redness, and oozing to subside before resuming your regular skincare routine.
At the time, I hadn’t imagined such a complex process. Of course, I wasn’t a skincare expert. And I’m still not a doctor, nor do I play one here.