Acne Scar Laser Resurfacing For Smooth Egg-Skin Explained By A Dermatologist

Hello, I am Kang Jin-moon, a dermatologist who has focused on acne scar treatment for over 20 years. Over a long period, I have met many patients who are struggling with severe acne scars, unable to achieve satisfactory results despite trying various treatments. In such cases, laser dermabrasion is seriously considered as a last resort. Today, I will explain important information about severe acne scars and laser dermabrasion in detail.

Most scars tend to be less severe as the damage to the outer skin becomes more severe and deeper. However, acne scars are different. They are characterized by being much deeper than they appear on the surface, as depressed scars are formed by cell destruction due to inflammation originating from deep sebaceous glands within the skin.

Especially in severe acne scars, each scar is not only large and deep, but also so numerous that it is often difficult to find normal skin, with the face covered in scars. In such cases, it may be difficult to expect significant effects from general acne scar procedures or fractional laser treatments alone.

As mentioned earlier, if severe scars are so numerous and deep across the entire face that they are almost indistinguishable from normal skin, laser dermabrasion can be considered with the concept of resetting the entire facial skin. This is a treatment method that we recommend as a last resort for those who have tried almost every other treatment without seeing any significant effect.

The effects of laser dermabrasion appear sufficiently after at least 1 year. Over time, acne scars gradually fill in, and pigmentation or changes in skin texture caused by dermabrasion also slowly return to normal.

After the procedure, the skin is very sensitive, so special care is required.

• Washing the face may be difficult, and the skin may become very sensitive.
• Acne and various dermatitis symptoms may appear.

Therefore, continuous management, along with medication to prevent acne, is important.

Occasionally, some people with mild acne scars want to undergo laser dermabrasion. However, laser dermabrasion is not a recommended procedure for all acne scar patients. This is because it is a considerably burdensome treatment method. As emphasized earlier, it should be considered as a last resort when most other treatments have been tried without significant effect.

Also, since there may be a difference in skin texture between the treated and untreated areas, we recommend the procedure only when laser dermabrasion is needed for the entire face, rather than partial treatment.

Many people have misconceptions about laser dermabrasion.

1. Does the skin become thinner?

It is often thought that laser dermabrasion makes the skin thinner, but this is not true. When the scarred area and the surrounding normal skin are dermabraded simultaneously, the normal skin also regenerates to some extent, and the depressed areas fill in more. Therefore, laser dermabrasion can actually make the skin thicker and healthier than before.

2. Does the skin become as smooth as a peeled egg?

Many people misunderstand that after laser dermabrasion, the skin can become as smooth and fair as porcelain. Of course, it can promote skin regeneration, making the skin healthier, and the uneven areas can be improved as the scars fill in. However, it is difficult to say that the skin becomes perfectly smooth and fair like porcelain. This misunderstanding can arise from a misinterpretation of the principle of laser dermabrasion.

So far, I have explained important information about severe acne scars and laser dermabrasion. If you have any questions, please contact us via comments or the Yonsei Star Dermatology KakaoTalk channel.