After acne occurs, it is easy to cause defects in the patient’s skin dermis and subcutaneous tissue, which in turn leads to the appearance of depressed scars.
At present, CO2 fractional laser is a more commonly used treatment method. It can not only effectively stimulate the repair of the epidermis, but also has a certain effect on the repair of skin scars and pigmentation.
However, during the treatment process, the clinical treatment response of each beauty seeker varies with the operator’s energy control. Some beauty seekers have obvious redness, swelling, exudation, and scabs after using fractional CO2 laser treatment. Some beauty seekers have obvious redness, swelling, exudation, and even bleeding, but the scabs are very thin. So how to judge whether the scabs are effective?
Next, I will bring you a comprehensive analysis of fractional CO2 laser treatment of acne scars, from principles to treatment focus, to effect judgment, to the final maintenance. After reading this article, you will understand everything!
1. What is fractional CO2 laser?
fractional CO2 laser is an advanced skin treatment technology. It uses a specific laser wavelength to act on the surface and deep layers of the skin in a dot matrix manner. Through focal photothermal effects, it stimulates the regeneration and reorganization of skin collagen, thereby achieving the effect of shrinking pores and fading acne scars.
CO2 fractional laser is a gas laser that uses C02 gas as a working medium to generate lasers; the dot matrix is the output method of the laser. After focusing the laser of a specific infrared wavelength, the laser is controlled by a computer and automated mechanical technology to form small irradiation points with intervals, and normal skin tissue is retained between each irradiation point.
The working principle of fractional CO2 laser is focal photothermal decomposition and stimulating regeneration effects. The wavelength is 10600nm, the target color base is water, and it belongs to the category of micro-peeling-peeling treatment. It has the functions of anti-aging and wrinkle removal, treatment of moderate to severe acne, large pores, auxiliary treatment of age spots, freckles, auxiliary treatment of depressed scars and hypertrophic scars, assisting treatment of alopecia areata, and enhancing product absorption.
Fractional CO₂ laser is an ablative fractional laser with a high water absorption coefficient. When the laser acts on the skin, the epidermis quickly generates high temperature and high heat, causing the epidermal tissue to quickly heat up and vaporize, resulting in a white frost reaction on the epidermis. Its skin effect is mainly the epidermal effect, which stimulates collagen regeneration for a long time and has a good long-term effect. There is a scab period and downtime period of about 5-7 days. If the repair is not in place, it is easy to produce pigmentation and sensitivity.
2. What are acne scars?
Acne scars are a facial disease caused by infection, inflammation or external force.
Acne scars are mainly manifested on the face, with inward depressions around the pores. Acne scars are not obvious if you don’t observe carefully. From a close distance, you can see that the shape is like orange peel, with large pores, each pore is like a pit, but the pit is relatively small, and the distribution of acne scars is relatively uneven and irregular, and the pits are more obvious.
The appearance of acne scars generally means that the dermis of the skin has been damaged, causing serious skin damage, resulting in a decrease in skin memory and a decrease in self-repair ability. In this case, if you only rely on the skin’s own repair ability, it is generally impossible to recover, and you must use external forces to promote skin repair.
3. How does CO2 fractional laser treat acne scars?
CO2 fractional laser is the internationally recognized gold standard for the treatment of acne scars. Because of its wavelength (10600nm), it can ensure sufficient penetration depth, even if the acne scar is deep, it can ensure the effect. And because it has a moderate vaporization effect on water, it can ensure the thermal stimulation effect on the dermis.
Fractal laser does not refer to a certain laser. The fractional laser is an output mode of the laser. It disperses a light spot into dozens to hundreds of small light spots to form a matrix laser as thin as a hair. It penetrates the epidermis to the deep dermis and forms three areas of thermal peeling, thermal coagulation, and thermal effect in the skin layer.
It then causes a series of skin biochemical reactions, promotes the growth of the dermal collagen layer and the reorganization of collagen fibers, stimulates the skin to repair itself, and achieves the effects of skin tightening, skin rejuvenation, and scar filling. Since fractional laser treatment only covers part of the skin tissue, and the newly made holes do not overlap each other, part of the normal skin is retained, which speeds up recovery.
The target substance of CO2 fractional laser on the skin is the water in the skin. When it hits the skin, it will form multiple vaporization zones. There will be a certain amount of thermal vaporization zones around it that will act on the skin, causing the collagen fibers to break and stimulate their repair. It has a good therapeutic effect on sunken scars such as acne pits.
Because CO2 fractional laser belongs to a peeling photoelectric treatment, there are some tiny wounds on the skin after treatment, so it takes 1-2 months to recover after each treatment before the next one. Generally, there are three treatments in a course. During the recovery period, you should follow the doctor’s advice to do a good job of post-treatment care. It is strictly forbidden to get wet within 3 days after treatment. For those with large wounds, it is strictly forbidden to get wet for 7 days according to the doctor’s advice. Keep the treatment area clean and dry. Generally, a thin scab will form in the treatment area after one week, which is a protection for the skin wound. Please wait for the scab to fall off by itself, and do not pick the scab. After the scab falls off, the new skin will be a little red. At this time, protect the treatment area from friction. Do not use irritating items when cleaning, do not rub, and avoid sun exposure and other irritations.
The treatment of acne scars is relatively complicated, and the recovery time is relatively long. In addition, the treatment plans and treatment times for different types and degrees of acne scars will vary to a certain extent.
4. How to judge whether the scab is effective?
Clinically judging whether the scab is thin or thick actually depends on whether it is heavy or not. The principle of CO2 fractional laser treatment for acne scars is that the fractional laser penetrates the epidermis and enters the dermis at the acne scar. Only when the laser heat energy of a certain intensity enters the dermis can it cause a certain amount of thermal damage. After the thermal damage, it can effectively stimulate the collagen regeneration and remodeling at the depressed scar, thereby effectively improving acne scars and wrinkles.
However, the fractional CO2 laser can only enter the dermis through the epidermis on the surface of the skin, which means that it is inevitable to cause epidermal damage. The heavier the thermal damage to the epidermis, the more obvious the scab will be. The ideal clinical state is that it is hoped that the energy will not accumulate too much in the epidermis, but can penetrate deeper to stimulate the regeneration of collagen, and it is better to form a mild scab.
If you want to improve the efficacy by increasing the energy during clinical operation, the heat of the fractional laser beam entering the dermis will stimulate the collagen regeneration more strongly, but at the same time, it will inevitably increase the thermal damage to the epidermis, and the scab will be more obvious. When the thermal damage to the epidermis reaches a certain level and exceeds the skin’s self-repair ability, pigmentation will occur and even worsen the scars.
5. How to adjust the appropriate energy to achieve the best treatment effect?
The ideal characteristic of fractional CO2 laser treatment of acne scars is high power, which can well achieve the penetration depth of fractional laser and the intensity of dermal thermal damage. In addition, the pulse width should be short to reduce unnecessary thermal damage and reduce side effects.
If the laser power is low, the laser cannot effectively penetrate the dermis, and it is easy to accumulate in the epidermis. In addition, the pulse width is long, the thermal damage is greater, which will lead to excessive thermal damage to the epidermis, and the probability of side effects such as obvious scabs and pigmentation will be greatly increased. Therefore, experienced doctors should determine the energy and density of fractional lasers based on the endpoint response of skin treatment, with the goal of balancing efficacy and safety.
Some researchers have used fractional CO2 laser to treat atrophic acne scars for clinical efficacy and safety research, selecting a spot size of 10mm×10mm, using DEEP mode, a spot diameter of 0.12mm, an energy of 10~15mJ, and a coverage density of 5%; the scar edge uses Active mode, with an energy density of 100~150mJ/cm², 60~100Hz, and a coverage density of 5%. The treatment is 3 times, with an interval of 2 months.
The results showed that the average duration of erythema after treatment was (6.26±0.92) days, which may be due to the local heat dissipation of carbon dioxide fractional laser, which is a relatively mild energy range for atrophic acne scars and does not cause great damage to the skin in the treatment area. No patients experienced depigmentation or scar deterioration. In addition, adverse reactions such as pain, edema, and exudation were observed, but they were mild and did not last long, and the patients could tolerate them.
6. Precautions for CO2 fractional laser treatment.
- Please ensure that your skin is free of allergies and infections before treatment;
- Slight pain, redness and swelling may occur during treatment, which is normal, so please do not worry too much;
- Please pay attention to moisturizing and sun protection after treatment, and avoid direct sunlight and irritating foods;
- Treatment needs to be performed multiple times as recommended by the doctor to achieve the best effect.
7. Repair process after fractional CO2 laser treatment of acne scars.
7.1 During the operation.
After the treatment of half of the face, you can spray collagen spray or raw collagen spray to quickly cool down, which is conducive to wound repair.
7.2 After the operation.
Immediately cold compress collagen mask, cooperate with LED photodynamic red light irradiation for 15-20 minutes, and then apply licorice liquid + compound peptide repair essence + collagen gel to promote effective skin redness fading and rapid repair.
7.3 Before scab fall (1-4 days after operation).
Cold compress one collagen mask every day, plus licorice liquid + compound peptide repair essence + collagen gel used 3-4 times a day to promote rapid epithelialization of the skin and prevent skin sensitivity.
7.4 After the scab fall.
At this time, it is necessary to use ingredients containing squalene and ceramides to repair the skin barrier, cold compress 1 Yinma compound peptide repair mask every day, and use licorice liquid + compound peptide repair essence + compound peptide repair milk 2-3 times a day.
7.5 7 days after the scab falls off.
At this time, continue to use ingredients containing squalene, ceramide, and hyaluronic acid to repair the skin barrier, apply 1 cold compress compound peptide repair mask every day, and use licorice liquid + compound peptide repair essence + compound peptide repair lotion 2-3 times a day. In addition, in order to prevent pigmentation, whitening ingredients such as L-vitamin C stock solution, tranexamic acid essence, astaxanthin, etc. need to be added, and strict sun protection is required.
8. FAQs about fractional CO2 laser treatment of acne scars.
Q: How does co2 fractional laser before and after compare?
A: There is a huge difference before and after using CO2 fractional laser! Since CO2 laser is an invasive laser, it will destroy and reorganize the skin epidermis, so it needs to be repaired before the end of the treatment. After complete recovery, the skin will be in very good condition, obtain new collagen and solve the previous skin problems. The comparison will be huge.
Q: How much is fractional co2 laser treatment?
A: The cost of fractional CO2 laser treatment will vary in different places, and the beauty project needs to be considered. Under normal circumstances, we recommend a single treatment price of $300 for fractional CO2 laser.
Q: How much is co2 fractional laser treatment?
A: The cost of CO2 fractional laser treatment is determined by the local beauty salon, and the project needs to be considered. If CO2 fractional laser is used to treat acne scars, we recommend a single treatment price of $200 for fractional CO2 laser.
Q: How does Laser treatment for acne scars before and after compare?
A: The before and after comparison of using a laser to treat acne scars is very obvious. After 3 to 5 treatments, the skin will become smooth again.
Q: How much do laser treatments for acne scars cost?
A: Many types of lasers can treat acne scars. If it is the cost of CO2 fractional laser treatment of scars, we generally recommend about 300 US dollars. It also needs to be adjusted according to local market conditions.
Q: What is the best treatment for acne scars?
A: Fractional CO2 laser is the best machine for treating acne scars. The wavelength of 10600 nm is the gold standard for treating acne scars, so invasive fractional co2 laser is the best treatment laser.
Q: How much is laser treatment for acne scars?
A: Many types of lasers can treat acne scars. If it is the cost of IPL intense pulsed light treatment of scars, we generally recommend about 200 US dollars. However, the effect of IPL or AOPT in treating acne scars is far inferior to fractional co2 laser.
9. How to choose a high-quality fractional CO2 laser machine?
Effective and safe acne scar treatment requires a high-quality fractional CO2 laser machine. The safety and stability of the beauty machine depends more on the configuration of the machine and the strength and experience of the manufacturer. As a beauty machine manufacturer with 20 years of experience, Litonlaser has produced many CO2 fractional laser machines. There is a large market for our machines in Asia and the Middle East.
If you want to know the details and performance of high-quality fractional CO2 laser machines, please feel free to contact us: Beauty equipment manufacturer.
