Q: A significant portion of my face is affected with nodulocystic acne, including nodule cysts. Traditional treatments of antibiotics and topical treatments didn’t succeed. What laser resurfacing options are available for my acne treatment?
— Joshua M.
A: Acne varies from mild flare-ups with a few pimples to chronic breakouts with severe inflammation such as nodulocystic acne. Nodulocystic acne is painful with inflammation, cysts and nodules, and also causes acne scars that require laser resurfacing.
Your laser resurfacing and acne treatment typically requires a two-fold approach with photodynamic therapy (PDT) and laser treatments. The acne and accompanying inflammation must first be addressed, followed by minimizing or eliminating scarring from the acne cysts and nodules.
Monthly PDT treatments using Levulan and the VBeam laser are first used to address inflamed acne cysts and nodules. It also works two-fold for a method of how to prevent acne scars. After PDT improves severe acne, Fraxel DUAL or Fraxel re:pair are ideal treatments for how to remove acne scars.
Fraxel DUAL is a non-ablative laser acne scar removal treatment that promotes collagen production and remodeling to improve acne scars. It targets deeper layers of the dermis with the Erbium laser and laser skin resurfacing with Thulium laser.
Fraxel r:epair is an ablative fractionated CO2 laser treatment that vaporizes acne scar tissue. The resulting new skin fills in acne scar depressions, improves acne scar discoloration, smooths skin and improves overall skin texture. Laser acne scar removal with Fraxel re:pair may dramatically improve acne scars after just one treatment. However, treatment is only recommended for those with lighter skin tones.
