Active acne breakouts can cause you to feel less attractive on a daily basis, but you can regain your confidence once all of those red bumps and pustules go away. However, large or severe acne breakouts can lead to skin damage and scarring. Even after your acne goes away, the scars can leave you with a lasting disfigurement that may seem life long. Luckily, acne laser treatment may help improve or eliminate your acne scars, which can look like deep pits or ripples on your skin. If you have acne scars, or even active acne, consider talking to your dermatologist about whether your skin could benefit from a laser treatment. Studies show that even active acne breakouts can benefit from receiving laser treatments.

Before getting laser treatment for your acne or scarring, it is important to find out exactly what is involved in the treatment, how long it will take for your skin to look better and what side effects exist. There are typically two different types of lasers used for acne, the Candela Smoothbeam laser and the Lumenis One IPL. With the Candela Smoothbeam laser, you will usually need about four different sessions, each session costing between $300 and $500. Redness can occur up to four hours after the procedure, and there is usually no light sensitivity afterwards. This makes the Candela Smoothbeam laser great for every skin type. With the Lumenis One IPL, you may need up to five sessions and the cost is the same per session. Redness can last for an entire day, but this type of laser shows significant improvement with pore size and sun damage reduction. The Lumenis One IPL is not recommended for darker skin types.

The lasers used for acne scarring may require a longer down time and recovery because they essentially remove the surface layer of the skin. This resurfacing-type laser, such as the Fractional CO2 laser, usually only requires one session and your skin will continue to improve over the course of six months. After the session, you might need to call in sick to work for a few days, as redness and swelling will likely occur. Over the next few weeks, your skin will heal, peel and shed to reveal smooth, scar-free skin. The down side? The Fractional CO2 laser can cost up to $4000! However, when you can finally look in the mirror and see smooth, clear skin, the money might just be worth it.