You’ve long left behind the acne of your teenage years, but those stubborn acne scars still remind you of battles fought in front of the mirror. And just when you think you’ve won, another issue creeps in – the sagging skin that comes with age. It feels like your skin is holding onto the past and showing signs of the future, all at once.
For many, acne scars and sagging skin are persistent reminders of life’s chapters, affecting confidence and self-esteem. But here’s the good news: advancements in dermatology, particularly laser treatments, offer effective solutions to tackle these concerns and help you reclaim your skin’s smoothness and firmness.
The Skin – Our Body’s Largest Organ
As the largest organ of the body, our skin plays important roles in protecting us against infection, preventing dehydration and enabling touch sensation. The skin is made up of 3 layers with their own significant functions. Understanding each layer helps us appreciate how dermatological laser treatments work.
Epidermis (Outer layer)
- This topmost layer serves as a protective barrier and supports skin renewal.
- Epidermis also gives the skin its colour through the pigment melanin.
Dermis (Middle layer)
- This skin layer contains collagen for firmness and elastin for flexibility
- It is rich in nerve endings for touch sensation.
- It supports the hair follicles.
- It contains sweat glands and oil glands for sweat and oil production.
Hypodermis (Fatty bottom layer)
- This base layer cushions the muscles and bones with its connective tissues and fats.
- It also helps to regulate body temperature.
The development of acne scars and sagging skin
Acne Scars
Acne is a common skin condition that not only affects teenagers, but also many young adults. Acne occurs when the hair follicles become clogged with sebum and dead skin cells. Acne scars formed as the result of skin response in repairing the inflamed acne spots by producing new collagen fibres.
Atrophic (depressed) acne scars form if your skin makes too little collagen to fill the area where the acne was. Conversely, if your skin makes too much collagen when healing after a breakout, you develop hypertrophic (raised) acne scars.
Sagging Skin
Sagging skin refers to the appearance of loose skin caused by the loss of fat, collagen and elastin in the dermis layer. It commonly occurs due to ageing, weight loss, pregnancy, or certain medical conditions such as cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Laser Treatments for Skincare Concerns
Using concentrated light energy, lasers penetrate the skin to stimulate collagen production, repair damaged tissue, and improve overall skin texture and tone. This targeted approach allows for precise treatment of specific issues, whether it is deep acne scarring, laxity or even pigmentation.
However, not all lasers are created equal – different types target specific concerns. When you visit an aesthetic doctor or dermatologist for your skin concerns, they can then select the right one for your needs.
Hi, I’m interested to know more about fractional lasers. I’ve heard that it’s good for sagging skin and acne scars, was wondering if it would also help to shrink my pores? What are some of the benefits of going for fractional lasers and is it different from Pico lasers?
– Laser123, MCA Community Page
Have a pressing question for a doctor? Medical Channel Asia has launched a community forum page where you can get questions answered by a medical specialist. Visit the community forum here.
Now, let us understand how fractional laser and PICO laser work.
Fractional laser: Deep Renewal
Fractional laser divides the laser energy into thousands of tiny beams, targeting specific skin areas while sparing the surrounding tissues. This laser creates micro-injuries to the skin, triggering the wound healing process and accelerating collagen production for skin renewal.
“With fractional lasers, we are referring to a class of lasers such as the Carbon Dioxide laser or Halo Laser that causes microscopic columns of damage to the skin to trigger a wound healing response to improve the skin.” explained Dr Paul Yow, Director of Aesthetic Medicine from Eagle Aesthetics and Surgery.
Fractional laser targets the deeper layers of the skin, making it effective for treating stubborn acne scars, large pores, wrinkles, and early signs of sagging skin. However, it may involve a longer recovery time with redness and peeling as common side effects.
PICO laser: Gentle Precision
Meanwhile, PICO laser is also a popular non-invasive laser procedure targeting only the superficial layer of the skin.
PICO laser uses ultra-short pulses (in picoseconds) to target and break down the pigments under the skin. The fragmented particles from the pigment are then removed from the body through natural wound healing and exfoliation.
This makes them particularly effective for hyperpigmentation, mild-to-moderate acne scars, and tattoo removal. Beyond that, PICO laser also stimulates collagen and elastin production in the dermis layer to improve skin texture and sagginess.
They are less invasive than fractional lasers, offering quicker recovery with minimal irritation, and are suitable for more delicate concerns or darker skin tones.
While fractional and PICO lasers differ from each other, there is some overlap between these two lasers. Today, there are some PICO lasers with some advanced settings that can also operate as fractional lasers.
“You will find many new PICO lasers have settings or handpieces to operate as both a fractional as well as toning (anti-pigmentation) device” Dr Paul explained. “This can be changed based on what your doctor is planning in that session for you.”
Choosing the Right Laser Treatment
There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to opting the best laser treatment for acne scars and sagging skin. The aesthetic doctor or dermatologist will assess your skin condition, treatment goals and lifestyle factors before they can recommend a suitable treatment.
These factors include;
- Skin type
Not all lasers are appropriate for darker skin tones due to the increased risk of hyperpigmentation.
- Cost
Fractional lasers are typically more expensive per session but may require fewer treatments. PICO lasers, though less intense, may need more sessions to achieve comparable results.
- Treatment goal
The choice of laser depends on the individual’s needs, whether the focus is on treating acne scars, hyperpigmentation, or sagging skin.
Key Takeaways
Laser treatments offer effective solutions for acne scars and sagging skin, but choosing the right option requires understanding your needs and the differences between treatment types. Not all laser treatments are made the same and some may be more effective at treating certain skin concerns than others.
Consult a qualified aesthetic doctor or dermatologist to help tailor a laser treatment plan to your needs. Investing in the right laser treatment can enhance your skin’s appearance and boost your confidence and quality of life.
