Laser Resurfacing: Q&A
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What Do You Recommend For Laser Resurfacing for People of Color?
hello, I acne scars (crater/boxcar) on my temples and a few on my cheeks but have brown skin (latino) very prone to hyper-pigmentation and wanted to know what laser would be best for me.
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9 Doctor Answers |
Asked by
nelo
in Sun Valley, CA
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Laser Resurfacing for Acne Scarring
I would recommend an ablative laser, particularly the Sciton Erbium:Yag laser, which is used in the operating room under anesthesia as it treats the deepest layers of skin, and can achieve extraordinary results in appropriate patients. This laser can be used in darker skinned patients and produces outstanding results for acne scarring, fine or deeper skin wrinkles, enlarged pores, and irregular skin pigmentation. A thorough consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon is necessary to...
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Laser Resurfacing for Ethnic Skin
Thank you for your question. If you are a person with ethnic skin, laser resurfacing options are very limited. Your risks are very high for adverse outcomes with resurfacing. For lighter skin tones, it is safer but would still proceed with caution. You have to be willing to take the risks and expect to have some darkening at least for a few months, even with pretreatment. A good laser for ethnic skin is the Ematrix laser, which will require a series of sessions, especially...
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Color-Blind Lasers Are Available
For skin of color, any of the RF fractional devices work well – RF is color-blind so that would be a good choice. Also, the newer fractional CO2 lasers also seem to work well on skin of color, just so the person doing the procedure is skilled in taking care of skin of color patients.
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So this is my third laser in the last 2 yrs. going through the itchy stage as I type this....
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Hyperpigmentation is a key issue
When treating patients of color, hyperpigmentation is a frequent concern. The practitioner needs to be experienced, expert, and careful. The laser needs to be specifically able to handle darker skin. Other options such as Obagi skin care or peels should be explored as well.
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Resurfacing with laser for acne scars and hyperpigmentation
If someone were to consider Fraxel Restore resurfacing on your skin, pretreatment skin lightening with topical therapy would be potentially useful to diminish the risk of post inflammatory hyperpigmenation. The creams are discontinued at the time of the procedure and the doctor will tell you when to resume them after the resurfacing. Test spots are useful. I often do this behind the ear, and then one month later if there is no hyperpigmentation I will do a second test on the temple or...
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Profractional XC by Sciton for Acne Scars in Poeple of Color.
I have treated multile Latinos for acne scariing using profractional XC module on the Sciton Joule Erbium Laser. This is a tunable technology the allows your surgeon to drill down with small columns and vaporize this stubborn scar tissue. A more even skin will follow and add Broad Band Light (BBL)to the finished profactional treatment will aid in eliminating the risk of hyperpigmentation.
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The Fraxel Laser
Working with a properly trained physician, preferably a board-certified dermatologist or board-certified facial plastic surgeon, I have seen beautiful results with the Fraxel SR 1500 on all color types. Of course, it depends on what we are treating. Acne scars may respond to subcision (floating), followed by Fraxel SR 1500 treatment. There are medications that your dermatologist or plastic surgeon can give you to apply immediately after your treatments to turn off the enzyme and the...
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Laser resurfacing for people of color
I think the risks outweigh the benefits so I will not do it. However there are excellent and much safer alternatives, such as the Obagi system and Blue Peel, that can be repeated and eventually will yield result comparable to laser resurfacing if you stick with it.
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Laser resurfacing in people of color
The short answer is I DO NOT recommend laser resurfacing in people of color. The risk of hyper- pigmentation or scarring is simply too high.
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