Do you recommend laser resurfacing for African American skin? (Photos)

Hello Nikki. Thanks for your question. We would not recommend laser treatments for you. Yes, we have lasers that can help with dark acne scars but they are more expensive and don't work better or faster than our 8% hydroquinone.

You mentioned wanting to have a "clean slate". Part of the issue is that you are still have active acne. So, even if you were able to get rid of the scars you have currently, your acne would need to be completely under control to maintain a "clean slate". We recommend using the hydroquinone to remove the spots you have currently and to help minimize the ones that will show up with new acne in the future.

Thank you for your question. Laser treatments for African American skin require a great deal of expertise and experience to know which devices work best without causing unwanted side effects. In my practice, we offer more than 50 different lasers that allow us to customize treatments to the precise needs and skin tone of all our patients for the best possible outcomes. Rest assured that under the supervision of an experienced, board-certified dermatologist, you can see significant improvement in your skin without worry over additional damage. 

Thank you for sharing your question and posting your photograph. Dark skin has more risk of problems compared to light skin. One method to improve the irregular skin pigmentation and improve the skin texture would be using the YAG laser LightPod Neo. Another option would be using an Erbium laser with non-ablative treatment. These lasers could be used in combination. See a facial specialist who is highly experienced with lasers and dark skin.
Good luck,

There are few lasers that can be used in black or African American skin. The LaseMD, a new class of Thullium laser, is one of the best options. Any laser will need to be done at a gentle setting and a series of treatments will give the most improvement. The LaseMD will improve the tone, texture and pigment of the skin.

CO2 lasering is usually not recommended for darker skin. However, there are treatments available to help improve overall skin texture and tone such as microneedling and fractional radio frequency. I suggest scheduling a consultation with a board-certified facial plastic surgeon who can discuss your options and help you decide which is best for you.

Thank you for your question and posting pictures.  It looks ands sounds like you have Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH). We have been very successful using the PicoSure laser with the FOCUS and / or Flat Lenses eliminating hyperpigmentation with a series of treatments.  FOCUS lens treatments have the extra benefit of reducing fine lines, wrinkles and scars.  This is one of our go to treatments for patients older than 40 and worried about the signs of aging.  The PicoSure laser is SAFE for ALL SKIN TYPES.  Start with sunscreen every day!  Once you have treated your hyperpigmentation to your satisfaction, you will probably need a follow treatment every 6 to 12 months depending your level of re-pigmentation.  Best of luck