Tom Disouza asked:


Acne scar laser treatment stands out among all acne treatments in effectiveness. Acne scarring comes under cosmetic disfigurements posing psychological problems to the patients. It is notable here that most of these can very well be corrected using laser as skin resurfacing modality.

Acne scar laser treatment involves using a light beam from a carbon dioxide laser. The latter vaporizes the upper layers of damaged skin at specific and controlled levels of ***********.

Development of selective photothermolysis

The development of selective photothermolysis has caused significant advances in the use of laser technology for skin resurfacing. The improved technology has helped reduce residual thermal damage. By using shorter pulse durations of laser light, the minimizing of thermal damage significantly reduced the risk for scarring on the skin.

The latest procedures involve an intense beam of light to destroy the skin tissue instantly. As of now, carbon dioxide and Er:YAG laser reportedly offer best acne treatments. They are able to perform highly specific vaporization of tissue using powerfully focused light to precisely remove the skin layers. Thus they vaporize the ridges of scars and wrinkles and smoothing out the surface of the skin.

Best lasers for acne scar removal

Er: YAG laser offers the best acne scar laser treatment. The benefit of Er:YAG laser for superficial to moderate acne scar removal stems from the fact that this laser produces less thermal damage compared to other types of laser.

The short pulsed Er:YAG laser has a water absorption coefficient 16 times greater than that of the carbon dioxide laser. The water in the tissue absorbs most of the energy of these lasers. That results in minimal optical *********** depth and thermal damage.

The more limited *********** of these lasers into the skin triggers a histo-pathological improvement less pronounced than that of carbon dioxide laser. However, Er:YAG laser shows potential as an acne scar removal treatment especially in the treatment of mild to moderate superficial rhytides and scars. In fact it is the best acne scar laser treatment for acne scars that are not very deep.

Mike Singh asked:


If medical smoking aids to not appeal to you, then low level laser treatment to stop smoking (LLLT) may be your choice as an aid or treatment method. It is a natural, simple, relaxing, and painless form of therapy, similar to acupuncture, with no reported side effects. It has been used over 30 years in other parts of the world, while new in the United States. It produces endorphins in the body by applying the laser to various meridian points, depending on what the purpose of the LLLT is.

In Medical News Today, September 9, 2006, the Medical Reporter for CBS3 from Philadelphia, Stephanie Stahl, states, “Other than the treatment not working for everyone, there are no downsides to the laser, as long as it is used by a trained technician.” With a success rate of 64% in some clinics to 80-90% in others, the LLLT is currently in clinical trials with plans to receive FDA approval.

The entire therapy is normally done in three stages, 20 to 30 minute duration, but occasionally less or more is needed depending on the smoker. The first stage deals with the laser activation of meridian points, helping to reduce the dependence of the body on nicotine. Controlling the appetite points so that you do not gain extra weight follows this up in the second stage. The last stage is the stimulation of relaxation points to release the endorphins.

The release of endorphins, according to latest research, is critical to any treatment aimed at helping a smoker give up cigarettes. Produced by our pituitary glands, the endorphins create a “euphoria” mood inside of us, or a sense of false well being, that removes the withdrawal distress caused by the nicotine. Some methods combine the LLLT with individual guidance and a 24-hour hotline, which has higher rates of success than just one form of treatment.

The meridian points of smokers that are activated by the LLLT for endorphin releases are the ears, nose, hands, wrist, and forearm. Doctors consider laser therapy similar to the Oriental science of acupuncture, but instead uses “cold” low intensity laser beam instead of sharp needles. When a smoker begins to quit smoking, the endorphins register a sharp fall. As a result, the person experiences emotional distress which includes sleeping problems, serious mood disturbances, sharp increase in appetite, anger and a phenomenal urge to light another cigarette. The only smokers who should not go for laser therapy are pregnant women, cancer patients, and epileptics.

A huge barrier to quitting smoking is the pain and distress of the nicotine withdrawals. The smoking aids may temporarily help a smoker through out the day, but by quitting smoking altogether, we can enjoy life without any distress on the body. Methods like the laser treatment to stop smoking allow a person not to be living a life dependant on a cigarette, but without the fear of withdrawal and a healthy future of added years.