Acne, Acne Scars and Smoothbeam

Houston, Texas

Laser & Technology

Smoothbeam laser for acne treatment:

Both severe and mild cases of acne can cause permanent scarring. But Paul M. Friedman, M.D. in Houston, Texas has an excellent method to treat acne scars in the office setting. Utilizing advanced technology and his extensive experience, Dr. Friedman is able to treat your acne and acne scarring.

One such advance is the Smoothbeam laser, which is an effective, gentle and safe treatment option for troublesome acne. This treatment uses a laser to target overactive sebaceous (oil) glands in your skin. It is these glands that are the root cause of acne. Medical lasers like Smoothbeam have been used for over two decades to treat many other medical conditions, not just acne and acne scarring.

How it Works

The Smoothbeam laser works by targeting acne’s root cause, which is the overactive oil gland. A 1450nm wavelength of laser light is emitted by the Smoothbeam and is highly absorbed by water, the dominant chromophore or “target” in your sebaceous glands. The light penetrates  deep into the skin where the glands are located and causes mild thermal injury to stop the over production of sebum—the root cause of acne. Your outer skin is fully protected by a cooling spray and is not damaged during a Smoothbeam treatment. There is also no downtime.

Very mild side effects may include slight redness or swelling that lasts only a few hours to a few days. Of course, recovery and side effects vary from patient to patient. Dr. Friedman and his team will explain what to expect during and after your Smoothbeam laser acne treatment at the time of your visit. In very rare cases, some patients experience a temporary pigmentation change in the treated area.

If you already have scars from acne when you were younger, the Smoothbeam can help you, also. Collagen, which is at the same depth in skin as your sebaceous glands and is made of mostly water, is also targeted by the Smoothbeam laser light. The very slight dermal injury caused by the laser light stimulates the production and deposition of new organized collagen beneath the skin resulting in significant improvement in the appearance of your acne scars.

To learn more about acne, acne scarring, and how they can be treated, please contact the Derm Surgery Laser Center in Houston, Texas today. Dr. Paul Friedman has successful treated thousands of patients suffering with acne and acne scarring just like you.