Is laser therapy effective for pitted scars?

A reader in Dexter, Michigan who is weighing laser therapy for pitted scars is really asking whether the method has a documented basis. The sources below answer that and show where it sits in the order of a consultation.

What aad.org says about lasers and scars

aad.org gives the starting point: "Laser treatment: Dermatologists use lasers to resurface skin with acne scars." Laser resurfacing is a named option for acne scars, so the open question is how well it suits your scars.

How healing does the work

The same page explains the mechanism: "As your skin heals after laser resurfacing, it produces collagen and elastin, which can diminish the appearance of scars." The wording ties the change in a scar's appearance to the healing that follows resurfacing.

Where this falls in the sequence

Reading how the method works comes first. A skin assessment at the clinic that would do the treatment comes second, because these statements describe the method and cannot judge your skin.

What to gather for that assessment

• A written list of the scars you want assessed
• The two aad.org statements above, so you can ask how they apply to you
• Your questions about the healing period