Question:
I have very bad facial acne scars. I hate looking like this and it seems to look even worse every year. I am Mexican and have darker skin. Is there a skin resurfacing procedure that I can have that won’t change my skin color but will get rid of some of the pitting on my face?
Answer:
I have been asked this question before and have performed consultations on individuals who are interested in treating acne scarring who also have darker pigmented skin. Laser skin resurfacing or dermabrasion are the two most effective methods to address facial acne scars. The problem with darker skin is the propensity for either burns, or pigment issues of the skin following treatment of the acne scars. Fraxel non-ablative technology can be conservatively performed to treat the acne scars of your face. The results are not as impressive as ablative laser resurfacing or dermabrasion, but, the risks of having Fraxel laser in darker skinned individuals is more predictable and side effects can be avoided.
Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld