New Laser Treatment Helps Remove Life-Long Acne Scars

DENVER (CBS4) - Teenage acne can be temporarily embarrassing, but some acne actually leaves scars long after those teen years are gone. Now there's a new treatment that may help.

It isn't a pill or a cream -- it's a laser -- and it may help the 20 million Americans with life-long scars.

Years of acne left Greer Kurlander uncomfortable with her skin.

"It really bothered me a lot, I couldn't leave without a ton of makeup on," she said.

She tried a number of treatments to fade her scars, but wasn't happy with the results. The 29-year-old took part in an experiment using a laser that was recently cleared by the Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Jeremy Brauer conducted the study on PicoSure.

"What we are talking about is how energy is being delivered to the skin in an attempt to improve texture and appearance," Brauer said.

PicoSure is also used for tattoo removal. Treatments take about 15 to 20 minutes and most patients see results after three sessions. They can feel tender for about a day.

"This is a new treatment that compared to others offers great results with less preparatory time and down time," Brauer said.

"I've been able to wear less makeup, my friends and family notice it, and of course I notice it," Kurlander said.

Doctors say patients may need to return once a year for touch-ups.

The laser treatments can run from $300 to $1,000 a session, depending on the severity of the scarring.

LINK: PicoSure