Acne scar treatment: Fraxel, Active Fx or Coollaser?

I am still trying to figure out what is the right laser and/or treatments for me.

I have had acne for 2 decades and now want to get rid of the deep scars and wrinkles. I started about 4 months ago with 2 salicylic acid peel, spaced two weeks apart, then a vitalized peel followed by a photodynmaic treatment. To me, my skin got worse, there are now lines and scars where there weren't any before, my pores are huge now and my forhead is creased and looks like brittle parchment paper.

I am so freaked out I consulted with more skin specialists. One recommended taking a break and then doing Active FX. After all the horror stories on here, and my own experiences, I am hesitant. So I saw a specialist who invented the coolaser and he wants to do 2 cool lasers and then fillers and Botox at the same time. It's called the mini facelift. To me, that seems a shocker. Then, another recommended the Obagi NUDerm, Fraxel every month and Sculptra every six weeks.

After much thinking, I decided to embark on the Obagi Nu-Derm and am now flaking and red, swollen - look like a shedding, boiling lobster. I have a party next weekend, so they advised me to stop three days before and the skin should be back to normal.

But what do I do next?

Active FX, Fraxel, Coolaser, or could the Obagi Blue Peel be an alternative, after I prep the skin more with the Obagi Nu-Derm. Or could I do a laser? Is my skin too taxed for a laser now? When could I do a laser? I am shifting to babying my skin tonite. I am so mad that I started this - I totally ruined the summer ahead of me - and I live in sunny CA - but I feel I have to do damage control now. And - I am running low on money. Would a Blue Peel and some Botox do the trick? I am just horrified and scared of the laser recovery.

Any thoughts? Thanks so much for listening!

- Amy



hi amy,

acne scar treatment is a long and difficult road. there's lots of promises and very few real answers, but its an important goal that we are researching actively. the good news is that there are new, ever more effective treatments coming out regularly.

i agree with dr. klein. the best technology out there right now is active fx / deep fx. i also own the device and i have been very pleased with the results, especially for difficult to treat acne scars and fine lines around the eyes and mouth. it is the first minimally invasive laser to have really impressive results.

now, a bit of advice on how to make smart choices when it comes to laser treatment. you have done the most important thing - speak to multiple doctors. unfortunately, that will get you multiple, often very different opinions.

how to choose between opinions? well, first of all, try to find a doctor you trust and who is well respected by other physicians. advertising in cosmopolitan and "inventing" the "Coollaser" does not count towards that standard. if that doctor is the only one using this "coollaser" you may wonder if whatever he invented was worth inventing? the laser you choose should be the standard of care among physicians in the field. the coollaser is not, no matter how much it is advertised.

topical treatments such as peels will not significantly improve your acne scars, unless you were to go with a deep, invasive peel which would involve too much downtime. the fractionated lasers are the best way to get significant change without making you look like a tomato for 2 weeks.this is why i recommend the active/deep fx - as a fractionated co2 laser, it is the strongest laser we have that is office based. you will have 4 days of downtime, but then you look like you have a sunburn.

i have much more info on my website and there is a good amount of info on the web. feel free to contact me if you'd like to chat about this, since you are local to LA.