What should you know about fractional laser for scars?

Fractional laser creates microscopic columns of treatment in the skin, leaving untreated areas between them. Healing and collagen remodelling can make some depressed acne scars, surgical scars or uneven textures less noticeable. A raised, thick or actively inflamed scar may need a different approach. The clinician considers whether the scar is mature, its depth and location, your skin tone, and whether you tend to develop raised scars after injury.

Bring a clear history of how the scar formed and any previous procedures or injections. Tell the clinic about active acne, eczema, infection, cold sores, recent tanning and medicines that affect healing or sensitivity. After treatment, keep the area clean and moisturised as instructed, do not remove crusts, and use diligent sun protection. Camouflage makeup should wait until the surface has closed and your clinician approves it.

Contact the clinic if pain or swelling intensifies, redness spreads, the area becomes hot, drainage develops, or crusting persists beyond the expected healing plan. Seek urgent care for facial swelling with breathing difficulty, or for eye pain or vision changes after treatment near the eyes. A scar that becomes rapidly thicker, very itchy or painful also deserves review because the treatment plan may need to change.

Ask what scar type you have, whether fractional laser is appropriate for its depth and colour, what other treatments could complement it, how visits will be spaced, which risks are more relevant to your skin tone, and how improvement will be monitored.