What to expect from CO2 laser resurfacing for acne scars

The laser removes or heats selected layers of skin and stimulates remodelling around depressed scars. A clinician first checks the scar pattern, skin tone, active acne, cold-sore history, and medicines that may affect healing. The treatment plan may differ for shallow rolling scars, deeper pits, or raised areas.

After treatment, redness, warmth, swelling, tenderness, and peeling can occur. The surface may ooze slightly before new skin forms. Texture changes develop as healing progresses, and more than one approach may be discussed when scars have different shapes or depths.

Follow the dressing, cleansing, and moisturising instructions exactly. Do not pick flakes or crusts, use unapproved exfoliants, or apply fragranced products while the skin is vulnerable. Keep the area protected from sunlight and use the clinician-recommended sunscreen once advised, because pigment changes can follow inflammation.

Tell the clinic about new medicines, pregnancy, active skin infection, or a history of cold sores before treatment. Arrange time away from activities that expose the face to heat, dust, or friction. Keep review appointments so healing and scar response can be assessed.

Contact the clinic urgently for increasing pain, spreading redness, pus, fever, blisters, or delayed healing. Seek emergency help for facial swelling with breathing difficulty. A change in colour can be temporary, but a rapidly worsening or very painful change needs prompt assessment.

Ask which scar types are being targeted, what downtime is realistic for your skin, how pigment risk will be reduced, which products to pause, and when other acne-scar treatments might be considered.