CO2 Laser
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
CO2 laser is frequently recommended for treating deep atrophic (pitted) scars that do not respond well to topical retinoids or microneedling. While many users report significant improvements, the treatment is described as a high-commitment procedure requiring multiple sessions, substantial financial investment, and a painful recovery period.
Pros
- Highly effective for atrophic and pitted scarring
- Superior results compared to topical retinoids and microneedling
- Can produce drastic reductions in widespread scarring
Cons
- High cost per session
- Painful downtime and recovery process
- Often requires 4-6 sessions for optimal results
- Risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) or prolonged redness
Caveats
- Sun exposure must be strictly avoided during the recovery period
- Results are highly dependent on the skill and experience of the practitioner
- Single sessions or test patches may show no visible change
- Healing can be a slow process, with redness lasting months
Best for
- Individuals with deep pitted or atrophic acne scars
- Those who have seen limited results from less intensive treatments
Avoid if
- You cannot commit to significant downtime or a painful recovery
- You have a high amount of sun exposure planned shortly after treatment
- You are looking for a low-cost or single-session solution
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 6-month half-life. The evidence is based on a limited set of 12 mentions from r/SkincareAddiction with a median age of 193 days.
Sentiment
8 positive (67%) · 1 mixed (8%) · 3 negative (25%)
Trust + time weighted score: +40% · raw score 42%
What redditors said (10 of 12)
Look into CO2 laser
I’ve done multiple sessions of microneedling and 1 session of CO2 laser. Both are recommended & effective but don’t do them in the summer as the sun is your enemy during this recovery period.
I went to a plastic surgeon in another state who did one patch of co2 laser on the scar. After it healed a month later…. There was no change.
I probably should have gone for 4-6 sessions of the co2 laser but that would have been astronomically expensive and the down time was too painful and too frequent.
co2 laser! mine did wonders
Atrophic (pitted) scars have a limited response to retinoids and need more intensive treatment like CO2 laser or something like excision or subcision.
For Atrophic (pitted) scars retinoids can have a minimal effect but something more intensive like CO2 laser has better results. Make sure you choose a qualified and experienced practitioner.
If you search this sub you'll find some great before/after posts of those who have some pretty heavy and widespread atrophic scars which have been drastically reduced by things like CO2 laser.
For atrophic (pitted) scars topicals retinoids are only going to do so much. More intensive treatments like CO2 laser give better results (you can search this sub for before/after posts). It's more expensive but does amazing things.
I did a Co2 and I have been dealing with some coloring in the area where the scar is, for 3 months now. I am not sure if the laser worked even since I feel like it’s still healing. The question is will it ever fade or is it PIH.
Compare
CO2 Laser vs PicoSureCO2 Laser vs JuvelookCO2 Laser vs Sofwave
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