7 Healthcast: Zit zapper

It's a laser, called the Smoothbeam laser, and it's helping to give patients clear skin by treating acne and acne scars.

With the zap of a laser, Marcelo Nakagami is being treated for acne. The 21-year-old has battled with acne for years and tried all sorts of treatments.

"I've tried everything, pills, creams," Nakagami said.

Now, he's turning to the Smoothbeam laser for help. After a numbing cream is applied, the five to ten minute treatment begins. Dermatologist Dr. Mathew Avram, of Massachusetts General Hospital, says no one is exactly sure why the laser works on acne.

"There are theories it heats the glands that produce the oil that's one of the reasons that causes acne," Dr. Avram said.

The laser also helps diminish acne scars.

"It helps the scaring by heating collagen in the dermis, and by doing that over months, it helps lay down new collagen," Dr. Avram said.

Another benefit to the Smoothbeam laser for acne is that it works well on all skin types. The best candidates are:

"Those patients who get cysts and inflammatory acne with pustules and papules," Dr. Avram said.

Patients have one laser treatment a month, and it usually takes three or four sessions to see any improvement.

"You'll have the treatment," Dr. Avram said. "You'll come back a month later for your second treatment. You may not see too much a difference but by your third treatment two months later that's when we see differences."

Dr. Avram says the laser isn't the first treatment option for acne patients. It's used when creams, lotions and other methods fail. The Smoothbeam laser runs about $500 a session and isn't covered by insurance.

(Copyright 2007 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)