MIAMI -- Acne is a problem often associated with adolescence, but it also affects adults, often leaving unwanted scars.

Now, a new laser treatment is helping some people smooth out those scars for good.

The new treatment joins dermabrasion, chemical peels, creams and other methods often used to reduce acne scars. But some experts say laser therapy can be more effective and long lasting.

A company in South Florida, Smooth Beam, performs the treatments.

"It's probably the worst disfigurement you could ever imagine. That's how I felt about it," said Smooth Beam patient Michael Heineman.

"You're always cognizant of it. There's no question about it," said another patient, Jeannie Maitland.

The Smooth Beam laser was originally approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat wrinkles, but now it is being used to reduce acne scars.

Maitland said the process isn't painful.

"You certainly feel it," she said. "But again, I think you're going through the process and you're thinking about the end result."

Heineman said patients require five to six treatments and each session lasts about 10 minutes.

A cooling spray is applied before the treatments to help protect the outer layer of the skin. The laser then penetrates deeper, essentially tricking the skin into thinking it's been hurt, so it will create new collagen, which improves the appearance of acne scars.

"When you get around your cheeks and places like that, it's a little bit more sensitive, around your eyes. But again nothing that I would say is not tolerable," Maitland said.

"It's really released a lot of the anguish I've had about (acne)," said Heineman. "When I'm getting dressed in the morning, I'm not constantly trying to keep myself covered up."

Maitland, 42, said she has hidden her back acne and serious scarring for 30-years.

"You can't wear swimsuits. You can't wear a tank top. It's hard to find a wedding dress," she said.

Since she started her laser treatments four months ago, she hasn't had any acne breakouts, and said her scarring has improved dramatically.

"I feel like I have a ways to go," she said "We're not completed and it does take a while to see the end result. But so far, the changes have been pretty great."

Dermatologist Dr. Judith Graves said she believes it's the best long-term solution she's seen.

"Most of the treatments out there for acne right now are not necessarily laser. They're light source," Graves said. "And therefore, they don't have long term solution. They're relatively short term improvement in acne."

For more information on SmoothBeam treatments for acne scars, including how to find a practitioner near you, click here.