The erbium laser is similar to the CO2 in the way it works (vaporizing outer layers of skin and effecting some skin contraction underneath) but it resurfaces with less heat, so healing takes place in about a week, with most redness fading in one to two weeks. At one month, patients have little or no redness. The long-pulsed erbium laser is thought to be more effective (but is also more invasive) than the short-pulsed erbium.