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When the skin is injured, the result is usually a scar. The most common scars to appear on the face are those caused by acne. Studies have shown that visible acne scars can become a considerable cause of stress, anxiety and embarrassment among men and women. If you are one of those who suffers from acne scars, it is a good idea to increase your knowledge on acne scarring as well as various treatment options. Here we will provide information and answer some typical questions about acne scars and the ways you can effectively remove them.
Treatment Options
The most appropriate scar removal treatment is often determined by the size and shape of the acne scars. Some procedures are superficial while others work down into deeper layers of the dermis. Acne scar removal methods include doctor administered laser therapy, microdermabrasion, dermabrasion, and chemical peels or at home acne scar creams that tend to be just as effective over time. Let's look more closely at these options.
Laser Therapy
With laser therapy, a strong laser is used to remove the top layers of skin and help tighten the layers underneath in order to remove scar tissue. Although this treatment tends to yield good results, it can prove to be costly as multiple sessions are usually required. Laser surgery is also one of the more invasive methods and therefore can be considerably painful. There are long recovery periods that might include after effects such as seeping, crusting, and discoloration.
Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion removes the top layers of skin by way of a wire brush that spins at high speeds. The idea is to rid you of the outer layers of skin that contain scar tissue and imperfections, and reveal a smoother, clearer layer below. This treatment requires a freeze agent type anesthetic. This treatment is more appropriate for deeper types of acne scars. A fairly painful recovery period follows the dermabrasion procedure. There is also a period of discoloration that follows, but the skin will eventually return to its natural color, however for up to 6 months it is advised to avoid direct sunlight.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is similar to dermabrasion, however less intense. The skin is rubbed with small sterile particles that are later removed with the dead skin by way of a suction tool. Microdermabrasion is a superficial procedure meaning no anesthetic or long recovery periods. This treatment is more ideal for superficial acne scars as it will fail to remove deeper dermal scarring.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peel procedures are done with combinations of strong chemicals that burn away the outer layers of skin. The smoother underlying layer of skin remains revealed at the end of the procedure. In order to remove acne scars, deep peels are necessary which often have more prominent results but also more pain and longer recovery periods. Deeper peels usually use anesthetic and often require pain medication. After effects of chemical peels include swelling, crusting, and discoloration that could last for several months.
Skin Care Products
Topical scar removal creams are sold in both natural and medicated forms and provide a great alternative to more costly and painful procedures. Natural acne treatment creams are a smart idea as they aim to fix the cause of the problem rather than just deal with the visible effects of scarring. Topical at home treatments require a little more patience, but can provide the same results over time and can reduce even the most severe scarring of any type, shape, or size. These topical acne creams are optimal in removing damage caused by years of acne. They can soften skin, treat and eliminate existing scar tissue as well as work to prevent future acne blemishes and scarring.
