Acne is an inflammatory skin condition that targets the follicles of your skin. As sebum oil, produced by the sebaceous glands of your skin, combines with dead skin cells from the follicle, it forms a soft plug known as a comedone. As bacteria and sebum build up beneath the comedone, inflammation can occur, resulting in acne cysts or nodules. As the inflammation grows, damage occurs to the tissue, resulting in an acne scar. When acne scars appear on prominent areas of the body, such as the face, you may want to treat the scar to reduce its appearance, which can be done in several ways.
Injections
One way to quickly treat an acne scar is through injections of collagen or fat. As this material is injected into the acne scar, it quickly fills in any open space left by scar tissue, stretching and filling out the skin.
According to the Mayo Clinic, this stretching reduces overall appearance of the scar. Because the injection fills in the space beneath the scar, collagen and fat are good options for treating deeply pitted scars, also referred to as "ice pick" scars. Unfortunately, the effects of injections are temporary, making periodic injections necessary to maintain results.
Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion can also be used as a quick solution to acne scars. Dermabrasion involves the use of a rotary tool that contains an abrasive surface. As the tool rotates on the skin, it removes the outer layer of skin, also removing scar tissue and other imperfections with it.
The resulting new skin tissue growth is much smoother than the original scar tissue, resulting in a reduction of the acne scar.
Laser Removal
Laser scar removal may also be used to quickly address acne scars. Laser scar removal uses an ablative laser to evaporate the outer layer of scar tissue, allowing new smoother skin tissue to grow in its place.
Non-ablative lasers may also be used for ice pick scars to increase collagen production beneath the skin, plumping the indented scar to be more even with the surrounding tissue.
Surgery
Surgery can also be used to quickly treat acne scars, and according to the American Academy of Dermatology is the best option for depressed acne scars. The purpose of scar removal surgery is to cut out or manipulate large noticeable scars, leaving smaller less noticeable flat scars in its place.
This procedure can be done through several methods, including punch excisions, subcutaneous incision and punch grafts. The less noticeable remaining scar may also be treated by other methods, such as laser scar removal after healing to even further reduce the prominence of the scar.
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