According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 85% of teenagers will suffer from acne within a single year and 40 to 50 million people in America regardless of age will suffer from some form of acne. Various forms of acne, typically more severe cases, can leave scars behind. This can be damaging to the self-esteem, no matter where the scars are located. Luckily, there are ways to remove these acne scars.
Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion treats acne scars that are shallow rather than deep individual scars. A rapid rotating wire brush scrapes away the top layer of your skin and scar tissue. The skin is forced to heal itself and generate new skin in place of the scar. Acne.org readers give it 2.5 out of 5 for how well it works, agreeability with the skin and affordability. Reviews are mixed in terms of results, and seem to be greatly impacted by the dermatologist performing the treatment.
Laser Resurfacing
Laser resurfacing works by using lasers to remove the top layers of skin while heating the underlying layers and forcing the skin's natural healing processes to jump into action. By heating the underlying layers of skin, the skin produces more collagen, a natural substance that helps in the removal and healing of scars. Laser resurfacing is also used for shallow scars at the skin's surface.
Chemical Peels
Chemical Peels work with the same philosophy as dermabrasion and laser resurfacing. A chemical applied to the affected area removes the top layers of skin. This forces the skin to heal, creating a smoother surface. You may require multiple sessions, and chemical peels are considered to be effective only for mild cases of acne scars nearest to the surface. Acne.org readers give it a 3 out of 5 for how well it works.
Punch Techniques
Punch techniques are used for deep "ice pick" scars. According to Acne.org, there are three different types of punch techniques: punch replacement literally punches the scar out of the skin and replaces it with a skin graft; punch excision also punches the scar out of the skin and then closes the remaining normal skin together; and punch elevation punches the scar loose from the surrounding skin and leaves it to float naturally to the skin's surface.
Saline Injections
Readers of Acne.org give this scar treatment their highest review scores with 4 out of 5 in how well it works, agreeability with the skin and affordability. A saline injection is made into the scar, forcing new collagen to be created. Multiple sessions may be required every couple of weeks, but on average patients are happy with the results.
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