Acne can be devastating during a breakout and leave behind devastating reminders in the form of several types of acne scarring. Some scars are deep and individual like "ice pick" scars named for their appearance. Other scars cover large areas of skin, creating a wavelike effect. Often it's a combination of a few types of acne scars that will plague a person. Treatment needs and effectiveness are unique to each individual to manage the different types and combinations of scars.
Very Mild Scarring
To treat very mild cases of acne scarring where most of the scars are shallow, meaning the depth is still very near the surface of the skin, chemical peel and microdermabrasion treatments are often used. Dermatologists select an acid specific to your skin type and the depth the peel needs to go. The acid is applied to the skin and it will cause the skin to peel, removing the top layers. Microdermabrasion treatments use fine crystals to scrape off the very top layers of skin. Both treatments may require multiple sessions to remove the scars layer by layer.
Shallow Imperfections
Shallow imperfections are more severe and reside deeper within the skin tissue, such as "boxcar" or "rolling" scars. Skin resurfacing treatments such as dermabrasion and laser resurfacing are used to treat these types of scars. Both treatments go a bit deeper in layer removal than chemical peels and microdermabrasion. Laser treatments remove the top layer of the skin while heating the skin underneath, prompting it to produce collagen to build new, healthy skin minus the scarring. Dermabrasion uses a tool with rapid, rotating wire brushes that scrapes off the skin's surface.
Deep Scarring
Deep "ice-pick" and "boxcar" scars are typically treated with a punch technique surgery. An instrument similar in shape to that of a cookie cutter is used to "punch" out the scar from the skin. After the scar is removed, the wound can be closed and left to heal, or a skin graft can be used to replace the scar. Sometimes, the scar is left in the skin to naturally rise to create an even surface on the skin. A skin resurfacing treatment is typically combined with these punch techniques.
All Scar Types
Augmentation is used to treat all scar types. Augmentation is when a dermatologist injects filler under the scar to raise it to the skin's surface for an even texture. Fillers are typically made of collagen, the patient's own body fat or a synthetic. Almost all fillers are temporary, requiring continued treatments to maintain their effect, and according to Skincare Physicians, only PMMA, or polymethylmethacrylate, is permanent.
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