Deep pitted acne scarring is typically caused by severe acne, such as cysts or nodules. Although nodules can cause scars, picking or attempting to drain them can increase the chances of scarring. Acne scars don't have to be permanent. Advances in technology and medicine enable dermatologists to provide a number of safe and effective treatments.
Laser Therapy
The Kid's Health website says deep acne scars can be treated with laser therapy. This type of treatment works at a deep level without damaging the top layer of skin. Laser procedures destroy the acne scarred tissue by heating up the underlying skin. As the skin heals, new tissue forms, making the scars less noticeable. Skin may temporarily appear red and irritated following the procedure. In addition, repeated procedures are required before skin improvement is noticed.
Surgery
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, surgery is an effective way to remove deep acne scars. Depending on the selected option, surgery can raise, fill or even remove scar tissue. Although a scar will be evident after the surgery, it's designed to be less noticeable and should fade with time.
Punch excision uses a surgical instrument shaped like a rounded cookie cutter to extract the entire scar. Once the scar is removed, a surgeon may elevate the skin tissue or graft the wound with your own skin. A subcutaneous incision, a procedure in which a dermatologist uses a probe to separate the skin and scar tissue, raises healthy skin while flattening the scar tissue.
Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion uses a rapidly rotating diamond instrument or wire brush to gradually remove the surface layer of skin. The Mayo Clinic says that as skin recovers, a smoother layer replaces the scarred skin. For large areas, this treatment can take up to two hours. Deep scars may not be completely removed but will appear much less noticeable.
After the procedure, your skin will be raw and require a bandage to control bleeding. The wound must be taken care of properly once at home, so follow your doctor's instructions. Although new skin will appear in about 10 days, complete healing may take months.
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