5 Things You Need to Know About Acne Scar Removal

1. Severe Acne Causes Scars

Acne scars come from the most severe forms of acne. Most of us have some type of acne along the way, but everyday acne or occasional breakouts don't often cause scarring. Moderate acne involves red inflamed pimples called papules and red inflamed pimples with whiteheads called pustules. Severe acne goes further causing nodules. Nodules are hard, painful lumps or cysts under the skin. These types of acne leave noticeable scars. Early treatment is vital to keep nodules, papules and pustules from causing scars.

2. Love That Laser

One way to remove acne scars is by laser resurfacing. Dermatologists use laser resurfacing to remove surface damage and tighten the second layer of skin. This leaves the skin looking smoother in the area where the scar used to be. Any type of laser therapy is painful, but doctors offer a variety of options to lessen the pain of laser resurfacing. Numbing the area with medication and numbing creams before treatment helps. Laser resurfacing takes a few minutes or several hours depending on the severity of the scars. Complete healing takes up to ten days.

3. Appealing Peels

Dermatologists use chemical peels to treat acne scarring. People think of chemical peels in relation to sun damage, evening skin tones and other types of scars. However, chemical peels successfully treat acne scarred skin and improve its overall appearance. Chemical peels work by removing the top layer of skin. This causes the skin to regenerate resulting in smoother, clearer skin.

4. Deliverance by Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion helps with smaller scars and roughness due to moderate to severe acne. Dermabrasion helps to improve the overall appearance of skin by removing the small imperfections caused by moderate acne. Dermabrasion removes the top layer of skin with an abrasive machine run by electricity. After healing, the skin looks uniform in color and texture and feels smoother.

5. Extreme Measures

In cases of severe acne scarring from cysts and nodules, there are more extreme measures used to treat the deep pits left over from acne. One method is autologous fat transfer. This procedure involves transferring fat from another part of your body and injecting it underneath the skin. This helps to lift areas with deep scars. Punch grafting is another more extreme procedure involving punching a hole to remove the scar and replacing it with unscarred skin. Some dermatologists even recommend collagen injections to treat severe acne scars. Collagen injected under the skin helps make the appearance of scars less noticeable.