5 Things You Need to Know About Getting Rid Of Acne Scars

1. Just Like Sandpaper

At one time, people used sandpaper to remove damaged skin and promote healthy skin to grow in its place. Lucky for you, dermabrasion replaced that technique. Dermabrasion is a great way to get rid of acne scars. Doctors use a machine with diamond edged wheels that rotates very fast. The courser the wheel, the more the effect. Don't worry--you won't feel it. The doctor will numb your face first. The entire treatment usually takes about 30 minutes. Who can get dermabrasion? Well, really anyone can, but it works best on people with light or dark skin, more so than those with complexions that are somewhere in between. You shouldn't enter any beauty contests right afterward; your skin will look scratched, swell, form a scab then be red for a few weeks. But, you can go back to work after about two weeks and you'll notice a substantial difference in your acne scars.

2. Laser Your Way to a Smooth Face

Lasers work in the treatment of acne scars because their penetration beneath the skin is deep and controlled. Laser resurfacing is a fairly new technique which involves using a laser to remove skin. New, healthier skin grows in its place. There haven't been many studies done and the results are mixed. Some people say they're had great results in the treatment of acne scars. Others aren't as impressed. Doctors choose between the CO2 laser and the YAG or erbium laser. The procedure can last anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or more. If you have darker skin, laser resurfacing can make your skin tone uneven. It's important to note that your face will be red and swollen after the session. You'll have to apply ointment afterward to help your skin heal. Your doctor may also put a bandage on your skin, which you'll have to leave on for about a week.

3. Peel Away the Scars

Acid doesn't sound like something you want on your face, but that's exactly what a chemical peel is. A doctor or technician applies acid to help remove the top layer of skin. The skin underneath, which is smoother and healthier, is revealed. Peels take about 15 minutes but are only really successful on people with light acne scars. They are not designed to treat severe scarring. Your face will be red and swollen after a chemical peel. As the top skin falls off, you'll notice flakiness and dryness. It will take you anywhere from one day to a week to recover.

4. Punch Scars Away

Punch techniques can help diminish those acne scars that look like ice pick holes. There are three types of punch techniques--punch replacement, punch excision and punch elevation. Punch replacement is when the doctor removes a pitted scar using a hair-transplant type punch. The skin is replaced with a skin graft, which comes from behind your ear. If the scar isn't as deep, a punch excision is done. The doctor would remove the pitted scar, close the wound and let it heal. Finally, a punch elevation involves the doctor cutting the scar from the bottom. It's allowed to float up so it becomes the same level as all your other skin. Punches may take several weeks or longer to heal.

5. Saline: Not Just for Contacts and Boobs

If you have shallow or minor acne scars, saline injections can help them disappear. Especially if your scars are the "rolling type" of scars. Your doctor injects saline right into the scar. This promotes new collagen to grow. Recovery time is quick. Depending on your case, your doctor will likely recommend four to five sessions, spread out over a few weeks.