Acne vulgaris is the medical term for the skin condition commonly known as acne, which is caused by excess sebum in the skin. This oily material can block the pores and cause the skin to become inflamed. Severe cases of acne can also result in scarring which may be reduced by removing the upper layers of skin. The most popular methods of reducing acne scars include chemical peels, laser resurfacing and dermabrasion.
Step 1
Consider a chemical peel. Apply the chemical solution to the acne scars and allow it to dry according to the instructions. Peel it off to remove the upper layer of skin. A chemical peel contains a dilute solution of glycolic acid that will break up the upper layer of skin. Chemical peels are only effective for reducing light scarring.
Step 2
Receive laser resurfacing. This method ablates (removes) the upper and medium layers of skin with the heat energy from a laser. The lasers used for resurfacing the skin may be a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser or an yttrium, aluminum and garnet (YAG) laser. Treatment with a CO2 laser will require a longer recovery time, but the long-term effects are much better understood. A YAG laser is a more recent technology that's absorbed into the skin more readily than a CO2 laser.
Step 3
Try dermabrasion. Your dermatologist will use a rotatory tool to quickly remove the upper layers of skin. This tool contains a head that's covered with diamond chips and rotates up to 35,000 times per minute. This method requires a high degree of skill on the part of the operator, because it must be operated manually. The results of dermabrasion are therefore more variable than with laser resurfacing.
Step 4
Recover from an acne scar treatment. The degree of recovery needed is directly related to the amount of skin removed. A chemical peel causes redness and swelling but rarely requires more than supportive treatment. Dermabrasion and laser resurface remove deeper layers of skin and may require the wound to be dressed until it forms a scab.
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