Introduction
Many outbreaks of acne can go away without a lasting sign of their presence, but more severe cases often leave scars. This is especially true for acne that has been scratched or picked at. Depending on how deep into the tissue the scar reaches, several different treatment options may help remove the scar from your skin. Even if the acne scarring is too severe to remove completely, many treatment methods can make the scar less noticeable.
Laser
Laser scar removal is a popular treatment option. It uses a laser to penetrate energy deep into the dermis. This creates columns of coagulated tissue, which trigger the body's natural healing response. This causes the body to replace some of the scarred tissue with new healthy tissue. The amount of change to the scar tissue depends on how deep and severe the scar tissue reaches.
Dermabrasion
There are two types of dermabrasion available: traditional and microdermabrasion. Traditional dermabrasion uses a spray to freeze the skin, then sands away any skin imperfections with an abrasive wheel or brush on the end of a rotary tool. Microdermabrasion is less invasive, using a wand device to propel tiny crystals at the scar tissues. These crystals work as exfoliants, removing the outer layer of scar tissue and reducing the prominence of the scar.
Chemical Peel
Chemical peels use acid-based substances such as trichloroacetic acid and alphahydroxy acids to peel away the outer damaged layers of skin. This helps remove scar tissue from the outer surface of the face. The more superficial the scar tissue, the better the chemical peel results.
Injections
Injections are growing in popularity. This treatment method is more used for acne scars that have formed depressions in the skin, making the scar more noticeable. To help remove these depression, dermafillers (such as Restylane, collagen or fat tissue) are injected into the skin tissue below the scar. This helps force the scar tissue to become even with the rest of the skin, making the scar less noticeable.
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