Acne can be a troublesome and frustrating skin condition. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, up to 50 million people in the United States have some degree of acne. Sadly, when acne clears it can leave scars behind. Acne scars can be challenging to eradicate, but fortunately new technology has produced a number of methods to fade their appearance and improve your overall complexion.
Considerations
Acne scars usually appear as soft, saucer-like dents or small cavities on the skin. There are three main types of acne scars. Rolling acne scars cause a wavy texture to the skin, ice-pick acne scars appear as though miniature ice picks were stabbed into the skin and boxcar acne scar resemble large pores.
Skin Fillers
According to the Mayo Clinic, one viable treatment for acne scars is to inject skin fillers such as collagen or hyaluronic acid into the affected area to plump up the skin. The results typically last 3 to 6 months. Another filler known as PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate) has permanent results.
Microdermabrasion and Derabrasion
Microderabrasion uses a rotating handheld device to remove the outermost layer of skin. This treatment works best on smaller, shallow acne scars. Dermabrasion is a similar procedure, but it completely takes off the top layer of the affected skin.
Chemical Peels
A chemical peel involves the removal of the top layer of skin by applying a strong acid. A very deep peel can penetrate the inner layer of skin.
Laser Therapy and Surgery
A number of laser treatments can effectively treat minor acne scars, but surgery is the best option for large, deeper acne scars. Surgical procedures can remove, fill, raise and even break up scar tissue from the inner layer of the skin. Sometimes surgery is followed up with laser resurfacing to make any smaller scars that remain less noticeable.
Outlook
Individual acne scar therapy will vary considerably depending on the type of scarring and its severity. Your dermatologist can help you devise a personalized treatment plan.
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