No matter how severe your acne scars are, they can always feel like the worse thing in the world. But you don't have to live with your blemishes. In fact, you can experience a smoother skin texture and a generally improved appearance by undergoing dermabrasion or laser resurfacing. While these treatments can cause side effects and require a significant recovery time, they provide real results for those dealing with unsightly scars.
Acne Scar Types
Acne scars can be obnoxious and interfere with your life no matter how minor they may be. There are numerous types of scars that can show up following breakouts. Slight hyperpigmentation is normal and appears as brown or red spots where blemishes used to be. More severe scars include rolling, boxcar and ice pick scars. These appear as slight depressions in the skin, deep and defined depressions and very deep but narrow depressions, respectively. All but the ice pick scars can at least somewhat respond to dermabrasion or laser resurfacing.
Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion is a procedure that involves removing the top layers of skin by using an abrasive instrument. This is performed under anesthesia because it opens the skin. It damages the skin in order to encourage new skin to form more evenly without the imperfections of scars. It's generally effective for treating rolling scars and hyperpigmentation and will lessen the appearance of boxcar scars.
Laser Resurfacing
Laser resurfacing is a treatment that helps stimulate collagen and new skin production. A laser is pointed at the area to be treated and either damages the top layer of skin or internal layers. In any case, a topical anesthetic will usually suffice to get through this outpatient procedure.
Side Effects
Undergoing treatments like dermabrasion or laser resurfacing for acne scars can cause a few unpleasant side effects. For instance, hyperpigmentation is common until the skin evens out and completely heals. You may also develop cold sores because laser resurfacing irritates the skin. Dermabrasion can cause pain, scabbing and pinkness. While the pink skin will fade over time, you may notice your skin permanently having a darker hue. You will also be much more sensitive to sunlight. Larger pores, swelling and whiteheads can also pop up after dermabrasion. Both treatments carry a risk of scarring, irritation and keloid scars.
Results
Though your skin may be pink for many months after dermabrasion or laser resurfacing, you will likely begin to notice an improvement in the texture of your skin. Your pores will get smaller, wrinkles less noticeable and scars less defined. With severe scars, however, repeated treatments may be necessary.
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