Acne Scar Treatment Options for You

Acne scarring is an acute problem especially for those who have experienced ugly flare ups of acne in the past. Nearly 80% of all people are affected by acne when they are in their teens and twenties. Though many are left unscathed by acne attacks, some may have life-long scars which can be a constant source of embarrassment. There are many treatment options for treating acne scars ranging from topical skin creams to surgical intervention. Of course the importance of preventive measures can not be undermined especially if you want to avoid a life-long problem.

Preventions is the best way to avoid any future problem with acne. To prevent acne breakouts, it is important to know what causes acne in the first place. One of the easiest ways to prevent acne is to wash your face daily with a mild antibacterial soap and avoid using heavy lotions and creams in areas which are prone to acne.

To hit the right treatment option for acne scars you must know the different classifications of acne scars. You will then know which treatment will suit which type of scars. For instance the ice pick acne scars are sharp and narrow where the skin appears to have been sliced or punctured. Acne scar resurfacing options can not work with such deep scars. Boxcar acne scars on the other hand are round or oval in shape and if they have not penetrated too deeply they can respond to some treatments. Conventional acne scar treatments can not work on rolling scars which are spots just beneath the surface of the skin. These need breaking up the fibrous tissue under the skin.

While there are plenty of acne scar treatment methods , more often, these methods are combined to get the desired results. Dermal fillers is a treatment option where some substances are injected into the scar areas to give the skin a smoother and even look. Fat, bovine and human collagens are some of the substances used in dermal fillers which can not offer a permanent solution and have to be repeated to maintain the results obtained. Deeper acne scars like ice pick and boxcar scars, are usually treated with punch excision. This is a method where the entire scar area is removed and the skin round it is sutured. This method also leaves a scar, which is less noticeable.

Punch excision is used for skin grafting as well. Here in place of suturing the skin together a skin graft is used. Skin from behind the ear is usually the chosen skin. If the color and texture of skin grafting is noticeable after the procedure is complete, it can be rectified using skin resurfacing. Punch elevation is the procedure used for deep boxcar acne scars. Here the scar is removed using a particular tool and then elevating the skin to the level of the normal skin layer and then suturing the skin together. Here there is less risk of color and texture mismatching. It also reduces the visible scars left from punch incision. The method used for breaking the fibrous bands caused under the skin by rolling scars is subcutaneous incision. One of the most popular choices for any skin conditioning or repairing is laser resurfacing. It works by burning the top layer of the skin which is replaced soon by new and healthy skin as it heals with time.

Though there are plenty of ways for treating acne scars prevention is the best way to avoid this problem of scar removal. In case you feel that you need treatment for your acne scars, you must first consult your physician, who will refer you to a dermatologist who will help you with your acne scar treatment. While you are going to choose the best method for your acne scar treatment you must also pay equal attention to its efficacy and the cost involved. Sometimes you might have to choose a combination of therapies like combining punch elevation with laser resurfacing.

These complementary methods could result in minimal scarring caused by surgical intervention. It is important to get professional advice from doctors who are adequately qualified with the right credential. Also important to note is that there are plenty of over the counter products which promise complete acne scar removal. Though these may reduce the ugliness of the scars temporarily, your doctor is the best judge to offer remedial actions when it comes to a permanent solution.

Laser-zappin’ Acne Scar Treatments

Before You Take Action on any Laser Treatment

You’ve lived with your acne scars long enough, and want to do something about them. But before you take any major action, such as laser treatment, read on to demystify the world of laser technology. There are many options available, but which ones are good? Or most importantly, which laser acne scar treatment suits you?

Fortunately with today’s laser technology, you can be sure that the entire laser procedure isn’t all pain and destruction. In fact, the healing time is faster, even though some procedures might require you to go back for further treatment or topical touch-ups. You do want to keep in mind, nevertheless, that the laser beam may still damage some skin pigments, so it’s best to understand the entire acne laser treatment itself, and leave the procedure up to certified doctors or dermatologists. Yes, check their credentials. And yes, that also means stay away from non-physicians performing the laser procedure in shopping malls or day spas. You also want to find out from the doctor or dermatologist what kind of laser technology he/she is using, and if the technology is not, say 10 years old.

Laser-zappin’ Acne Scar Treatments Available Today

In general, the laser treatments used to eliminate acne scars are essentially the same treatment for other skin problems also, using laser resurfacing technology. Laser resurfacing works by removing the scarred, top layer of the skin. By doing this, new skin – smoother skin – and collagen (main protein of connective tissue found in bone, cartilage, skin, and tendons) will grow in its place, and eventually smooth out the acne scar. Additionally, laser resurfacing is considered a safer, less invasive procedure than deep chemical peels or dermabrasion (described in non-laser acne scar treatment). Laser resurfacing is often combined with one or several other treatments for acne scars. This approach consistently gives better results when compared to other acne treatments.

There are basically two types of acne laser treatments today, non-ablative and ablative skin resurfacing treatments.

Non-ablative skin resurfacing (non-invasive, aka no skin cutting)

Ablate literally means to remove by melting, vaporization, erosion, etc. (Don’t mean to scare you, that’s just a literal translation.)

From the definition itself, you can probably figure out that non-ablative skin resurfacing is a gentler alternative to ablative laser treatments. Non-ablative treatments can accommodate almost all skin types and all skin colors with no complications, and patients will only have the “weekend” recovery down time.

This type of acne laser treatment uses the laser heat to penetrate into the skin to stimulate collagen production which corrects the wrinkles underneath the skin. So your skin remains intact. Remodeling of the collagen under the skin’s surface takes about 6 months or so. Generally, this type of treatment consists of 3-5 procedures, spread out from two to four weeks apart. Results should become apparent after the second treatment and should continue to improve thereafter.

Most commonly used laser technology for this treatment is the Fraxel (re:store) laser and Smoothbeam laser.

Ablative skin resurfacing (more invasive, aka skin removed)

Remember that to ablate literally means to remove by some sort of melting or vaporizing method.

So compared to the non-ablative skin resurfacing treatment, the ablative treatment is of course more invasive. The laser used in this treatment generates high energy beams that directly vaporize the damaged skin tissue without harming the surrounding areas. Because the skin has been ablated, new skin and collagen will produce to grow new skin and eventually smooth out the scar. Be aware though that ablative skin resurfacing may pose some side effects for some skin types and skin color. You should consult with your doctor or dermatologist first.

Due to the high laser beam used in ablative skin resurfacing, this kind of acne laser treatment generally requires only one visit. The down side though is that that the recovery time will be longer, generally taking 4-7 days or longer.

Variations of this type of treatment include the two household lasers known as Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Er:YAG (Erbium). CO2 is the most aggressive, while Erbium is milder with shorter laser pulses and has less risky post recovery period. The newest technology that uses the CO2 method is called the Fraxle re:pair, not to be confused with the original non-ablative Fraxel re:store laser.

Alternatives to Laser Acne Scar Treatments

There are also various non-laser treatments to eliminate acne scars. Find out more details in non-laser acne scar treatment.

Best Acne Scar Treatment for You

You are now well-informed on the various types of laser acne scar treatments, and may have even taken a preference as to which one may suit you. Regardless, in the best interest of your health, you should discuss with a doctor or dermatologist the best possible acne treatment before proceeding. Remember, this is a serious consideration not to be taken lightly. And avoid non-certified laser centers in the mall. (At least remember this – Just stick to your shopping.) Good luck!

Many patients of all skin types get their acne scars permanently removed at South Coast MedSpa. Watch this Filipino patient as he gets his second Active FX fractional CO2 laser treatment for acne scar removal. Individual patient results may vary. For more information or to book an appointment go to www.southcoastmedspa.com or call 949-650-7267
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