By: Moira Jones
There are several types of acne scar treatment that can be used either to remove the scars or as part of an overall skin rejuvenation process.
When deciding on a treatment for any type of acne scar, it is essential to have a dermatologist or a dermatological surgeon to find out what would the best way to achieve the outcome you want.
For some persons, acne scars can be a constant reminder of a condition that used to be subject of mockery, embarrassement or social isolation. They can also be a significant factor within an appearance of premature aging. However, there's no reason to endure them.
Fortunately, nowadays there's a wide range of complex acne scar treatments that can treat most of these problems.
Here are the most widely used acne scar treatments:
* Chemical peels
* Laser treatment
* Dermabrasion
* Intralesional steroid injection (keloids)
* Soft-tissue augmentation
* Skin Surgery
Chemical Peels.
Chemical peels can be used for small and depressed scars and some larger scars. Generally they will be one of the cheaper forms of acne scar treatment. Chemical peels are also effective in improving scars left from comedones (blackheads and whiteheads), but are not for ice-pick or deep-fibrotic scars or keloids. Deeper or larger scars may even be reduced by repeated chemical peels.
Laser Treatment.
Laser treatment is a new, but highly effective technique for dealing with acne scars.
Depending on the specifics of the procedure, it can be very expensive so it is wise to speak extensively to your dermatologist to find out whether this is the right procedure for you.
It reaches deeper skin layers than other procedures. The different laser varying in energy and tissue penetration can be used for treating complex scars. For example, a deep tissue penetration laser can be used to remodel irregular scarring, while an infrared beam laser will tighten collagen fibers and elevate depressed scars.
Dermabrasion.
This technique was developed specifically for acne scar treatment and is still used on a large scale having become very popular. It reaches deeper skin layers than a chemical peel and can be used for both deeper and hypertrophic scar treatment. Nowadays, unlike previously, even many ice-pick scars can be treated using a combination of dermabrasion and punch excision of the scar tissue.
Intralesional Steroid Injection (Keloids)
This method can sometimes prove effective in improving keloid scars. Steroids are injected directly into the keloid and sometimes combined with surgery in order to reduce the size of the scars. However, this acne scar treatment should be use with high precaution and only on carefully selected patients, as it doesn't have the same results for everyone.
Soft tissue augmentation.
This acne scar treatment consists of injecting subcutaneous collagen or fat under the scar to bring its surface even with the surface of the skin that surrounds it. Cosmetically it can provide good results correcting some atrophic (tissue loss) scars. It often needs to be repeated on a regular basis.
Skin surgery.
Skin surgery is used for treating ice-pick scars. It is one of the only ways this type of scar can be treated. This acne scar treatment consists of removing each scar individually by punch excision. The scar is excised down to the subcutaneous fat layer and the resulting hole is afterwards repaired using sutures or small skin graft. Subcision is procedure which uses a surgical probe to lift the scar tissue away from unscarred skin and elevate depressed scars. As you can imagine this is a complex surgical procedure and can be cumbersome and scary for the potential patient.
