Acne Scars – Types Of Treatment

Before considering treatment for your acne scarring, seek professional advice by consulting a dermatologist or you physician.

Acne Laser Treatment

Acne scarring can be treated via Lazer Treatment which has proven to be a successful method of treatment with different individuals suffering with various forms of scarring. Lazer therapy works by concentrating intense light on targeted scar tissue, penetrating your skin to effectively ‘burn off’ the scar or ‘dig out’ the scar. There are various forms of lazer treatment and it is advisable you seek professional assistance before deciding on a course of therapy.

Collagen Injections

Collagen is a substance developed by and housed in the body and can be used to stretch the skin, flatten it and raise the level of indentations caused by scarring via an injection to targeted scar tissue. Collagen injections have proved an excellent form of treatment with various forms of scarring but has differing results with more complex scarring such as Ice-pick and Keloids. Results usually last between 3-6 months before follow up injections are needed.

Autologous Fat Transfer

Fat transfer treatment means exactly that, transferring fat from other parts of your body, preparing it before injecting it underneath target acne scar tissue to elevate indented or depressed scarring to be flush with unaffected and healthy skin. Fat transfer works better with deep and sloping acne scarring and usually the procedure will need repeated at some stage.

Dermabrasion Acne Treatment

This is considered the most successful and effective form of acne scar treatment and works under a local anesthetic with a high speed abrasive brush designed to remove layers of surface skin. This form of treatment can remove superficial scars altogether and greatly reduce the significance of others. However for deeper scars like Ice-pick scarring, Dermabrasion can actually make matters worse. Fortunately a combination of this method and punch excision has proved effective with deeper forms of scarring.

Skin Surgery (Punch Excision)

Punch excision is a method for treating deep and complex scarring such as Ice-pick scars and works by punching holes into the affected areas of acne scarring which can be “filled” in with sutures or small skin grafts. This technique effectively lifts depressed scar tissue to level with unscarred skin. In conjunction with Dermabrasion, this can reduce the appearance of scarring.

Microdermabrasion Acne Treatment

Microdermabrasion treatment is a relatively new technique and is very similar to Dermabrasion, but as the name suggests, isn’t as intensive. This method works by passing aluminum oxide crystals through a tube to remove surface skin. Unlike Dermabrasion however, Microdermabrasion removes just surface cells. Results vary and numerous procedures are often required.

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels have proved successful in fighting acne scarring and consists of acidic solutions that when applied to infected areas, disintegrates the outer layer to reveal an underlying, unaffected skin layer. This is quite a common practice and results vary with certain scarring forms. For deeper scars like Ice-pick scarring chemical peels aren’t so effective. Ideal for removing blackheads or whitehead forms of acne.

Keloids Treatment

Keloids scarring, where increased tissue forms around the acne, can be combated by injecting steroids into affected areas. Topical retinoic acid may also be applied to Keloids, however in most cases the best form of treatment with severe cases is none at all as treatment can actually worsen scarring or inflame healing scarring.