Acne Scar Removal: More Smart Choices

Acne Scar Removal

There are a lot of products to keep acne under control but what if it’s too late? Acne can leave some rather hideous reminders of their glory on your skin, and you are usually pockmarked for life. While there are ways to minimize evidence of acne scarring, unfortunately, removing acne scars is not as simple as choosing among different products.

Acne scar removal involves certain procedures that depend on how old you are and the severity of the scarring, as well as your general health. Certain procedures cannot be done to people suffering particular ailments and other conditions. A consultation with your doctor will determine the kind of method suited to you, though you’ll also be asked which kinds of acne scar removal you would prefer.

Here are the different methods of acne scar removal:

Dermabrasion - This method is considered the most effective way of removing acne scarring. It involves using a high speed electrical instrument, like a brush or a sander, to remove the top layers of your skin, "sculpting" the scars and smoothing out your skin. This is done under an anesthetic, of course. Dermabrasion is good for minimizing small scars, surface scars and even surgical scars.

Microdermabrasion - A new, lighter version of dermabrasion, using aluminum oxide crystals fired through a tube-sized vacuum to remove your skin’s topmost layer. The advantage here is that since only the cells at the very surface of your skin is removed, there is no chance for new wounds to be created. However, it may not work hard enough at removing scars, compared to the other procedures.

Collagen injections - Collagen is a natural element, found in our own bodies. The kind of collagen used in this procedure is taken from cows. The purified collagen is injected beneath the skin to replace lost collagen, ideally to fill out the scars. While collagen works well for scars, wrinkles and lines, it may not work for the so-called "ice pick" scars that are typical of facial acne, usually found on your cheeks.

Chemical peels - Chemical peels work well for minor, superficial scars, as well as correcting sun damage and pigment discolorations. A chemical peel is applied to your skin for several minutes, removing the surface layer and allowing regeneration of new skin.

Laser treatments, particularly resurfacing - Lasers work in almost the same way dermabrasion machines do, but using a powerful high-energy light beam instead of a high-speed brush. Laser resurfacing is particularly good at removing damaged skin and reshaping acne scars. One laser treatment is usually all that is required. Due to the high impact of the lasers, however, the skin may react accordingly with a slight redness that may not go away for several months.

Autologous fat transfer or fibroblasting - This procedure collects fat from another area of your body to be injected beneath your skin to fill in the holes and scars left by acne. This works through careful harvesting of your body’s healthy living cells and processing. Better results are achieved with multiple injections over time. If you are fortunate to be considered for this procedure, you’ll find that the effects last longer.

Punch grafts - Called punch grafts because of the "punch" excisions made on each scar, the holes formed from this procedure are repaired with a small skin graft, again taken from your own body, usually soft, unscarred skin from behind the earlobes, or even from your thighs if more skin is required. This treatment is effective for deep acne scarring.

Keloid Steroid Injection - Some selected patients are given steroid injections to treat their acne scars, especially if the scars are in the form of keloids. Topical retinoid acid is also recommended for keloids left by acne,

Plastic Surgery - There are cases where surgery is necessary, as in damage control for unsatisfactory results of the aforementioned procedures. However, surgery is never highly recommended as too many significant skin layers are lost, making future eruptions of acne quite untreatable.
 
Whatever procedure you and your doctor agree upon, you must bear in mind that none of these procedures will give you back the skin of your youth. The goal, instead, is to remove the most visible of acne scars and improve your appearance. The best procedure is still prevention, so keep your acne under control before it results in major scarring. There are many acne control products to choose from, and in the meantime, wash your face regularly, keep your skin clean and your lifestyle healthy.