What Is the Best Way to Get Rid of Acne Scars?
Acne is a common, chronic disease that affects everyone from teenagers to adults. It is caused by oily skin, dead skin cells and bacteria on the skin, all working together to cause a wide range of skin eruptions, from pimples and blackheads to pustules and cysts. These eruptions leave scars, all of which are clearly visible on the skin. While there is not a single best way to remove acne scars, several methods have proven to be effective.
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Types
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Several types of medical procedures help treat acne scars. Some of the treatments now available make the scars less noticeable. Other types seem to remove all traces of the scars. But the process takes time. Acne scars are of various types: Some are only surface discolorations, while others are deep-pitted scars. The type of scars a person has determines the course of treatment. The available methods include dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, laser resurfacing, filler and surgery.
Function
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Microdermabrasion affects only the surface of the skin. With this technique, a hand-held device containing tiny crystals is applied to the skin. The crystals scrub or polish the top layer of the skin. A small vacuum-type device is then used to remove the crystals and the skin cells sloughed off. Microdermabrasion has a subtle effect and is best for small surface scars. Dermabrasion is for more severe acne, because the top layer of the skin is removed. With this method, a wire brush is rotated over the skin. This method makes deeper scars like pockmarks less visible. A temporary solution for deeper scars is using collagen to fill the scars. With this method, collagen--or, in some cases, fat--is injected under the skin to plump up the deeper scars. Laser resurfacing uses laser or light beams to remove the top layer of skin, causing a wound. The heat of the laser helps the underlying skin layer to heal quickly, forming a new layer of skin that is less scarred. Other lasers don't use intense light beams, so the top skin isn't destroyed. With these treatments, the underlying layer is only heated, and this promotes new skin growth. The most dramatic acne treatment is skin surgery, in which the scar is cut out and new skin is then grafted onto the area. This method is reserved for the most severe and disfiguring of scars.
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Warning
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None of these acre scar treatments is guaranteed to work. The best results are possible with several sessions of the same treatment over a period of several months. Not all treatments work for everyone. The skills of the doctor or dermatologist also play an important role in how successful the acne treatments are. Microdermabrasion requires many treatments, and because the results are always subtle, the scars may still be visible after several treatments. Demabrasion treatments may cause the pigment to change in people of color. With the collagen filler treatment, you have to repeat the injections to keep the effect. Laser resurfacing produces subtle effects, so the procedure will have to be repeated several times. The skin surgery method is more complicated and involves more risks, such as using anesthesia and possible infection.
Benefits
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With clearer skin and less visible acne scars, a person's self-esteem is elevated. Removing or reducing scars can create not only physical changes in the appearance of the skin, but also psychological changes in a person's psyche. Acne scar treatments can improve people's lives by making them feel better about themselves.
Considerations
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All of the acne scar treatments are expensive, and while improvements in skin appearance are quite possible, there is no guarantee that they will work. Many health-insurance companies will not pay for these procedures because they are considered cosmetic. Also, not all treatments are useful for all types of scars. You need to have a consultation with an experienced dermatologist or plastic surgeon to learn which acne treatments methods will yield the best results for your particular situation.
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