What Are the Treatments for Acne Scars?
A painful reminder of a past battle with acne breakouts, acne scars form as a result of the skin's inflammatory response to the bacteria present in a clogged sebaceous gland. There are two types of acne scarring: atrophic and hypertrophic. Hypertrophic, or, keloid, scarring appears as an overgrowth of tissue, while atrophic scarring appears as depressed indentations in the face. Atrophic scarring is the most common form of acne scarring and also easier to treat. While acne scar treatments will never completely remove scars, they can greatly reduce them and improve the general appearance of the skin.
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Laser Therapy
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Over the past 10 years, laser therapy has emerged as a popular method to treat acne scarring. Ablative lasers smooth scarring by vaporizing the top layers of skin, and non-ablative lasers encourage new collagen formation by blasting high frequency light into the skin without removing the epidermis. The latest laser procedure to join the acne-scar arsenal involves a combined ablative and non-ablative laser. Known as fractional ablative resurfacing, the treatment is more aggressive than non-ablative laser therapy, but without the long recovery time associated with ablative laser treatments.
Dermabrasion
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Before the onset of laser therapy, dermabrasion was the most common acne-scar treatment. Dermabrasion uses a rotating wire brush or a spinning diamond instrument to sand away damaged layers of skin. Patients must be sedated and there is significant redness and swelling following the treatment. It can take four to six weeks for the redness to completely fade. Dermabasion may not be appropriate for patients with darker complexions, as it can sometimes result in pigmentation changes.
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CIT
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Developed by a South African plastic surgeon, collagen induction therapy, or CIT, involves rolling a device fitted with small thin needles across the face to break down scar tissue and encourage the formation of new collagen. Also known as medical dermarolling, or skin needling, CIT causes some bleeding and swelling, but does not damage the epidermis. Patients usually require at least one week of downtime to recover. Unlike other methods of acne scar removal, there is no risk of pigmentation changes, making CIT an appealing alternative.
Chemical Peels
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Chemical peels use an acid solution to burn away layers of damaged skin and are available in a variety of strengths. TCA and phenol peels are commonly used to treat acne scars. Recovery can take at least a week, and the patient must take care to keep newly peeled skin away from UV light. Chemical peels can cause pigmentation problems, making them an option only for fair-skinned patients.
Dermal Fillers
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Comprised of collagen, hyaluronic acid or a patient's own fat, dermal fillers are injected into individual scars to replace lost collagen and plump the skin. Fillers require less downtime than other acne-scar treatment methods and are safe for patients with darker complexions. However, since fillers are eventually absorbed back into the body, results are temporary and treatments must be repeated.
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