Removing Deep Acne Scars
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About Scarring
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While topical treatments like microdermabrasion, chemical peels or Retin-A may help with shallow acne scars, deep scars will likely require more serious medical intervention. There are a number of surgical and nonsurgical options available, and the best treatment can be determined through consultation with a dermatologist.
Nonsurgical Treatments
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Substances may be injected directly into the scar to break up underlying fibrous tissue or slow the cell division in scars that are still forming. Corticosteroid injection can be effective on hypertrophic scars, which are raised red scars, and keloid scars, which are small, firm nodules. Antimitotic agents, which inhibit the growth of scar tissue, can be injected into scars that are still forming.
Cryotherapy may be used to obliterate the old scar and produce a new one, which is then treated, often with injections, to make a smaller or more shallow scar.
Laser therapy is used on raised scars, which reduces the scar's height, makes the tissue softer and can sometimes change the color of the scar from red or brown to something closer to the patient's skin tone.
If the scar is pitted instead of raised, a filler material like collagen or fat can be injected into the scar. However, this only works if the scar tissue is soft, as very fibrous scar tissue will not allow the collagen to plump the skin. These injections are not permanent, though permanent implants are available if the scar is large enough to warrant this. -
Surgical Treatments
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Scar excision is an invasive procedure, but it can provide permanent results. Here, the scar is cut out of the skin, and the skin stitched together. The surgical scar is thin, and can be treated throughout the healing process with topical preparations or injections. This is an option generally used with larger scars, and there are a number of different surgical techniques that can be employed depending on the location of the scar and the condition of the surrounding skin.
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