How to Get Rid of Acne Scars

Acne can leave long lasting scars on your face, back, or other areas which it affects. Not just a handful of pimples, acne is a medical condition that needs to be treated by a professional. Begin by going to a Dermatologist. Once you arrive in their office, these are some of the treatments they might suggest to get rid of acne scars.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Get Dermabrasion. This is not to be confused with micro-dermabrasion which removes the very top layer of dead surface skin cells from the face. Dermabrasion is a coarser method, which removes further layers. Almost as if you were to rub sandpaper on your face (which you shouldn't!) But the sandpaper imagery is the general idea of what this process entails. The dermatologist will numb your face first and then begin removing layers through the "sanding" process. Recovery time is usually a couple weeks. Your skin will eventually scab. Once the scabs fall of, new skin will emerge with a fresh youthful glow. This works best on patients with very light or very dark skin. Patients in between might want to look for another procedure.
2. Try Laser Resurfacing. This is another way to clear away pimples and finally get rid of acne scars. This is a fairly new procedure and it should be noted that not a lot of trials have been done on its long term effects. The process entails a laser being used to eradicate acne scarring. As of now the two lasers in use are the CO2 laser and the YAG laser. Both accomplish similar things and your doctor may have a preference over which they like to use. But remember to learn about each and ultimately the choice is up to you. The laser works in a similar fashion as dermabrasion. It removes the top layers of the skin which has been damaged so that new healthy skin can grow. Recovery time is a couple of weeks. Your doctor may have you apply a topical ointment as well to help with the recovery process. Depending on the depth of acne scarring, sometimes bandages are necessary as well.
3. Have a chemical peel performed. This is a good treatment for very light acne scarring. Different types of acid are applied to the top layer of the skin. The acid is then removed about 15 minutes later. Again this will remove the top damaged layers of the epidermis. Redness and swelling is common after the procedure. Depending on the amount of acid applied, recovery time can take from a day to a couple of weeks.
4. Receive the Punch Technique. This is meant for people with deep pitted acne scars. Much like a hair transplant, a piece of scarred skin is
   "punched" then removed. Then skin graft is taken, usually from behind the ear, and placed where the scarred skin was removed. After this treatment is complete it can also be combined with Laser Resurfacing or Dermabrasion. If the area on the skin is small enough, a graft may not be needed to replace it. Also, if the scarring is not deep into the skin, your dermatologist may be able to simply punch away the top layers of the skin and let the underlying layers heal and emerge. Recovery time can take several weeks or longer.
5. Consider Augmentation. This is a process by which your dermatologist injects fillers, usually collagen, under the skin to help smooth the acne scarred area. Also the doctor may take fat from other places in your body and inject that instead of collagen. Recovery time is short, a day at most, as it's just like receiving any other shot. People often return to work right away. It should be noted that this is a temporary fix at the moment, lasting about six months. However, in the future as different "fillers" are discovered, it may last longer.

Tips & Warnings

• Always consult a dermatologist for the best course of action when treating your acne condition.