How to Remove Dark Acne Scars
Scarring is common after an acne flareup. Most of these scars eventually fade on their own, but deep and dark acne scarring can be disfiguring and cause emotional distress. No scarring treatment is 100 percent effective in removing scars. Nonetheless, acne scars can be effectively alleviated by using combination therapy and utilizing different scar removal methods. Preventative care is an important component to acne scarring. Do not aggravate or touch acne lesions for this increases the chances of scarring. Diligently use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that has an SPF of 15 or higher. The sun aggravates and promotes acne scarring and the pooling of melanin.
Instructions
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Use dermabrasion to remove the outer layers of the skin. A qualified physician will use an abrasive tool to blast sand or crystal particles onto the skin, subsequently removing the epidermis and portions of the skin's dermis. Deep dermabrasion treatments are a bit more aggressive and requires longer recovery time.
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Use skin lighteners to spot-treat acne scars. Skin lighteners utilize kojic acid, licorice extract, arbutin or vitamin C to break down and fade melanin. Hydroquinone is an effective melanin inhibitor, but can be too harsh for sensitive skin types.
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Use chemical peels for superficial acne scars. Chemical peels use glycolic, trichloroacetic acid or salicylic acid to chemically slough off dead skin cells. Chemical peels promotes cellular turn over and the eventual fading of scars. A physician will choose the correct strength and treatment in correspondence to the severity of the acne scars.
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Use laser skin resurfacing (intense pulse light) to evaporate the epidermis. Laser skin resurfacing is very precise and less traumatic to the skin when juxtaposed to chemical or dermabrasion treatments. Downtime and recovery time is also less.
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Manual dermabranding is when a physician manually sloughs off the top layers of skin with silicone rarbide sand paper. This is a medium strength treatment and is usually used in conjunction with other acne scar treatments.
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Tips & Warnings
Promote healthy skin by eating a skin-healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables and antioxidant-rich foods.
Do not pick on acne pimples. This increases the chance of infection and scarring.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit physician and nurse image by Volodymyr Vasylkiv from Fotolia.com
