- While some ethnicities are at higher risk for acne, the condition does not discriminate. Unfortunately, Asians run a higher risk of acne scarring than other ethnicities, although people of African descent also run a higher than normal risk. The skin condition is also common among Caucasians. Acne among Hispanics and Middle Eastern individuals is generally less pronounced.
-
Dermatologists begin the treatment process by determining the type of acne scarring taking place.
Atrophic, or pitted, scars do not run deep and feature smooth edges. Box-shaped scars, usually found on the forehead or cheeks, are well defined in a pattern that matches the name. Ice-pick scars leave deep, rough-edged pits. Hypertrophic scars, generally confined to the trunk of the body, are raised and create a lumpy texture. They confine themselves to the affected area and often grow smaller or disappear. Keloid scars form when tissue grows beyond the affected area, leaving a wide, pronounced scar. Rolling scars are shallower in nature but can feature an ugly, wide surface. -
Chemical peels use substances such as glycolic acid to remove the outer skin layers, thereby promoting growth of new skin. In most instances, you will need several chemical peels to see results. In addition, the burn caused by the chemical can be painful and take awhile to heal.
Dermabrasion is divided into three categories: deep, medium and superficial. Superficial dermabrasion employs abrasive tools to remove the outer layers of skin. Medium dermabrasion uses a brush or sandpaper to remove scarring from the upper levels of skin. Deep dermabrasion treatments are long term in nature and require more healing time. This treatment can have complications because it invades lower skin layers.
Laser resurfacing uses light to restructure the skin's surface. The first lasers used carbon dioxide, but they often destroyed healthy skin cells, which led to a longer healing time. These lasers also can also damage your skin's natural color. More widely used today are nonablative lasers, which involve medium risk and heal faster. Another option is the pulse-dye laser. It not only works on scarring, but also removes redness. A fractionated laser changes the scar's surface so that it blends better with surrounding skin.
Punch excision and subcision are surgical scar-removal procedures. Punch excision works exactly as it sounds: A doctor uses a tool to punch a hole in the skin to remove scar tissue. The wound is stitched together to encourage the growth of healthy tissue. This process is used for deep scarring, replacing a larger scar with something less noticeable so that it can be treated to blend in with surrounding skin. Subcision is generally used on atrophic scarring to lift the skin's surface. It involves using a needle inserted into the scar area in order to release bound tissue.
