Acne scars are a minor irritation at best; at worst, they can be disfiguring and affect both appearance and self-esteem. Preventive treatments can help to avoid further scarring, but cannot eliminate the scars that are already there. Luckily there are many effective treatments available to get rid of acne scars, allowing patients to reduce and in some cases eliminate unsightly scars altogether. These include dermabrasion, laser treatments, topical line fillers, chemical peels, and, in serious cases, surgical treatments.
Getting Rid of Acne Scars with Dermabrasion and Microdermabrasion
One of the oldest methods of acne scar reduction, dermabrasion is, as its name suggests, the abrading away of scar tissue allowing smoother skin to be revealed beneath. After the application of local or injected anesthetic, the top layer of skin is usually frozen and then removed with a surgical rotating knife. This basic method of exfoliation actually removes the scar tissue, and depending on the depth of the scarring, can eliminate the scar permanently. Deeper scars may need more treatments, however, and some cannot be removed using this method. While this treatment is still used in some cases, dermabrasion is less frequently used today since modern treatments offer fewer risks and more benefits in most cases.
Microdermabrasion has gained greater favor with most physicians due to its ease of use and the fact that no anesthetic is usually required. Microdermabrasion typically uses jets of fine organic particles or a device with a rapidly rotating abrasive surface to gradually wear away scar tissue. Good results can be achieved through this method, but repeated treatments are usually necessary to reduce scar tissue permanently.
Get Rid of Acne Scars with Chemical Peels
These are familiar to most as an anti-aging therapy, but they also have utility in treating some minor acne scars. By administering a mild irritating chemical solution to the affected area, chemical peels stimulate the skin to shed its outer layer, allowing the new skin underneath to come to the surface. While this skin is usually delicate and sensitive to light and other stimuli, it often shows less signs of scarring than the older skin that has been removed. While chemical peels are usually only minimally effective at eliminating scarring, they can produce good results when combined with other treatments.
Methods for Getting Rid of Severe Acne Scars
Laser Treatments
When acne scars are harshly discolored, laser therapy can produce results by working beneath the skin’s surface to reduce unwanted coloration and destroy damaged cells. Generally speaking, laser treatments work by creating multiple tiny wounds in the dermis, a layer of skin just under the outer layer. As the body heals these wounds, it regenerates the tissue surrounding them, eliminating scar tissue and growing new skin in its place. A beneficial side effect of laser treatment is the increased production of collagen, instrumental in maintaining and improving general skin tone. This increase in collagen is beneficial in smoothing out the bumps and pockmarks sometimes associated with acne scarring. Laser resurfacing is a specific form of laser therapy, designed to work both on the surface of the skin and on the dermis. This method can allow more rapid results than traditional laser treatments, but usually with a higher price tag. Laser therapy shows great promise in not only minimizing, but in most cases eliminating acne scarring.
Topical Line Fillers
This treatment is usually used for scars that produce a noticeable indentation. Injections of collagen, fat, or other medical compounds are administered to the site of the scar, filling in the depressed area and creating a smoother surface. While these treatments are usually temporary, good results can be achieved by this method, especially when combined with cosmetics to cover the scar.
Surgical Treatments
For hard, irregular acne scars, a process called punch excision is often used to surgically remove the scar tissue, allowing your skin to heal naturally and leaving a minimal scar in place of an unsightly one. This procedure usually requires anesthesia, but can be done in your dermatologist’s office rather than in the hospital. When combined with microdermabrasion or laser resurfacing, the scar may be eliminated entirely. Another surgical technique, known as subcision, involves cutting under the scar tissue, allowing improved blood circulation and promoting healing from beneath the scar. The intent is to eventually allow the scar tissue to fall away naturally, allowing smoother skin to emerge from underneath.
Topical creams and silicone-based scar treatments also show good results for some acne scars. Some scar treatments are only available by prescription or at your dermatologist’s office; others, such as chemical peels, can be provided at your local spa or even performed in your own home. There are a number of options for getting rid of acne scars.
