As if having acne were not bad enough, being left with scars is simply unacceptable. Fortunately you do not have to accept it. Nowadays there are a range of treatments available that you can evaluate when determining how to remove acne scars.
First, it is important to know that there are four different types of acne scarring: ice pick scars, box car scars, rolling scars and hypertrophic scars. The type you have will determine how to get rid of your acne scars.
Ice pick scars are deep pits and are the classic acne scars usually found on the cheeks. Rolling scars have a wave like appearance and may appear on the cheeks and forehead. Box car scars are often around the temple area and look a lot like chicken pox scars. Hypertrophic scars are thick, or keloid scars, and they stand out from the skin. To determine the extent of your scarring and the best treatment for you, it is essential that you consult a good dermatologist.
One of the treatments being used to get rid of ice pick acne scars is laser treatment. This treatment can be very effective and you should notice results in a short period of time. Some people may worry that the treatment is painful. While there is some pain, it is usually minimal. If you are considering this type of treatment for your scarring, be sure to consult a qualified skin specialist.
Chemical peels are not generally effective on ice pick scarring, however dermabrasion may be. In the past, dermabrasion was not considered to be a good option for ice pick scarring because it could reveal deeper scarring. But today dermatologists use a combination of dermabrasion and “punch” excision of scar tissue to treat ice pick scars.
Getting rid of rolling scars usually involves subcutaneous incision. This involves breaking up fibrous bands of tissue under the skin with a special needle. This effective technique is performed with local anesthetic and the patient can expect some residual pain. Box car scars that are superficial can be treated with traditional skin resurfacing methods and deeper box cars scars may require full thickness treatment methods. Keloid scars are less common and may be treated with injecting steroids into the scar.
Other procedures which may be effective at getting rid of acne scars are dermal fillers and laser resurfacing. Dermal fillers involve injecting collagen into the acne scars to plump out the skin and make it look smoother. Laser resurfacing burns the epidermal layers of the skin causing the skin to regenerate itself. Laser resurfacing requires a healing period and patients should expect some swelling or pain.
It should be noted that early acne scars are much easier to get rid of and will probably not require surgical procedures. Topical treatments like alpha-hydroxy acids or vitamin A creams may help early acne scars and inflammation to heal effectively, avoiding more invasive scar treatments later on. If your acne is currently active, find out what you can do prevent scarring in the first place.
Finally, any treatments that you identify when researching how to remove acne scars should be discussed with your dermatologist. Ask them for more information and make sure you understand what results you can expect from any procedure.
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