How to Remove Acne Scars

It is a cruel thing. An adolescent haven gone through those difficult years plagued by acne, those years that are already so difficult, but then when the acne has been treated, it turns out that there are still signs of them left. Scars. These can be difficult to cope with mentally, but, luckily, today there exists a number of ways how you can remove acne scars.

What Are They?

Acne scars are the injuries that are caused by the body’s inflammatory response to sebum, bacteria and dead cells in the plugged sebaceous follicle. There are two true types of scars:

• Depressed areas such as ice-pick scars
• Raised thickened tissue such as keloids

When tissue suffers an injury, the body automatically responds. The response consists of white blood cells and an array of inflammatory molecules which begin to repair the tissue and fight infection. However, once the repair has been finalized, there are at times, messy repair sites in the form of fibrous scar tissue, or eroded tissue.

Consequences Vary From Person to Person

The consequences of acne scars varies both physically and mentally. Physically, there are certain people that bear their acne scars for a lifetime without much change. However, there are others who undergo some degree of remodeling and acne scars diminish in size.

Acne scars are also psychologically depressing for some people, whereas they are accepted by others. Those who are distressed about their scars are more likely, rightfully so, to seek treatment to moderate or remove the scars.

The Importance of Consulting Your Dermatologist

There are numerous treatments available for acne scars nowadays. Most of them will, or should at least, be undertaken in a dermatologic surgery. People wishing to seek treatment should undergo a full medical consultation in order to discover which type of treatment would be best for their skin type and scars.

A dermatologist will:

• Ask whether your scars affect you emotionally or psychologically.
• Look at the severity of your scars.
• Give you their best opinion on which treatment you should receive, and give you realistic expectations on how much improvement is likely to occur.

The intention of scar treatment is to give the skin the best possible appearance. It is not always possible to completely remove acne scars, but scar treatment does in the vast majority of cases improve the appearance of your skin.

Overview of the Possible Treatments

But what are the possible treatments? Is there a way how to remove keloids? How to eliminate pimple scars? How to remove acne marks?

Yes, there is. Due to the vast improvements in the fields of dermatology and plastic surgery, a number of procedures intended to remove acne scars now exist:

• Autologous Fat Transfer

In order to raise depressed scars, fat is taken from another part of your body and injected into your skin. This method is designed to correct deep contour defects caused by acne. Long lasting results usually require multiple procedures, as the fat tends to be reabsorbed into the skin after 6 to 18 months.

• Collagen Injections

Collagen, which is a natural substance of the body, can be injected into the skin in order to stretch and fill out certain types of superficial and deep soft scars. This treatment, however, is often ineffective in treating ice-pick scars and keloids.

• Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion consists of removing the surface skin using a high-speed brush or fraise. This method will, potentially, remove superficial scars completely and reduce the depth of deeper scars. Dermabrasion is considered the most effective treatment available for most types of scars. However, it is generally ineffective in treating ice-pick scars.

• Laser Treatment

Lasers can be used to recontour scar tissue and reduce the redness of the skin, which is present around healed acne lesions. In some cases, only a single treatment is required to achieve permanent results.

• Microdermabrasion

A less abrasive procedure than dermabrasion, but also with less significant results. Instead of using a high-speed brush, aluminum crystals are passed through a vacuum tube in order to remove surface skin. Only the surface cells of the skin are removed.

• Skin Grafting

Some cases may require skin grafts. For example, it may be required if dermabrasion reveals large and extensive tunnels under the surface skin.

• Skin Surgery

There are some ice-pick scars that can be removed by “punch” excision of each individuals scar. During this procedure, each scar is excised down to the layer of subcutaneous fat and the resulting hole in the skin is filled using sutures or with a small skin graft.

Downtime, Recovery and Risks

It is important to keep in mind, that many of these procedures, for example dermabrasion, require a substantial period of downtime while the skin recovers. Even though progress has been made that shortens the recovery, it will still be difficult for some patients to find the time required. An example could be full time employees. If you consider one of these treatments, be sure you are aware how much downtime is involved and that you have the opportunity to take the required time off from your work, educational institution, etc..

Also keep in mind that these are surgical procedures and that surgical procedures always involve risks. Potential patients have to be aware of them, and weigh them against the probable improvement they will benefit from.

Conclusion

Before any form of treatment intended to remove scars is undertaken, it is vital that you undertake a full consultation with your dermatologist. You need to build up a trusting relationship, where you are realistic about how much improvement you are likely to see and where your dermatologist understands your wishes. Acne scars can deeply affect the self-confidence and well-being of those who suffer from them, if it does, seeking treatment is advisable, as, nowadays, there are many ways, many treatments, that make it possible to improve the appearance of, or, even, remove acne scars.