Acne Scars

Getting rid of your acne can be a great burden lifted off your shoulders (not to mention off your face, neck and back!). However, if your severe acne has left permanent acne scars, you might feel just as distressed as you did before. The worst forms of acne; often puss-filled cystic acne, can cause serious acne scarring.

The best way to avoid acne scarring is to be proactive. You should deal with your severe acne as soon as possible by consulting a dermatologist or medical spa professional when large acne nodules are forming. You should also devise an acne treatment plan that is recommended based on your skin tone and skin type.

The most common type of acne scar is often referred to as an “ice-pick” scar. This is because ice-pick scars are small indentations (often in the cheeks) with jagged edges and steep sides—similar to the marks made by an ice pick. Early, minor scarring can be treated by using a product like Retin-A, which can help speed up your skin’s healing process by generating new skin cells while sloughing off dead cells. Even staying out of the sun can help your acne scarring healing process along. However, with more permanent scarring, a non-surgical cosmetic might be in order. The best skincare treatments for acne scar removal include Microdermabrasion, Fractional Skin Resurfacing, Dermal Fillers, and Chemical Peels.

Microdermabrasion – Minor acne scars can be smoothed through a simple skin exfoliation like Microdermabrasion. It can help remove the dead and damaged skin from the surface. Microdermabrasion can be useful in treating raised acne scars. Deeper, sunken scars cannot be treated with this procedure.

Laser Skin Resurfacing – Acne scar laser treatments have become increasingly popular over the years. A carbon dioxide or YAG laser can precisely burn the top layer of skin; the skin then heals itself, replacing the old skin with newer healthier skin.

Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing -Gaining increased support is Fractional™ Laser Resurfacing, often known as Fraxel® for acne scars. This method uses high precision microbeams that cause undetectable "wounds" around the affected area, which in turn promotes collagen growth to help heal and fill your scars. Fractional laser resurfacing is available in ablative and non-ablative forms, with the latter requiring virtually no downtime. The severity of your acne scars will determine whether your skin care professional recommends ablative or non-ablative fractional resurfacing.

Thermage for Acne Scars - An alternative to laser treatments for acne scars, Thermage utilizes intense radio frequency to smooth your skin. Most people associate Thermage with skin tightening, but because it stimulates new collagen growth, many patients noticed it treated their acne scars by default.

Dermal Fillers – Dermal fills can help remedy acne scars by filling in the diveted areas caused by scarring, while plumping up your skin up. Most dermal fillers like Collagen Injections last only a few months before your body absorbs them, but Radiance can last up to 3 years. An injectable is by no means a permanent solution to acne scar removal; it does not correct the acne scar. Eventually, even with Radiance, further injections will be necessary.

– Chemical Peels are slowly being replaced by laser skin resurfacing as a cure for acne scars; however, they're still an effective treatment for severe scarring. Chemical peels work as a deep exfoliation; by removing the top layer, the skin regenerates, often improving its appearance.

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