Acne Treatment

Treating Acne Scar

People who have been left with acne scars can find hope in procedures recommended by dermatologists. There are several methods of removal or smoothing of the scars depending on age, health condition and severity.

Scarring is usually caused by a chronic condition of acne. Ice pick scarring is the most prevalent. It appears like rumpled plastic in a crater-like texture and can appear on the face, arms, back and buttocks.

Doctors have found several methods of lessening the scars or smoothing them:

• Dermabrasion refers to the process whereby a doctor removes top layers of the skin with an abrasive instrument similar to an electric sander. This method, and most others, leaves the skin red, but once it heals the surface appears smoother and healthier.
• Punch grafts is another method for removing scars. These are small portions of skin that are taken from one part of your body and implanted where deep holes have occurred. The skin that is transplanted comes from soft tissue parts of your body such as the ear lobe. Depending on the amount of skin tissue needed, the new skin may come from the inner part of the thigh.
• Chemical peels are popular with doctors and patients if the acne scar is not severe. A chemical is applied to the scarred tissue and left there for several minutes. The peel removes the top layer of the skin and allows for regeneration of new and healthier skin.
• Consideration is increasing for collagen injections. If the scars are not deep, the collagen can be injected below the skin to replace destroyed or severely damaged pores and cells.
• Doctors are recommending laser treatments more than any other method due to the lasting effects and minimal recurrence of problem areas. Laser treatments use a high-energy light to brandish away scars by carefully moving in small strokes to remove layers of damaged skin.
• Steroid injection directly into the scars may sometimes result in scar improvement. Doctors combine the steroid injects with surgery to reduce the size of scarring, but that is in selected patients.

• On specially diagnosed patients, doctors suggest cultured autologous fibroblasts. This entails collecting living cells from healthy tissues in your body and growing them in a laboratory until they are ready to insert into your scars. The tissue is injected into the scar and once they take hold will continue growing until the hole is filled and the skin is smoother. There are about three injections made over a period of time, but if you qualify for the procedure, this method is long lasting.
• A final solution for your acne scarring is to have major plastic surgery. There is a warning for this as far as acne is concerned. When a person has plastic surgery it thins the skin and if acne returns the person has less layers with which to work. A repeat surgery could produce unfavorable results.