Acne Articles

If you have had acne your are aware that a scar may form after healing. Some scars are minor, and of little concern, while others slowly fade away on their own. However, there are many unfortunate cases where the scaring remains without ever healing entirely on its own.

Today, there are numerous ways to minimize, and even get rid of your acne scar. Here are a list of effective treatments to help with this problem. Review them, and discuss with a dermatologist any that you feel will benefit you.

1. Topical Medication - Mild scars, quite often, can be treated with medications in the form of a topical solution. You simply apply the healing gel, or paste to the affected area. This type of medication usually contains tretinoin, Alpha-HydroxyAcid (AHAs), Beta-Hydroxy Acid (BHA), or a combination of these. These ingredients effectively enhance the remodeling process of the skin, as well as help in the healing of post-inflammatory changes.

2. Laser Resurfacing - This procedure effectively corrects the scarring by resurfacing the skin. A laser beam is used on the scar to burn off the topmost layer of the skin up to a certain depth. This procedure can permanently rid the face of scars which are not too deeply set. Usually, carbon dioxide and erbium:YAG lasers are used for this procedure.

3. Skin Graft Replacement - For more serious cases of acne scars, skin grafting may be necessary. This procedure involves the taking of a patch of skin, usually, from behind the ears, to be grafted over the existing acne scar. The skin used in a graft will be of a slightly different color, and texture. To correct this problem, a skin resurfacing technique is employed.

4. Dermal Fillers - This requires the injecting a substance, commonly known as the dermal filler, directly into the scarred area. Dermal Fillers may be comprised of fat, human collagen, bovine collagen, or hyaluronic acid derivatives. While this procedure is effective, it is by no means a permanent solution, and in all probability, you would need to undergo further injections when the scar resurfaces.

5. Punch Elevation - This procedure uses a punch tool to remove the base of the acne scar. The skin located under that base is then raised to the skins surface. Here, it is attached with the use of steri-strips, sutures, or skin glue. This method reduces, or even eliminates the potential problem of having a difference in skin color, or texture in the affected area.

6. Subcutaneous Incision - Known simply as Subcision, and performed with a specially beveled needle, this procedure breaks up the skin band which causes rolling scars. This treatment is administered using local anesthesia, and will result in some bruising and minor bleeding.

These are some of the more common ways of treating an acne scar. Some are quite simple, and work well on minor scarring, while the treatment of more serious cases may require minor surgery. Before deciding what might be best for you, be sure to consult with a dermatologist who is highly experienced in this field before undergoing any treatment.

Acne scars can be an emotional drain on ones confidence. But, today there is really no reason to give up hope. Successful treatment, and even the elimination of these scars is really possible. Educate yourself as to what might be most beneficial for your individual situation, be aware of any side effects, carefully choose and consult with an experienced dermatologist, and let the advancements in medical technology treat, or even remove your acne scar.