Acne Scar Removal

Acne is not a lot of fun, and no one wants to wake up in the morning to see that they have a brand new pimple to share with the world. Most are lucky, and they fly through adolescences with only minor problems, and those problems always clear up and are a thing of the past. Some are not so lucky though, and they end up with scars that go on with them into adulthood. These are never easy to live with, as we often think of our face as how we present ourselves to the world. When it becomes apparent that this is something that is not going to go away, acne scar removal is an option for some.

Most serious scarring is caused by the more severe which causes nodules - painful, pus-filled cysts or lumps - to appear under the skin. It is these nodules that are more likely to leave permanent scars than other types of acne. Getting treatment soon after acne appears is the best way to prevent further severe acne and scarring.

There are a few things to consider when thinking about acne scar removal however. It will not work for everyone, and it might not erase everything. Some can see a huge improvement though, and that is far better than doing nothing at all. How well a treatment for acne scar removal will work depends on quite few things. The extent of the scarring is a major factor, as are age and placement of each blemish on the skin. How well you heal and how well you handle medical treatments also come into play for some people.

If your doctor thinks you are a good candidate for acne scar removal, and you have been evaluated, there are a few things that they can do for you.

• One technique is dermabrasion, which is a procedure that uses a rotating wire brush or spinning diamond instrument to wear down and smooth out the top layer of skin. This can also be used to minimize some types of small wrinkles and other scars. As the skin heals, a new, smoother layer replaces the abraded skin. It may take a bit longer for skin to heal using dermabrasion — usually between 10 days and 3 weeks. 
• Chemical peels are another option. These completely remove the top layer of skin and a fresh layer regenerates, usually looking much better.
• Some doctors will recommend collagen or fat deposits to be inserted under the skin. These usually help puff out areas where scarring has pitted the skin. Both substances can eventually be adsorbed by the body. This can work well for some types of acne scars, and because it is not always permanent, this treatment for acne scar removal may have to be repeated once or twice a year.
• Laser treatments can also work for less noticeable scars that have not penetrated down into the skin too far. With this procedure, the surgeon uses a wand-like laser hand-piece with which he burns off the scarred skin cells. And, as with chemical peels, fresh skin cells then replace the burned-off cells.