The worst thing about having acne is the potential for scars to form. These scars remain long after the acne is gone and can affect a person’s self esteem and body image. While it is important to minimize acne breakouts, you should also be very concerned about the possibility of scars. In doing so, there are a few things you should keep in mind:
Prevention Is Better Than the Cure
If you haven’t already done so, consider consulting a dermatologist before your acne gets worse. A qualified physician can help you determine your skin type and to find what possibly is triggering your acne. If you already have suffered with acne and developed scars, there are still things you can do. Before we discuss ways of minimizing scars and preventing further scarring, let us first discuss what exactly causes those scars.
What Are Acne Scars?
Acne scars develop when pimples become inflamed and do not heal properly. This is often caused by picking at or squeezing pimples when they form. Picking and squeezing at the affected area causes healthy skin to be injured over time. When the skin is damaged beyond a certain point, the body forms new tissue fibers in an attempt to heal. These new tissue fibers appear as a scar. So to get rid of existing scars, the scar tissue must be replaced by healthy tissue.
How effectively you can minimize or cure acne scars depends on the severity of the scarring and the treatment method you choose. With severe scarring, more effort and time may be required to completely heal the scar.
Treatment Methods For Acne Scars
There are various methods for healing acne scars. Some are more effective than others. All of them have different side effects you want to be aware of. Choices include:
Laser Resurfacing. With this method, a carbon dioxide laser burns away the damaged skin. The tool removes several layers of skin. After the outer layers of scar tissue are removed, new skin cells will begin to form as the healing process starts a few weeks later. If done correctly, a healthier smoother skin surface begins to appear. Laser resurfacing is a relatively new process, so you should consult with a dermatologist about whether or not it is right for you.
Dermabrasion. This method uses either a spinning diamond tool or a rotating wire brush to remove the outer layers of the skin that is damaged. When the skin begins to heal, a new healthier skin will replace the scar tissue. The healing process may take up to 3 weeks or longer depending on if any complications occur.
Chemical peels. With this method, an acidic solutions is applied to the skin to peel away the damaged layers. Just as with the other methods, the idea is that new healthy skin will eventually replace the older damaged skin once the healing process occurs. Although chemical peels are available for home use, it is best to let a professional apply them.
Punch grafts. This method is used for more advanced cases of acne scarring. With punch grafts, a piece of scar tissue is removed and is then replaced with healthy tissue. The healthy skin simply replaces the damaged skin.
But do they work?
The various treatments discussed above all have a moderate success rate. While many people have been happy with the results, others have not been satisfied. While results are expected to vary, it is still important to research the various methods available to you for scar removal and make an informed decision. Living with acne scars can be very difficult. Seek out the advice of a dermatologist and find out what your options are.