Health Tips from a Mother of Three

3 Treatment Options For Acne Scars

Acne scars can be embarrassing, but many treatments are available for people who want to hide the evidence of their pimpled teenage years. Here are three treatment options for acne scars.

Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion is a cosmetic treatment that surgically scrapes away the top layers of your skin. New skin will replace the layers that are removed, and this new skin usually looks smoother than the old skin.

Your doctor will numb your face and then remove the acne scars with a wire brush. A diamond wheel can also be used to remove the scar tissue. After the procedure, you'll only feel minimal pain, and your skin will grow back within eight days.

It's possible for this treatment to cause acne flare-ups, so if you're still dealing with acne, your doctor will recommend different treatments. This procedure also isn't ideal for dark-skinned people because it can lead to discoloration of the skin.

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are a cosmetic treatment that can give you smooth skin right away. This treatment involves injecting fillers made of hyaluronic acids—molecules that are naturally present in your skin and other connective tissues—into pitted scars to plump up the skin.

Your scars will be numbed first. To prevent bruising and further minimize pain, your doctor will hold an ice cube against the scar briefly before injecting the fillers. Your doctor will then press against the injection site with gauze. This procedure will be repeated for every scar.

Afterwards, your doctor will let you look in a mirror to see the results of your treatment. At this point, you can tell your doctor if there are any scars that are still bothering you, and they can be re-treated.

This treatment isn't ideal for people with deep, narrow acne scars. If your acne scars wide and deep or wide and shallow, dermal fillers are a good choice.

Laser Skin Resurfacing

Laser skin resurfacing can be used for people with severe acne scars who aren't helped by other methods. Lasers burn away the scarred layer of skin, and then a new, unscarred layer grows in its place.

If your scarring is limited, the areas to be treated will be numbed with a local anesthetic. If you have widespread scarring on your face, general anesthesia may be required. Your doctor will treat all of your scars with pulses from the laser, and then they'll bandage your face. Healing can take up to 21 days.

This treatment isn't ideal for people who suffer from cold sores since it can trigger a flare up. Since lasers can destroy the melanin in your skin, you may also end up with lighter areas on your face.

If you want to get rid of your acne scars, ask your dermatologist which of treatments is best for you. To learn more, contact a dermatology clinic like Advanced Dermatology Care


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