Even though acne typically clears up by the early twenties, acne scars often can last for a lifetime and may be extremely disfiguring. In spite of this there are ways to deal with any scarring, so what is the best acne scar treatment for you? There are a range of therapies offered, but they can be expensive so you need to carefully investigate them before you make a decision which one is right for you.
Microdermabrasion is suitable for minor acne scars that are raised above the skin surface. This essentially exfoliates the skin and gets rid of damaged or dead skin that is on the surface. Microdermabrasion isn’t right for deep scars or those that are sunk below the skin surface. In this treatment a machine is used to scatter extremely small crystals onto the the skin in a stream under pressure. The crystals used are typically aluminium oxide but others, for example sodium chloride, magnesium oxide or carborundum, are sometimes used as an alternative. This method removes the very top layer of the skin and also cleans out pores. It also strips off dead skin cells. It is low risk and doesn’t need any healing time.
Laser Skin Rejuvenation is a gentle procedure that doesn’t remove the top layer of skin as other laser treatments do but uses light rays which get through to the lower levels of the skin. This intensifies the growth of collagen which therefore helps to fill up the acne scars over the following months. There is no down period as there isn’t any damage to the skin and it takes only around twenty minutes to perform. There might be some slight skin reddening which is temporary and is simply covered by using make up. Laser skin rejuvenation methods are typically done over about a month to six weeks with around four or five treatments.
Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing is obtainable in two different forms called ablative and non-ablative. Recuperation from non-ablative laser treatment is much quicker and is generally used for mild scarring. The laser makes small areas of damage to the skin around the scars which brings about the production of more collagen in these areas which helps to heal the scar. This method is is usually thought to be one of the best acne scar treatments but is also the most high-priced.
Acne Scar Thermage Treatment is a newer method which uses radio frequency waves and is generally used for fine lines and wrinkles on the face. This method accelerates the growth of collagen and for that reason doesn’t cure scars in the same way as fractional laser skin resurfacing. It is pain free and isn’t invasive and takes around an hour.
Dermal Filling is usually temporary and consists of collagen injections which fill in the scars. A few months later the filling material used is absorbed by the skin. The collagen can be derived from either animal or other natural sources therefore if you are using a treatment based on animal collagen you must be tested for an allergic reaction before use. Some newer dermal fillers, for example Restylane®, use man-made materials which do not have the risk of an allergic reaction and frequently last much longer than the other collagen methods. If you are looking for a low-priced, although temporary method, this may perhaps be the best acne scar treatment for you.
Chemical Peels aren’t so common as they were previously as acne scar treatments such as laser skin resurfacing are being used more frequently instead. Nevertheless they are quite effective for mild to moderate acne scarring as they actually burn off the surface layer of the skin which then causes new unscarred, healthy skin to grow. The most popular kind of chemical peel uses glycolic acid which is a natural acid that is found in fruit and plants. The procedure only takes about 15 minutes and is relatively painless though there may be some stinging. Side effects can include redness and flaking of the skin which may perhaps last from a couple of days to around a week depending on the type and intensity of the chemical peel technique. A course of a minimum of four treatments is needed to notice any obvious improvement in scarring.
Final thoughts
How can you choose the best acne scar treatment? This will really be dependant on the amount of scarring you may have and, of course, on your funds. Some of the most helpful acne scar treatments are costly and need recurring visits to work effectively. Bear in mind how deep your scarring is and set up a consultation with a dermatologist to talk about the laser treatment for scars that will suit you best.
Recommended Reading
