How to Get Rid Of Acne Scars
Acne is bad enough when it is reigning over your face, but it is worse because of the acne scar that it can leave. Acne can be difficult to get rid of it.
Even with the best acne treatment, the reddishness may persist even for a year after treatment, though it disappears after that. Sometimes bumps and macules may remain, but even these are not permanent. Some acne scars may remain after the acne has been eliminated.
Though acne scar is an eyesore, every scar is the aftermath of body’s healing process. When the white blood cells attack the bacteria, they create fibrous tissue in the area and that is what becomes an acne scar.
An acne scar may be an icepick scar, boxcar scar, or keloid scar. Icepick scars appear as tiny holes or punctures on the surface, as if the skin has been prodded by an icepicks, and hence the name. Boxcar scars are also basically the same. The difference is only in that they are a little flatter compared to the pointed nature of icepick scars. Keloid scars are firmer and larger, spreading out from the point of the damage.
Of the three, boxcar scars are comparatively shallow and an acne scar of this type can be removed by techniques like resurfacing. Icepick scars are deeper and acne scar treatment for it will be difficult with resurfacing or dermabrasion. Keloid scars are the firmest and most entrenched, resulting from extra collagen production. An acne scar of this type will have a red or pink hue.
Prevention is always better than cure, but once an acne scar has formed, we have to get rid of it. There are different types of acne scar treatment.
Acne scar removal by dermabrasion
Acne scars of certain types are amenable to treatment by dermabrasion. In this process layers of skin are removed with a brush of high speed. The removed skin regenerates after a time, sans the acne scar. The treatment is given under local anesthesia. In a similar process known as microdermabrasion, the skin layers are removed by using aluminum oxide crystals discharged through a vacuum hose. It is less effective than dermabrasion for acne scar removal.
Laser treatment
For some patients laser treatment is extremely effective for acne scar removal. In this process CO2 lasers burn off acne scar tissue. Though reddishness may persist for quite a while after the procedure, it produces good result.
Surgical acne scar removal
Acne scars of the icepick type can be removed surgically by what is known as punching. The scar is simply excised off up to the subcutaneous fat layer. The resultant hole is sealed with a skin graft or with sutures. An acne scar can also be removed by subcision by completely removing the scar tissue from the skin. The result of subcision is mixed.
Drug therapy
A topical retinoid, which is a vitamin A cream, can be used for acne scar treatment if the scar is keloid. Sometimes scars are removed by injecting drugs to the area around it, though keloid scars are in general a little stubborn and not easily removable. An important thing to notice is that acne scar removal is something that has to be entrusted completely to professionals for proper diagnosis and cure.
