Getting Rid Of Acne Marks
It's bad enough you've had to fight off acne, now you have to deal with the acne marks
. Mild acne marks will fade eventually but it'll take a while, even up to a year. Severe acne marks are more devastating and permanent. If you want to have beautiful skin again, you may need to go for dermalogical treatment.
Below are 5 different kinds of acne scar treatments available when you visit a dermatologist.
MICRODERMABRASION
The skin specialist will use a specialized abrasion tool to "polish" and wear down the layer of skin known as stratum corneum. The goal is to get rid of dead skin cells from this top most layer of skin. Whatever visible imperfections will be removed as well. This exfoliation will then encourage the skin to produce new cells, thus giving your skin a smoother look and feel.
This is a non-invasive treatment. It's not very painful and doesn't use anesthetics. At most, you'll feel like you've had a mild sunburn. For best results, you'll need several sessions throughout the year. It's most effective on superficial acne scars but may not be helpful if you have deep pitted scars.
CHEMICAL PEEL
Like microdermabrasion, this is also a non-invasive method. This procedure uses a chemical solution to remove or "peel away" damaged outer layers of your skin. The idea is to improve the texture of your skin by encouraging production of new cells. There are several types of chemical peels such as Alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) peels, Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peels, Beta hydroxy acid (BHA) peels and Phenol peels. They all differ in strength. AHAs are very mild and are used for light peels.
TCA are for medium-depth peeling while Phenol is the strongest and used for deep peels. Which chemical peel is for you? That will depend on your skin texture, skin type, severity of your problem and many other aspects, all of which will be evaluated by the skin specialist. After you undergo a chemical peel, it is important that you protect your skin from the sun.
LASER RESURFACING
The advantage of using laser resurfacing over microdermabrasion and chemical peel is that this procedure can be customized to each patient. The surgeon can target specific areas of the face. He can also adjust the intensity and pulse duration of a certain wavelength. This procedure is highly precise thus making it very safe for the patient. A laser beam is used to vaporize the top layer of damaged skin tissue. As the skin heals, new skin grows and the acne scars will disappear.
The middle layer of the skin will tighten too. The most common type of laser used are CO2 (carbon dioxide) and erbium. The dermatologist will take into consideration your condition, needs and wants before advising on the type of laser to use. Take note that laser may not work on deep scars.
FRACTIONAL LASER THERAPY
This newest form of treatment is slightly different from laser resurfacing. It works at a deeper level and doesn't wound the top tissue layer. Healing time is faster with this method. Fractional laser therapy targets both the epidermis and dermis layer of the skin. The procedure takes no more than 30 minutes.
The cost is quite high and is not covered by insurance. Each treatment ranges from $800-$2500. Complete course of treatment is estimated around $4000-$9000. You won't see results immediately. Improvement is progressive and you'll probably see the difference in your skin 3-4 months later. It'll take that long for your skin to completely heal and new healthy skin with collagen and elastin to grow.
PUNCH EXCISION
If your scars are deep, or what people call "ice pick scars", then punch excision will work best for you. The surgeon will first give you a local anesthesia. Then using a punch biopsy tool (similar to a cookie-cutter tool) the scar is cut out.
The remaining skin will be sewn together and the suture removed 5-7 days later. Of course this will produce a new scar but it will fade eventually. Dermabrasion or laser resurfacing is done later to further diminish the scar.
Consult with a good dermatologist to find the best way to get rid of your acne marks. Each procedure comes with its own benefits and risks. Usually, it will take a combination of methods to smooth out your skin and make those ugly acne marks vanish.
by: Ryan Round
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