subject: Your Options For Acne Scar Treatments [print this page] No one likes to deal with acne, but the truth of the matter is that a vast majority of us will have to deal with acne at some point in our lives, and sometimes acne can leave scars. Acne scars can be devastating to your social life and your self-esteem. Many don't realize, however, that there are treatment options available for acne scars. Before you can begin an acne scar treatment, you need to figure out what type of acne scar you have.
Acne Types
There are three basic types of acne scars. The first type is called an ice-pick scar. An ice-pick scar is a scar that is anywhere from one to two millimeters in diameter. They are small, but if you have a great number of them, they can definitely impact your self-esteem. The next type of scar is a rolling scar, which is generally wider than four to five millimeters. These scars actually look a bit like you've got skin on top of your skin, which is how they get their name. Then there are boxcar scars, which tend to measure over three millimeters in diameter and are actually very similar looking to chicken pox scars. You may also find when dealing with acne scarring that you have discolored skin, such as skin that gets very white around the scar or skin that is very red, which tends to draw attention to the scar itself.
Treatment Options for Acne Scars
If you have acne scars, you will likely want to look into the many different acne scar treatments available for you to use. The type of scar that you have will directly affect the type of treatment that you should look for. For boxcar scars that are shallow, you may be advised to undergo some laser skin resurfacing. This gets rid of the old skin on top and allows new, healthy skin to grow in that area. If you have deeper acne scars, you may find undergoing a small surgery to be helpful in getting rid of the marks. With this type of surgery, an instrument is used to get rid of the scar, or, depending on your surgeon, the scar may actually be lifted up so that it sets higher for a time, but it will drop down to the same level as the rest of your skin over time.
Laser skin resurfacing is a quick way to get rid of large areas that are filled with minor acne scars. This type of procedure allows for smooth skin to grow during the healing process, giving you a much more natural look. It is also generally less expensive than undergoing a surgical procedure. Some people find that they need to have both the surgical procedure as well as laser skin resurfacing done in order to get the results that they're looking for. If you're trying to improve your acne scars, it's estimated that you can improve the way your skin looks up to 60% by undergoing some form of cosmetic surgical procedure.
