Acne Scar Treatments – Some Information
Although acne generally disappears by the early twenties, acne scars have been know to endure for a lifetime and can be very disfiguring. Nevertheless there are means to deal with scarring, so what is the best acne scar treatment for you? There are an assortment of remedies obtainable, however they are often expensive so you need to thoroughly examine them before you make a decision on the right one for you.
Microdermabrasion is right for minor acne scars that are raised above the level of the skin. This basically exfoliates the skin and gets rid of dead and damaged skin on the surface. This method isn’t right for deep scars or those that are sunk below the skin surface. In this procedure a machine is used to spray very small crystals onto the the skin in a stream under pressure. The crystals used are usually aluminium oxide but others such as sodium chloride, magnesium oxide or carborundum, are sometimes used as an alternative. This method takes off the very top layer of the skin and also cleans out pores. This procedure also strips off dead skin cells. It is very low risk and does not require any recovery period.
Laser Skin Rejuvenation is a moderate technique that doesn’t remove the the surface layer of the skin as other laser techniques do but makes use of light rays which reach below the surface of the skin. This intensifies the growth of collagen which therefore starts to fill in the acne scars over the next few months. There is no recovery period as there is no damage to the skin and it takes about fifteen minutes to accomplish. There may possibly be a slight skin reddening which is transient and can be simply covered by the use of makeup. Laser skin rejuvenation methods are customarily done over about four weeks with around five to six treatments.
Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing is available in two different forms called ablative and non-ablative. Recuperation from non-ablative laser treatment is much quicker and is mostly used only on less severe scarring. The laser is used to make small areas of damage to the skin around the scars which triggers the production of more collagen which then helps to heal the scar. This procedure is probably one of the best acne scar treatments, however it is also the most high-priced.
Acne Scar Thermage Treatment is a newer procedure which employs radio frequency waves and is generally used for lines and wrinkles on the skin. This method increases collagen growth and consequently does not treat scars in the same way as fractional laser skin resurfacing. It is painless and isn’t invasive and only takes about an hour.
Dermal Filling is by and large temporary and consists of injections of collagen which help to fill the scars. After a few months the filling material used is absorbed by the skin. The collagen can be derived from either animal or other natural sources, hence if you’re using collagen derived from animals you will need to be tested for allergic reactions before undertaking the treatment. Newer dermal fillers, for instance Restylane®, use synthetic materials which don’t cause an allergic reaction and usually last a lot longer than the other collagen treatments. If you are happy with a inexpensive, although temporary method, this may possibly be the best acne scar treatment for you.
Chemical Peels are not so common as they were formerly as acne scar treatments such as laser skin resurfacing are being used more frequently in their place. However they are fairly helpful for mild to moderate acne scarring as they essentially remove the surface layer of the skin which then causes new healthy, unscarred skin to grow. The most popular kind of chemical peel is made from glycolic acid which is a natural acid derived from fruit and plants. The procedure only takes about fifteen minutes and is nearly pain free although there may possibly be some stinging. Side effects can include flaking and redness of the skin which may last from a a day or two to around a week depending on the type and severity of the chemical peel technique. A course of a minimum of two treatments is required to observe any clear improvement in acne scarring.
In Conclusion
What then the best acne scar treatment? This will certainly depend on the amount of scarring you have and, of course, on your finances. A few of the most useful acne scar treatments are pricey and require recurring visits to be effective. Think about how deep your scarring is and arrange a consultation with a dermatologist to discuss the laser treatment for scars that will suit you best.