Acne Scar Treatment
Acne is a very common skin disorder which has become problem for all ages. The teen years can be tough and sometimes even after passing those adolescent years acne may not leave you alone. After passing through that testing phase of acne you have to clear another milestone of the scars left behind due to acne. Acne may leave you at some point or other but the scars become very visible and your face is the one which gets most affected.
Treatment for Acne Scars
Skin surgeons employ two kinds of lasers for acne scar removal. The first is the Erbium (Er) or erbium:YAG laser. The energy produced by this laser has a very precise wavelength. The laser penetrates the skin and the moisture content in the skin readily absorbs it. The heat produced by this laser then scatters, leaving normal skin unaffected. The second is the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser, which is a relatively recent development in skin surgery circles. It emits short bursts of extremely high-energy, highly focused laser light that vaporizes the scarred skin tissue a layer at a time, leaving only fresh skin in its wake. Patients have to conform to certain medical parameters if they wish to undergo this procedure. However, those who qualify benefit from the fact that acne scar removal by the above means entails very low risks of further scarring. Medical complications after laser surgery on acne scars are very rare.
Collagen injections: Collagen is injected under the skin to fill deep soft scars. It is not suitable for ice pick scars and keloids. The cosmetic effect lasts for three to six months and may be extended with further injections.
Autologous fat transfer: Here depressed scars are raised by injecting fat under the skin surface - taking fat from another part of the body. Since the fat is absorbed in 6 to 18 months the procedure must be repeated.
Dermabrasion: Here under local anesthetic, a brush or a fraise removes the surface skin and changes the contours of the scars. Superficial scars can be completely removed and the depth of deep scars can be reduced. The treatment does not work on ice pick scars, making them more prominent, and on scars which are wider under the skin than on the surface. It often does not give the best results on U shaped scars. In dark skinned patients it causes coloration needing further treatment.
For generations acne scars were a painful reminder of our skin’s difficult history, a history of red pimples and other acne that could not be erased. This finally began to change, first with the use of dermabrasion and today lasers. With the development of many new technologies we are finally beginning to see the smoother, less scarred skin of our prepubescent days. From the advent of non-invasive lasers to rebuild and rejuvenate skin, to invasive techniques, which can remove the scarred skin, there is hope for patients with acne scars. This site is designed to help educate people with acne scars and hopefully improve their understanding of what is available for them.
Dermabrasions for acne scars
Acne dermabrasion is the technique used to eliminate shallow skin imperfections caused by acne. This procedure will use a resurfacing technique that involves a using a hand-held electronic instrument that is equipped with a rotating wire brush. The plastic surgeon may also make use of a sanding tool that contains diamond particles. Whichever tool is used, the concept is still the same and the emphasis is on removing the top scarred layers of the skin so a smoother scar free skin can replace it.
This procedure normally takes between 30 minutes to 1 hour and the surgeon will start off by numbing the skin either by injecting anesthesia or by spraying your skin with a cooling liquid. You may also opt for a sedative. This means that the procedure in itself will not be painful although when the effect of the anesthesia or numbing spray wear off, the patient may feel some pain.
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