Treating Acne Scars - 3 Most Successful Methods

Perhaps one of the most lasting effects of teenage acne is acne scarring. These scars can persist for years, never disappearing in quite a few cases. Even mild acne can scar, but most of the time is it severe acne that leave very visible scars. Popping pimples can lead to acne scars as well. There are a few things you can do to try and minimize scarring, but sometimes the scars happen and there is nothing you can do about it. This is especially true with severe forms of acne, such as cystic acne, where the acne lesions persist for weeks or sometimes months and leave behind very noticeable acne scars.

Types of Acne Scars

There are a few different classifications for acne scars, and may require differing treatment plans:

Ice pick scars are characterized by deep pits in the skin, and are the classic ance scar most people would think of first.

Boxcar scars are more angular, usually occur on the temples and cheeks, and vary in deptch from superficial to very deep. These scars often resemble chickenpox scarring.

Hypertrophic scars are thickened scars usually associated with the more severe types of acne. They are caused by repeated acne infections in the same spot, leading to a thickening of the scar tissue there.

There are other classifications for acne scars as well, but these are the more common types. See your dermatologist for more information on the types of scarring you may have.

Treating Your Acne Scars

Most successful acne scar treatment involves seeing a physician as the first step. The procedures to remove acne scars are usually surgical or at least require the assistance of a physician. There are several options available. Some of the more common are discussed below.

1. Punch Excision

This acne scar treatment basically uses a precise made-to-fit tool that exactly matches the shape of the scar to "punch out" the scar tissue. The wound is then sewn together and allowed to heal normally. This method can completely eliminate the scar if the new wound heals cleanly; even if it doesn't, the much smaller scar lends itself to easier laser resurfacing.

2. Laser Resurfacing

This procedure is both fast and popular. Usually an outpatient procedure, laser resurfacing involves actually burning away a very precisely calculated amount of skin at the site of the scar. The new skin that grows in will be smoother and reduces or eliminates the appearance of scars.

3. Dermal Fillers

This treatment is not a surgery, but involves the injection of a dermal filler like collagen directly into the site of a scar. This is best used on deep pit-type scars, as it works my raising the skin surface, filling out the pockmark.