Acne Scar Treatments
Posted on July 4, 2009
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Even though acne usually vanishes by the twenties, acne scars have been know to last for a lifetime and can be very disfiguring. In spite of this there are techniques to deal with the scars, so what is the best acne scar treatment for you? There are an assortment of therapies obtainable, but none of them are cheap so you ought to thoroughly look at them before you come to a decision on the right one for you.
Microdermabrasion is appropriate for small acne scars that protrude above the surface of the skin. This essentially exfoliates the skin and removes damaged or dead skin on the surface. Microdermabrasion isn’t appropriate for deep-seated scars or sunken scars. In this method a device is used to spray very small crystals onto the the skin in a stream under pressure. The crystals are usually aluminium oxide but others such as sodium chloride, magnesium oxide or carborundum, are sometimes used instead. This takes off the very top layer of the skin and is very useful to completely clean out pores. This procedure also strips off dead skin cells. It is not a hazardous procedure and does not need any recuperation time.
Laser Skin Rejuvenation is a gentle treatment that doesn’t remove the skin’s top layer as other laser procedures do but uses light which penetrate below the surface layer of the skin. This accelerates collagen growth which then starts to fill in the acne scars over the next few months. There is no recovery period as there isn’t any injury to the skin and it takes only around twenty minutes to accomplish. There may possibly be some skin reddening which is temporary and may be easily covered by using make up. Laser skin rejuvenation methods are typically accomplished over about a month with around three to four treatments.
Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing is offered in two different forms called ablative and non-ablative. Recuperation from non-ablative laser treatment is to a great extent faster and is typically 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 growth of more collagen in these areas which then helps to heal the scar. This method is probably one of the best acne scar treatments but is one of the most expensive.
Acne Scar Thermage Treatment is a newer treatment which makes us of radio waves and is typically used for wrinkles and lines on the skin. This technique stimulates the growth of collagen and as a result doesn’t treat scars in the same way as fractional laser skin resurfacing. It is pain free and isn’t invasive and only takes about an hour.
Dermal Filling is usually temporary and employs injections of collagen which fill in the scars. A few months later the material used is absorbed by the body. The collagen can be prepared from either natural or animal sources therefore if you are using animal-based collagen treatment you must be tested for allergic reactions before use. Other dermal fillers, for example Restylane®, use synthetic materials which don’t have the risk of an allergic reaction and typically last a lot longer than other collagen procedures. If you are happy with a low-priced, although short-lived method, this might be the best acne scar treatment for you.
Chemical Peels aren’t as prevalent as they were previously as acne scar treatments such as laser skin resurfacing are being used more often as an alternative. However they are quite useful for mild to moderate acne scarring as they essentially remove the top layer of the skin which then causes new unscarred, healthy skin to grow. The most popular variety of chemical peel incorporates glycolic acid which is an organic acid derived from fruit and plants. Chemical peels only take about 20 minutes and is almost pain free though there may possibly be some stinging. Side effects can include dryness and redness of the skin which may last from a few days to as much as a week depending on the variety and severity of the chemical peel method. A course of at least three treatments is required to notice any clear improvement in acne scarring.
In Conclusion
Which is the best acne scar treatment? This will really be dependant on the degree of scarring you may have and, of course, on your funds. A few of the most useful acne scar treatments are costly and require recurring visits to be effective. Bear in mind how deep your scarring is and set up a consultation with a dermatologist to discuss the laser treatment for scars that will be best for you.
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