Facing The Facts Of Acne Scar Removal

Most people recover from a bout of acne without ever suffering any serious complications. Unfortunately, there are those who are more predisposed to having acne scars compared to other people. While contracting acne itself is already a source of concern and embarrassment, becoming disfigured with acne scars can be even more problematic for those beset by such scarring. There are several methods for acne scar removal that provide some hope and intervention to those afflicted by such scars.

Marks arising from acne are not necessarily scars. Most marks left from treated acne, also referred to as macules, will also fade albeit in more time than is preferred by most. Macules usually take 6 to 12 months to disappear entirely.

Real acne scarring however will show the signs of the infection indefinitely. For some, they can live with the scar. However, for most individuals having acne scars are an unacceptable situation. That is why there is a real demand for acne scar removal methodologies that would reduce or otherwise completely eliminate the scarring.

Causes of acne scars
Since acne is actually a bacterial infestation of the skin, the body would react appropriately to defend itself. White blood cells, our first line defense against infection, goes to work against the acne along with various other enzymes and chemicals in our bodies that are designed to fight off diseases. This defensive counterattack, however, may leave damaged tissues in the process. In the event of considerable tissue damage, the skin will leave an obvious scar.

Acne scars come in two varieties. The first is hyperthropic or keloid scars, meaning an outgrowth is present on the skin or there is a marked thickening of the skin. The other one is atrophic scarring, where there is a loss of tissue and the affected area develops a noticeable depression.

Furthermore there are several types of atrophic scars namely, ice-pick scars, depressed fibrotic scars, soft scars, follicular macular atrophy or atrophic macules. They are differentiated by their size, location in the body and severity.

Common acne scar removal methods
When acne scars are suspected in a patient, immediate dermatological intervention is necessary to lessen its impact. The scars may become impervious to the more simple treatments if the scarring is left untreated during the early stages.

Dermabrasion is one way to combat hypertrophic acne scars although it is not advisable for depressed scars. The process involves the use of an abrasive brush to remove damaged surface skin. This, in turn, promotes the growth of new skin. It is a rather painful procedure which is why a light local anaesthetic is used during dermabrasion.

The less painful version of the above, called microdermabrasion uses light abrasion via minute particles, thereby effectively exfoliating areas of the skin that has been scarred. It is comparable in effect to chemical peels which is also a prescribed method of acne scar removal. The skin regenerates after microdermabrasion and chemical peeling resulting in clearer, smoother skin.

For deeper or more severe cases of acne scar, laser therapy is the preferred mode of treatment. Fractional laser resurfacing is also described as microthermal wounding wherein the regenerated skin coupled with collagen stimulation promotes a less noticeable or even a scar-free look.

Acquiring scarring from acne is not a hopeless situation. Dermatological techniques such as those mentioned here are effective acne scar removal procedures. It is advisable to first consult with a qualified dermatologist to gain a deeper understanding of how to properly deal with acne scars.

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