How to Get Rid of Acne Scars
You’ve likely seen people who are scarred from having acne. It can make you very self-conscious about your appearance, affecting your lifestyle and self-esteem. It’s not the person’s fault. No one chooses to get acne and some cases can be severe. Acne affects everyone to differing degrees and sometimes not at all.
Acne scars will often disappear after the first year or two but many people have them for the rest of their lives. The good news is that there are treatments available for people with acne scars. You no longer have to hide your looks or be self-conscious all the time. If you do have acne scars and want to do something about them, here is some information you might find helpful.
What Causes Acne Scars
Acne scars develop from popping a pimple. It’s natural to want to get rid of the unsightly little bumps. But when you pop one, it leaves a mark from the damaged skin. The deeper the pimple, the more damage you cause from doing it. The scars appear where the skin becomes discolored due to the inflammation of acne. So every time you pop a zit, you are making the problem worse.
Acne scars develop from two reasons: either loss of skin tissue or the buildup of skin tissue around the lesion. The body will try to heal itself from the inflammation of acne which is why scars will sometimes disappear. However, when the acne condition is severe, the development of scars is inevitable and treatment is your only option.
Acne Scar Treatments
If your acne condition is severe, you should always see a doctor. They can prescribe medications such as antibiotics and topicals to help fight the inflammation and bacteria. But if you already have the scars, there are several procedures available to get rid of them. These acne scar treatments each have their own degrees of success as well as separate costs associated with them. But for a smooth and healthy looking skin, you might find it worth it to try an acne scar removal treatment that is right for you.
- Laser Resurfacing: Probably the best treatment available for acne scars but also the most costly. Performed by a dermatologist, the scarred area is first given local anesthetics to numb it. The doctor then uses a laser to remove the top layer of skin, leaving it smooth. Some cases require multiple sessions to remove all the scarring and the healing time from this procedure can take anywhere from one to two weeks. The good news is the end result is a healthy and normal looking skin. If you have severe scarring from acne, a laser resurfacing treatment will be the best option for you.
- Dermabrasion: Similar to laser resurfacing but the big difference is the doctor uses a fine metal brush or diamond blade to remove the top layer of skin. Just think of it as a dremmel tool being applied. This method is commonly used for mild cases of acne scars but can also work for more severe cases if the scarring is not too deep. A local anesthetic is used and healing time is a bit longer than for the laser treatment, usually two to three weeks. Another abrasion method called Microabrasion is also common but instead of a high-speed brush or blade, aluminum oxide crystals are used to remove the skin.
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How to Get Rid of Acne Scars
Chemical Peels: A chemical peel is like a really potent exfoliating treatment. The treatment is performed by a doctor and works the same as using an exfoliating product at home except in this case the chemicals used are harsher. They are designed to remove the old acne scarring, leaving them less visible. The treatment is less expensive than other methods and is also used to treat current acne. Healing time is also much shorter. Multiple sessions may be required to get the best results.
- Collagen Injections: Most everyone is familiar with collagen injections. They have been a favorite form of mild plastic surgery for years (although I wouldn’t call it surgery). It is also the most common method of treating acne scars. Collagen is injected underneath the skin and into the scar, causing it to puff out and level with the surrounding skin surface. Collagen is one of the cheaper methods to treat acne scars but it is not a permanent one. You have to repeat the procedure every three months or so. Another treatment that is similar uses a person’s own body fat instead of collagen in the same way. Body fat injections last a little longer than collagen but the body eventually absorbs the fat.
- Skin Grafts: Some acne scars are so severe that the only way to completely get rid of them is through surgery with skin grafts. This is probably the most expensive and costly of all the acne scar removal treatments. Only a dermatologist can recommend you for skin graft surgery and the healing time can be quite long, almost assuredly with some time spent in the hospital. Before you go through with something like this, you should definitely check out the other treatments to see if they might work for you.
- Natural Remedies For Acne Scars: With the expense of doctors and medical treatments, rest assured you can always find alternative remedies for almost anything, acne included. Also known as home remedies, these treatments might have some success in helping mild cases of scarring. But these are not one-time application treatments. You have to use them continually for an extended period before you see any results.
When you have fresh acne lesions, try rubbing some Aloe Vera gel, Tea Tree Oil, or Honey onto the area. Treatments such as these should be done twice a day to prevent or lessen the development of scars. The honey should be applied before you go to bed at night. To keep it from getting all over you as you sleep, cover it with a bit of plastic or gauze.
If you already have scars, try a little Lemon Juice or Rosehip Seed Oil. The Lemon Juice will help to bleach the scars, making them less noticeable while the Rosehip Seed Oil should be massaged into your skin to help smooth the scars out. Both methods should be done twice a day.
And lastly, always use a glycerine-based soap to wash your face. Bar soaps are too harsh for your skin and can cause it to dry out, thus increasing your acne breakout. When you have acne, always use a dermatologist approved cleansing lotion, one that is oil-free or contains chemicals that will also dry out your skin. Taking care of your skin while you have acne is a great step in avoiding acne scars but if you do have them, know that you can get them removed through various treatments.