Acne Scar Treatment
Dermatologists have known what they needed to do for acne scar treatment to get below the skins layers but didn't have the technology until now. Unfortunately because it's is relatively new, many of the more effective treatments are very expensive. Let's take a closer look at the alternatives for those of us with can scarring.
So how do we get scars from acne?
Like other injuries scars are part of the skins normal healing process. There are two major categories of acne scars; the ones that are caused by losing tissue and those that form by increased tissue formation.
Scars that form by losing tissue are called depressed or pitted acne scarring. They kind of look like the scars you might get from chicken pox. Blackheads, whiteheads, and other non-inflamed blemishes typically don't cause scarring because these types of lesions don't injure skin tissue. It's the inflamed pimples and cysts that you have to worry about that and the damage that you might inflict yourself. Picking at your acne can cause as much scarring as the acne itself. But it's the Inflammation that is the single greatest gauge of scar development. This is why it's so important to get bad cases of acne properly treated.
The second type of acne scars is not as common, they are called keloids or hypertrophic scars. If your parents had or have them, chances are you will too as this condition is inherited. Unlike the pitted scarring which is depressed, keloids are raised hard bumps. Keloids may form on any part of the body, although the upper chest and shoulders are especially prone to them.
So we know how we get them but what we really want to do now is get rid of acne scars.
There are some over the counter treatments that you may try, as with acne, trial and error is the best way to see what works. These treatments generally won't get rid of your scars entirely but they should make them less noticeable. Some products may be effective in flattened raised scars and others may be better at reducing scarred skin discoloration.
When OTC treatments aren't working you may want to make an appointment with a good dermatologist. There are many scar treatments available today like:
Dermabrasions have been very effective in mild scarring but will set you back about $1,500 per treatment. And you may need multiple treatments. Another effective but expensive treatment is Laser Resurfacing. This procedure costs about twice as much to the tune of $3,000. Again repeated treatments are sometimes necessary. Chemical peels have begun to show some promise. A friend of mine had some really nasty acne scars and after a half a dozen treatments they are virtually indistinguishable. Augmentation and Saline Injections are also available for between $100 and $300 but like the more expensive treatments, multiple treatments may be needed.
Eliminating scars is a complex process though and it may take a combination of treatments for the best results. You also should know that scar treatment may require several treatment sessions and some downtime. To give you the best results, a dermatologist will first treat the acne and get it under control. Medical insurance generally does not cover acne scar treatment so be sure to get an estimate before you schedule a treatment.