Even though acne generally clears up by the twenties, acne scars can remain for a lifetime and can be extremely disfiguring. In spite of this there are methods to heal any scarring, so what is the best acne scar treatment for you? There are a variety of remedies available, but many of them are expensive therefore you need to thoroughly investigate them before you decide which one is right for you.
Microdermabrasion is appropriate for minor acne scars that protrude above the skin surface. This basically exfoliates the skin and eliminates dead and damaged skin on the surface. It is not suitable for deep scars or scars that are below the surface of the skin. In this procedure a mechanism is used to send out extremely small crystals onto the surface of the skin in a stream under pressure. The crystals used are mostly aluminium oxide but others such as sodium chloride, magnesium oxide or carborundum, can be used instead. This method takes off the very top layer of the skin and is very useful to completely clean out pores. In addition it strips off dead skin cells. It is low risk and does not need any recuperation period.
Laser Skin Rejuvenation is a gentle method that does not take away the skin's top layer as other laser procedures do but uses rays of light which reach below the surface of the skin. This increases collagen growth which then starts to fill in the acne scars during the next few months. There is no recovery period as there is no injury to the skin and it takes only around twenty minutes to perform. There may possibly be a little reddening of the skin which is temporary and is simply covered by the use of makeup. Laser skin rejuvenation methods are customarily accomplished over approximately a month with about four or five treatments.
Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing is obtainable in two different forms called ablative and non-ablative. Recovery from non-ablative laser treatment is much faster and is typically used for mild scarring. The laser makes small areas of damage to the skin close to the scars which triggers the production of additional collagen in these areas which then helps to heal the scar. This method is probably one of the best acne scar treatments, however it is one of the most costly.
Acne Scar Thermage Treatment is a newer method which uses radio waves and is mostly used for fine lines and wrinkles on the face. This method accelerates collagen growth and consequently does not deal with scars in the same way as fractional laser skin resurfacing. It is pain free and is not invasive and takes around an hour.
Dermal Filling is usually temporary and consists of injections of collagen which help to fill the scars. After a few months the filling material used is absorbed by the skin. The collagen can be made from either natural or animal sources so if you are using animal derived collagen you should be tested for allergies first. Some newer dermal fillers, for instance Restylane®, use synthetic materials which do not have the risk of an allergic reaction and frequently last a lot longer than other collagen methods. If you are happy with a low-priced, although temporary method, this may perhaps be the best acne scar treatment for you.
Chemical Peels are not so prevalent as they were formerly as acne scar treatments such as laser skin resurfacing are being used more often instead. Nevertheless they are quite valuable for mild to moderate acne scarring as they actually blister the surface layer of the skin which then allows new unscarred, healthy skin to grow. The most common type of chemical peel uses glycolic acid which is an organic acid derived from plants and fruit. Chemical peels only take around 15 minutes and is almost painless although there might be a little stinging. Side effects can include dryness and redness of the skin which might last from a few days to around a week depending on the variety and severity of the chemical peel procedure. A course of a minimum of three treatments is required to observe any clear improvement in scarring.
Final thoughts
Which is the best acne scar treatment? This will certainly be dependant on the degree of scarring you have and, evidently, on your funds. Several of the most helpful acne scar treatments are high-priced and need recurring visits to be effective. Bear in mind how deep your scarring is and arrange a meeting with a dermatologist to talk about the laser treatment for scars that will be best for you and your skin.
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