Would you like to know how acne scars can be removed?

Acne affects millions of people around the world, many of whom tend to feel a lack of confidence as their self-esteem is impacted quite dramatically. As a result of acne, many will also suffer from the appearance of acne scarring which appears once the acne itself has cleared. Dermatologists and other healthcare professionals see thousands of young people and adults every year who are seeking treatment to clear their skin and to improve their self-esteem. In particular, many of them are wondering if, and how, acne scars can be removed.

When treating acne and acne scarring, choosing the right treatment, and speaking to a professional will make an incredible difference to the results you are able to achieve. Professionals within the skincare industry – The Laser Treatment Clinic – have provided some of their advice surrounding acne scarring and the treatments available for this.

Prevention of Acne Scars

When dealing with an acne breakout, by treating this correctly you can in fact prevent acne scars from developing. There are several steps you can take to avoid these acne breakouts from turning into permanent scars. This includes:

• Using a professional treatment system that has been recommended by a doctor or dermatologist
• Avoiding squeezing and popping active acne breakouts
• Do not pick at any scabs
• Attempt to reduce or avoid inflammation of the area where possible
• Clean the area of skin where active acne occurs, particularly if you do choose to use a method of extraction

Naturally, the first cause of action is to do as much as possible to prevent acne in the first place.

In-Clinic Therapies for Acne Scars

For those who already have visible acne scarring, there are plenty of treatments that are available from clinics run by professional skin experts. These treatments will work to achieve a smoother appearance to the skin and a more even texture across the face. It is important to note, healthcare professionals will not offer any acne scarring treatment until all active acne breakouts are treated and kept under control.

It is important you speak with a professional before attempting to treat any scarring of the skin.

The Types of Acne Scars

• Ice Pick Scars – this type of acne scarring appears as narrow deep scars and are usually less than two millimetres wide. They gained their name due to them appearing as though a sharp object, like an ice pick, has punctured holes into the skin.
• Rolling Scars – these scars often appear in areas of the face where the skin is thicker, usually the lower cheeks and jaw. Rolling scars give the skin an uneven appearance. They often develop differently, depending upon how the skin heals.
• Boxcar Scars – Boxcar scars appear as round or oval craters in the skin. They often have sharp edges and are often much wider than an ice pick scar.

Treating Acne Scarring

When choosing any treatment method for your acne scarring, it is really important that expectations are managed. Scarring differs from person to person, so the response to treatment will be unique to your skin type and the type of scars you have.

Treatments work to improve the appearance of acne scarring. However, these are not able to completely remove acne scars. Scarring is the skin’s permanent response to damage of the dermis. The scar tissue which is produced can not be removed but simply improved in its appearance. This works to reduce visible features of the scar.

 Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion consists of a dermatologist or healthcare professional using a medical device to remove the outer layers of the skin on the face. Often, this procedure is performed for deeper acne scarring. This must be carried out by a professional healthcare provider within a surgical setting. Not to be confused with Microdermabrasion.

Laser treatments

Ablative Laser Treatments – the lasers are used to treat the area of skin around the scar, achieving a smoother-looking area of skin.

Non-Ablative laser treatment – In this process, lasers are used to stimulate the production of new collagen. This helps to repair some of the scarred skin, improving the appearance.

Punch techniques

Using a punch that is matched to the size of the scar, a punch excision will surgically remove the acne scar. This treatment method is ideal for deeper acne scars.

Subcision

The subcision technique for acne scarring is a treatment that is primarily used for treating the appearance of rolling scars. During the treatment process, the upper layer of skin is removed from the scar tissue which lies beneath. This allows for blood to gather under the affected area. Once a blood clot forms this will help to create connective tissue, pushing the rolling scar to be level with the surface of the skin and evening the texture of the skin’s surface.

So, if you are wondering if acne scars can be removed, in reality, they cannot be completely. However, by adopting the most appropriate technique for your personal circumstances, most people will find the scarring is reduced to such an extent they look much better and can regain their confidence.