Choose Your Treatment For Acne Scars

If you’re a teenager, you’re probably concerned about acne. As bad as acne is though, acne scars can be much worse. Acne scarring can be devastating at any age, but as a teen, when people are particularly conscious of their bodies and often scrutinized by peers, acne scars can be a particular problem. Fortunately, although acne scars don’t simply fade away like other forms of acne, there are effective methods of treatment for acne scars available. These are medical procedures that may require multiple treatments at some cost, but many sufferers find the time and expense to be worth it. Here are the main options for treatment for acne scars:

Treatment for Acne Scars: Microdermabrasion

Dermabrasion is literally the abrasion, or removal, of a layer of skin by rubbing an abrasive substance against it. However in microdermabrasion, the abrasion is so light that there is minimal pain and no anesthesia is needed. The procedure is generally carried out using a wand with crystals or diamonds on the head, and completely removes the stratum corneum, or outer layer of dead skin. With this removal, the appearance of scars is often dramatically lessened or eliminated entirely.

Treatment for Acne Scars: Chemical Peel

In a chemical peel, rather than remove the outer layer of skin by abrasion, the skin is removed using a chemical solution. Although the procedure should be performed by a professional like a dermatologist, when done correctly, it only affects the outer dead skin and is generally safe. There are actually a number of different types of chemical peels, including alpha hydroxy acid peels, beta hydroxy acid peels, retinoic acid peels and phenol peels. Consult your dermatologist to determine which type of chemical peel may be best for you depending on your specific skin condition and the results that you hope to achieve.

Treatment for Acne Scars: Laser Resurfacing

Laser resurfacing is another popular treatment for getting rid of acne scars. The idea is the same as with microdermabrasion, except that a laser is used to abrade the skin rather than a physical tool. The laser can be much more precise and is often considered an even less painful and invasive alternative to microdermabrasion, which is already minimally painful and invasive in most cases.

Treatment for Acne Scars: Phototherapy

Phototherapy uses special pulses of light, usually blue light but sometimes combinations of blue and red light, to kill acne causing bacteria and reduce scars. This technology is relatively new, but so far has shown very promising results on acne and acne scars, especially when used on a consistent basis.

Treatment for Acne Scars: Prevention

Of course, the ideal situation would be to avoid getting acne scars in the first place. Acne scars are the result of improperly healed acne, so if you can get rid of your acne fast and you don’t scratch or pick at the acne you have, you have a much better chance of avoiding acne scars altogether. If you suffer from mild to moderate acne, consider an acne control system with benzoyl peroxide to get rid of that acne before it leads to acne scars.