HOW TO GET RID OF ACNE SCARS

Acne skin disease, while not deadly, it can leave many emotional as well as physical scars both above and below the surface of the skin. Acne has negatively impacted the lives of millions of people around the world including Canada and the United States. It is believed that nearly eight out of very 10 teenagers both boys and girls will experience the ugly nature of pimples and zits at some point in their life.

The physical scars of acne are nothing more than uneven build-up of skin tissue surrounding the acne infected area. Generally this occurs when a person continues to pick at acne lesions and not allowing them to heel naturally or treat them with proper acne medicine. These scars can leave the skin dried out and looking like a dessert landscape. While the acne scars themselves pose no treat to the person’s health they are viewed by most people as being extremely unattractive and repulsive. The best treatment for scars, like a lot of other things in life is or course prevention, but not always possible. Most conventional treatments consist of demabrasion, chemical peel, laser and do it yourself home scar treatment kits. Each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. However for minor to moderate scarring home treatment kits offer an excellent value to consumers as they cost hundreds less than other therapies such as chemical peel and laser.

Know what about the scars we don’t see above the surface of the skin? These are what we call emotional scars. I can certainly guarantee that anyone who’s ever had any form of visible scars such as facial can relate to what I am talking about. For many teenagers emotional scarring starts in junior high school and continues well into their adulthood. Teens are often teased and taunted by their peers with name callings such as “scar face”, “ugly” and these are few of the nicer ones. This lack of acceptance and intolerance can and often does lead to very low self-esteem and feeling of worthlessness in individuals. These types of acne scars are the most difficult to treat. It can take months even years and in some cases life time to heal. The best therapy for these types of scars is offering understanding and emotion support to individuals in need; that individual could be your friend, your cousin, or your significant other.

Acne touches the lives of almost everyone around us; one day it could be you another it could be your son, daughter, or an acquaintance. Unfortunately, there is no cure for acne at the present but scientist and other medical professionals are working hard to find it soon. I am confident that one day we will cure acne but in the meantime we need to ensure that we protect our skin the best we can. Today, thanks to everything we have learned about pimples there are many acne treatments available; everything from high price laser therapies to more affordable of the counter treatments are available.

Laser treatments can get rid of not only your active acne, but also scars from previous breakouts. Many people choose to use lasers that work on both types at the same time, or undergo laser scar treatment after they’ve undergone laser treatment for their active acne.

Often acne leaves behind scars and marks that give you uneven, discolored skin. Acne scar laser treatment fades marks while levelling and smoothing your skin. Dealing with scars is naturally part of an acne treatment program. Many acne sufferers are relieved to find out that with laser treatments you can both prevent recurring breakouts and remove old scars. After a full course of treatments, you won’t have to hide behind concealers and you’ll discover a renewed confidence in your appearance.

You can start treating your scars even if you are still in the process of curing your acne problem. Laser acne treatments can address pimples and scars simultaneously. If you and your doctor have tried traditional remedies, such as creams and medications, without full or lasting results, it is time to consider laser treatments. Many dermatology clinics provide this service.

There are a number of different laser strategies that can be used for an acne scar laser treatment program. One approach treats your current blemishes and old scars with the same laser. For example, one laser that is capable of double action is the Pulsed Dye laser. The light emitted by this kind of laser is absorbed by any blood hemoglobin present in the skin. This means that it promotes the disappearance of pink and red scars, as well as addressing the main acne problem.

Skin resurfacing with an ablation laser is the most common technique of acne scar laser treatment. This method gently removes the top layer of skin cells, exposing the smooth, unmarked surface below. Another type of laser used for scar removal treats skin indentations. For example, carbon dioxide lasers stimulate the growth of collagen, which fills in scar pockets and promotes an even skin surface.

Laser treatment for acne scars is about the same as treatment for active acne. The only difference is how, exactly, the lasers work. During both treatments, the doctor will hold a handheld laser device to your skin, sending laser pulses in to minimize your spots and scars. This non-invasive procedure has a very fast recovery time. Afterwards your skin may be a little red and swollen, but it is not a painful procedure. Most patients describe it as a rubber band snapping against the skin. Afterwards, you will be left with healthier and more beautiful skin.

Using laser treatments to fade acne scars will be a gift to your self-esteem. When you treat both your acne and your acne scars, you will soon restore your skin to its original healthy and attractive condition.

You might have suffered from a mild case to a severe case of acne as a teen, or even now as an adult. Aside from being a cause of insecurity, a severe case of acne can cause your skin to develop scars on the face which may not prove to be attractive to look at.

Men and women alike would want to have a flawless, scar-free complexion, especially on the face – but what can you do if you suffered acne during your teenage years and there are just unsightly spots and scars that you cannot get rid of?

There is always a solution to this relatively common skin condition. The key is to understand how you can take care of your skin better and to keep an open mind about the options that you have to get rid of acne scars to achieve a flawless and glowing look.

‘Acne: Cause and Effect’

Acne is basically a common skin condition wherein the surface of the skin – which can be the face, back, neck or arms – breaks out. This is due to the fact that the skin follicles are blocked, causing bacteria and dirt to be trapped on the surface of the skin. Acne is the resulting skin condition, which comes in the form of blackheads, whiteheads, or pimples.

Acne will disappear in time, but there are marks and permanent visible scars that will result from having acne, thus making the skin look ’spotty’.

There are two types of scars that will result from having acne:

- Keloids

Keloid is basically raised tissue on the superficial layer of the skin which is the effect of a wound that healed. An acne scar that is keloidal will look like an uneven, thickened layer of the skin. This occurs on the skin of people who are susceptible to wound scars.

- Deep Scars

On the other hand, the other type of scar that may emerge from having acne is a deep-seated layer of skin that will look like a ‘hollow’ spot.

These scars are unsightly and may cause a person to have a lack of self-confidence and feel insecure.

‘Acne Scar Treatments’

Rather than the scar being a cause of embarrassment, most people who are affected with acne choose to have their skin treated by a dermatologist. This will lessen the effect of deep-seated or raised acne scars to have a fairly flawless complexion, especially if the area affected is the face.

The key to preventing scars from developing is early treatment of acne. Having a healthy lifestyle as well as a strict skin regimen is also recommended.

Here are some methods on how you can get rid of acne scars:

1. Chemical Peel

A light chemical peel is a minor cosmetic surgery that will remove or ‘peel off’ the superficial skin layer. If the acne scars are not deeply embedded, then a chemical peel will most likely remove acne scars.

2. Laser Treatment

A laser treatment can also remove unsightly facial scars caused by acne. This option most often produces the desired permanent results.

3. Collagen Injection

Here, collagen is used to fill out the affected part of the skin where the scar tissue is located. This treatment, however, does not produce permanent results and repeat procedure is necessary after about three months or so.

It is necessary to consult a dermatologist to determine which of the options available is best suited for the degree of acne scar that you have.

If some one only has mild or even moderate acne they will have very little or no permanent scarring once the acne is resolved. If you were unfortunate enough to have a sever case of acne you will almost certainly have some scarring. In the past if you had acne scarring there was very little that could be done but now there are ways to minimize scarring and even existing scars can be removed.

Pimples almost always leave behind a darkened spot of skin, this is not truly a scar and should clear up on it’s own with in a year. Any mark that lasts for more than a year is a true scar.

Preventing Scars
Active treatment will help avoid scarring but it is vitally important that you do not do anything to increase the damage and cause scarring that can be avoided. You should not “pick” or squeeze pimples in an attempt to get rid of them. It spreads the bacteria, which will lead to even greater acne problems, plus it can damage the skin and cause permanent scars.

If you only have a mild case of acne you should be able to effectively treat it yourself with one of the many OTC acne treatments. Severe cases of acne though will need the attention of a dermatologist. The dermatologist can prescribe oral medication as well as topical solutions to help clear up and control the acne. If necessary the dermatologist can use sterile surgical tools to remove black heads and white heads and even lance pus filled nodules.

Bacteria trapped in the skin are what actually cause the pimples, this causes the skin to become discolored and inflamed. Even after the acne has cleared the skin may remain discolored for a period of time, this is a normal part of the healing process and should eventually fade.

Certain medications can be used to speed up the healing process, some of the more common ones are: Renova, Retin-A, and Alpha Hydroxy acids. You should always be sure to wear sunscreen when you will be exposed to sunlight, the ultraviolet rays will damage the skin and prolong the healing time.

Never pick the scabs that form over the old acne sores, these scabs are a vital part of the healing process and when you remove them you run the risk of developing a fresh infection in that area. Plus removing the scabs only delays the healing process and increases the risk of scarring.

Treating Scars

It is possible to treat some acne scars now; if the scars are only mild then you might be able to effectively treat them with a chemical peel. When the chemical peel is applied to the skin it removes the top microscopic layer of skin, which then forces the skin to rejuvenate.

More severe scarring can be treated with lasers. Lasers will remove the damaged layer of skin and raise the depression caused by the scar by tightening the layer beneath. Most dermatologists will use a mild anesthetic for this procedure because there is some pain involved. It usually takes about a week to recover from the laser treatment.

You can also remove scars by actually scraping away the damaged layer of skin, this process is called dermabrasion. After the damaged layer is scraped away a new layer of skin develops to replace it. Both of these procedures can cause the skin in the area treated to turn red but this should clear up with in a couple months.

Acne treatment is incomplete without removing the dirty looking acne scars. Acne may go away but the scars remain for a lifetime. Many treatments are suggested for treatment of acne scars. Out of these chemical peeling and laser are very popular. Let us compare both of them.
Acne scars- treatment with chemical peeling-
Chemical peeling is one of the popular cosmetic procedures to remove old skin and get a fresh new skin. Chemical peeling is also called derma-peeling or chemexfoliation. As the name implies, in this procedure, the skin is peeled off with chemicals and when the new skin grows it is fresh and with lesser sun damage and wrinkles. Depending on the strength of the peeling chemical, the peeling procedure may be called- superficial, medium-depth or deep. The name refers to the depth of the skin to which the chemical peels off the old skin.
The common chemicals used for chemical peeling are alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), trichloroacetic acid and phenol. Your doctor may also choose other chemicals to get the desired result. With superficial peeling, you can go back to work immediately while after getting medium or deep peeling done, you may have to let the new skin grow for some days before you go out. The pain and trouble associated with peeling also depends on the depth to which peeling is done. Superficial peeling will remove fine lines, wrinkles etc. while with deep peeling, deep scars and pre-cancerous sun damage gets removed.
Acne scars- treatment with lasers
A laser is focused high energy light. The scientific name of LASER is ‘Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation’. Ordinary light emits photons in all the directions and consists of many wavelengths. Unlike that, laser emits photons in a single direction and consists of a single wavelength. Laser therefore has very high energy and can be focused on any object or in any direction. In laser skin resurfacing, the laser burns away the unwanted skin tissues bloodlessly and gives a new shape with precise control.
Laser resurfacing is a bloodless process and doctors can control the resurfacing more accurately with it. The risk of infection is also low with this procedure. With latest lasers available, this process is revolutionizing the procedure of facial resurfacing and scar removal.
Both lasers and chemical peeling give good results. Lasers are more expensive than chemical peeling. Lasers can also be controlled much better than chemical peeling. But chemical peeling is much cheaper.

Surely you must agree that for most of us at some time in our life we will or have suffered with a pimply face or back. This is true for most of us. And this is why acne scar treatments are so popular – because there is a demand for them. The most popular age group to be affected is the teenage years but it can also affect adults for many different reasons. The good news is that what ever age you are you need not have to suffer with this problem forever. If you go to your GP or dermatologist they will check you out and find out what is causing the problem and prescribe relevant medication to help you.

If people went to their doctors early enough then they would not have the need for acne scar treatments. Prevention is always the best cure. However, most people do not realize that you can do this. I know from personal experience that most of us think we can just grow out of it but for many it just keeps going on and in the meantime we are doing damage not only to our skin but to our self esteem as well. Who wants to go out with a face looking like a pizza? No one! Who wants to go through the rest of their lives with facial scarring? No one!

If you are someone who has had facial scarring from acne then you can still help the situation by using one of the many creams and potions available from a pharmacy but they do not completely erase you skin condition. Possibly the most capable method would be microderm abrasion. For the safest option with this is to go to someone specialized in this field because the procedure actually resurfaces the skin. If this is not done properly you can come out quite burnt. Many people do have this procedure done for blemishes and so on. Out of all the acne scar treatments this is probably the best.

Unfortunately for some people with extreme acne scarring there might not be a solution. If you are a woman then you maybe able to cover your scarring up with make up and if you are a man perhaps a beard will do the trick. Of course there are people out there that don’t find it too much of a problem in the first place and just get on with life the way they are. This really is a personal thing for every individual.

Just try and remember if you are someone that has this type of scarring and you have children then make sure they do not go through what you are going through. Get them some help straight away so they not only clear up their pimples and keep their self esteem but they also will not have to go through life with the need for acne scar treatments for their ugly skin condition.

Normally as the acne begins to heal whilst being treated it will often leave some sort of spot on the skin which usually fades after a period of time. In fact in some cases it can take up to a year before it has faded completely and disappears. Yet for some people they find that it does not disappear within the year and they are then left with scarring. However there are a number of different acne scars treatments available to use in order to treat the condition.

In this article I will take a look at some of the methods that have proved to be fairly effective in treating this particular problem.

1. Retin A

This form of treatment should only be used after talking with a doctor as there are a number of side effects associated with it. However it has been proved to be extremely beneficial in treating not just scarring but skin conditions as well.

2. Mederma

This is a topical medication and is believed to be effective in helping to heal the scars associated with acne. There is a website that the manufacturers of this product have set up where you can learn more comprehensive data about this particular product if you so wish.

3. Copper Peptides

In recent years these have begun to gain widespread popularity as the modern way for treating acne scars. The properties of the copper peptides help to improve the skins elasticity as well as firm it up. Plus it helps to neutralize those free radicals which can cause damage to your skin as it contains anti-oxidant properties.

When choosing an acne scar treatment medication or program, you should first ascertain which products is best suited to you. You should discuss this matter with your doctor or dermatologist first. As there are so many products now available for a person to use in order to treat acne scars carrying out some research first will help to find out just how efficient each one is before you start any treatment.

There are numerous benefits of microdermabrasion to get rid of acne. One of the most salient advantages is that there is absolutely no downtime after treatment. The procedure evolved from a technique called dermabrasion. Dermabrasion has been around for many decades and was traditionally used to treat severe scarring by polishing the uppermost surface of the skin with an abrasive, metallic attachment . This highly effective technique requires recovery time and anesthesia. Microdermabrasion is much gentler and does less invasive skin-resurfacing. It employs specially formulated solutions that are packed with the power of micro-crystals. The re-surfacing wand gently cleans your skin tissues and drives out dead skin cells, oil, and entrenched contaminants. A new skin surface is revealed, much healthier and revitalized. The treatment is completely painless, and should feel like a deep tissue massage. This “lunch break” facial accommodates even the busiest schedule. Not only is the treatment quick, it’s also versatile. You can even perform a microdermabrasion session on yourself from the comfort of your home. Many home systems can even be incorporated into your morning routine. Ask your local salon about treatment deals. Perhaps the best of all microdermabrasion benefits is that there are no pain-causing chemicals, scalpels, or lasers involved. Microdermabrasion does not utilize any of these tools or chemicals, therefore effectively erasing all risks, recovery time, and commitment for comparable results. Microdermabrasion costs only a fraction of the thousands of dollars that most cosmetic surgeries and other invasive skin enhancing treatments cost. Microdermabrasion is just a fraction of the cost. Home kits can be bought for as low as $20. Professional spa clinicians and medical professionals offer microdermabrasions treatments for as low a $100. Microdermabrasion fuses beauty and health into a single treatment, providing a safe alternative to invasive, skin-resurfacing techniques. So with peace of mind, indulge your skin with one of the most innovative and effective skincare techniques to come along in decades. As always, consult your doctor or skin care specialist on any treatment program. Although Microdermabasion has many advantages, it is suitable for only certain types of skin and severity of acne scarring. Microdermabrasion may not show any results at all for some, especially those with medium and severe scarring. For a complete guide to getting rid of acne scars get yourself a copy of the Acne Scar Book. Click here to download it

One of the unpleasant side effects of acne is the scars left behind and the poor state of the skin. Acne scars are, unfortunately, notoriously hard to treat. In certain cases acne scars can not be removed despite the expensive methods used. The most common ways of dealing with acne scars are:

Dermabrasion. The outer layer of the skin is removed in order to remove scars. This method is best used for scars that stand out from the skin and much less effective for scars going deep into the lower layers.

aser resurfacing. A laser beam is used to remove areas of damaged skin one layer at a time. Laser treatment is also effective in getting rid of areas of uneven pigmentation and achieving an overall healthy look.

Punch excision. This is a method of correcting deep scars through the use of a punch biopsy tool, which is matched to the size of the acne scar. The scar is excised with the punch tool and the edges of the skin are sutured together.

Chemical peels. This method relies on a mixture of chemicals to improve the texture of the skin and to make it smoother by removing the damaged top layer. Phenol, trichloroacetic acid and alphahydroxy acids are the most commonly used substances.

Subcision. The scar is cut loose from the deeper tissue, allowing a pool of blood to form under the scar. The blood clot helps form a new layer of connective tissue under the scar, leveling it with the surface

The most important thing to remember is that acne is a disease that affects people all over the world, regardless of their race or culture. Many people suffer from it past their teen years, despite acne being seen as a teenagers’ problem. The most common form of acne is known by doctors as “acne vulgaris”. The lesions caused by acne appear, usually, on the face, chest, neck, upper back and upper arms. The most severe forms of acne can lead to scars that may be visible for a lifetime.

The second most important thing to remember is to refrain from dealing with zits and pimples yourself by squeezing them open or picking them. In many cases, such actions lead to the spread of acne to other areas of the body. The best choice is to see a dermatologist. You can also use herbs, such as Echinacea, pokeroot, witch hazel or red clover, to treat acne, but this won’t work in the severe cases. These are best left to doctors.

Fight Your Acne and Compare Acne Products