Archive for the ‘Acne Scars’ Category

They may look as though they are impossible to shift but trying to remove acne scars is not a hopeless case. Acne scars are caused by inflamed lesions that destroy a portion of the dermis and its collagen network. Sometimes the skin reacts by producing too much new collagen with the result being a raised scar. More often, though, the collagen only partially grows back which leaves a depressed scar.

Few acne scars can be completely eliminated which is why you usually hear of scars being revised or reduced in appearance. The most common approach is to resurface the skin using techniques such as laser resurfacing, chemical peels or dermabrasion. The problem is that most scars penetrate below the level of the skin where it can be safely removed. It’s minor, superficial scars that can actually be erased.

So here are some of the options available that you can use to get rid of acne scars.

Resurfacing and Collagen Remodelling

Skin resurfacing is a process that works by removing layers of skin to create a wound. When the wound heals it does so by regenerating new cells that create a smoother surface. There is a healing process that then plays a part in a couple of ways. The first is the replacement of the skin is upper surface and the second is the collagen remodelling which changes the collagen network of the middle layer or dermis.

Deep Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are the most common medium depth procedures that involve a chemical agent that is applied to the skin with the aim of destroying one or more layers at any time. When a chemical peel is applied by a surgeon with the aim of removing scar tissue they are performing a delicate balancing act of going deeply enough to remove as much of the star as possible without going so deeply that it compromises the skin’s ability to heal properly.

Laser Resurfacing

The most common resurfacing procedures correctly scarring is laser resurfacing. It is typically performed with either a carbon dioxide laser or with an Erbium:YAG later. Laser resurfacing is regarded as the highest standard of skin resurfacing techniques. There is a trade-off with using the CO2 technique and that is a painful a lengthy healing period, prolonged redness and lingering changes in skin colour for patients. On the other hand the erbium laser gives you a gentler experience than the CO2 laser. It produces less heating in the dermis and so the skin heals more rapidly and there is less redness. Again, there is a trade-off with using this technique and that is that there is less collagen remodelling. This means that there will be less improvement in the scars treated with the erbium laser.

Dermabrasion

The traditional method of treating acne scars is dermabrasion but this has been eclipsed by the use of lasers with dermatologists no longer using the old dermabrasion equipment. In actual fact dermabrasion is a pretty gruesome procedure in which a rapidly rotating, abrasive metal wheel is used like a carpenter’s sander to mechanically remove layers of skin. It requires a particularly skilled surgeon with an artist’s touch to get good results. One of the biggest problems with going down the dermabrasion path is finding a skill practitioner who might be able to do it.

Healing Acne Scars with Fillers

One of the least expensive ways to improve the appearance of acne scars is to fill them with injected substances to push the depressions up. Fillers are most effective on soft sided, distensible scars and can be used successfully to fill in the small Left behind following a subcision surgery that was done to release broad, bound down scars. They don’t work at all on ice pick scars. There is a constant stream of new substances being used and introduced as cosmetic fillers. Consequently there always seems to be a new miracle product available in facial rejuvenation. Fillers can sometimes be used as short-term fixes.

Non-Ablative Laser Resurfacing

Non-ablative laser sends the light through the epidermis to pump up the skin from the inside. The laser beam passes through the skin surface and is absorbed by the tissues in the dermis. This creates heat that stimulates collagen remodelling. A similar technique called photo-rejuvenation has become more popular as a less invasive face-lift treatment for fine or moderate wrinkling. Simple treatments, somewhere in the region of 3 to 5 sessions, are required to achieve noticeable effects. These non-ablative lasers are often used following conventional laser resurfacing to enhance the collagen remodeling that has been done with ablative lasers.

Surgical Subcision or Excision

In order to treat large, non-distensible scars there is the option to use a method of treatment known as subcision. In this instance a beveled needle is inserted under the scar and it is moved back and forth to cut the fibrous strands of collagen holding it down. This process results in a lot of bruising and discoloration.

Another technique is known as scar excision in which the scar is punched out of the skin and then the cavity is either closed with a small suture or a plug of skin is grafted in its place. A similar technique is to cut the scar loose and then lift it up to be level with the skin surface. Although each of these techniques will leave their own forms of scarring, they will be consistent scars that are smaller and more even and suitable for resurfacing later.

Getting rid of acne scars is a field that is rapidly evolving along with the rest of the cosmetic surgery field. There are more and more options available to give people who thought they were doomed to permanent facial scars hope of clear, unblemished skin.