Foolproof Ways to Get Rid of Acne Scars

You thought that having acne was the worst of it. Now that you've managed to get rid of your acne for good, you're left wondering how you can treat acne scars to make them less noticeable (and less painful to your self-esteem.) Fortunately, all hope is not lost. There are ways to treat acne scars and live the (almost) blemish-free life you hope to have forever.

First of all, it's nice to know that you aren't alone. It is estimated that over 85% of people have suffered from acne at some point during their teenage or adult years, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Many of these people recover from their acne without noticeable scars. Unfortunately, the majority of acne sufferers are left with varying degrees of acne scars.

Just like there are varying degrees in the severity of acne blemishes, there are also various degrees of severity in the scarring caused by it. Minor acne problems, like blackheads or whiteheads, will only cause minor scarring, if any at all. More serious acne problems, like the development of papules (red inflamed pimples), pustules (red inflamed pimples with white centers) or nodules (pus-filled lumps) will cause the worst acne scarring of all.

To treat acne scars, you must pinpoint what type of acne you suffer from. If you fall under the minor acne category, you can most likely treat acne scars with topical smoothing creams containing Alpha-Hydroxy acids or Tretinoin (like Retin-A) from your dermatologist. Your doctor will look over your condition and prescribe a cream that will most likely fit your needs.

You can also treat acne scars that are minor with chemical peel or microdermabrasion treatments at your dermatologist's office. These treatments smooth the skin, reducing the appearance of minor acne scars.

Unfortunately, there isn't a perfect way to treat acne scars that are more severe. However, trying several different options may be your best bet to treat acne scars and minimize their appearance. One option is dermabrasion. Dermabrasion involves taking a rotating wire brush to the face to rough away the surface of the skin. This process is known to be extremely painful and your face can take weeks to heal. However, a smoother complexion will shine through after it heals.

Laser resurfacing is another way to treat acne scars. This process requires your dermatologist to use a laser to blast through the first layer of skin and tighten the second layer. This can also be painful, but the doctor will most likely use a numbing agent before giving you the treatment. The healing time is shorter than dermabrasion, lasting anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks.

The newest way to treat acne scars is with fractional laser therapy. Fractional laser therapy works through the top layer of skin tissue, cutting healing time in half. The laser penetrates to a deeper level to treat scars at the base of the tissue. This treatment is very expensive and most insurance companies do not cover it yet.

Unfortunately, finding a way to treat acne scars is a time-consuming and expensive process. However, you will find a way to reduce the scarring from your acne, though it may not disappear completely.

Sources

American Academy of Dermatology
AcneNet