Acne is one of the pains of being a teenager. For most people it is an annoyance that fades away with the memories of English class and Senior prom, but some are reminded of those days every time they look in the mirror because of the scarring that acne left behind.
There is a considerable variation in types and degrees of acne scarring. For many years the only treatment options for acne scars were invasive and only had minimal effect. Today there are treatment options that are gentle and require little to no downtime. These treatments will significantly improve shallow and mild acne scarring.
Acne scars may be present on your skin in different shapes and forms. They can be flat, depressed, red, white or normal skin colored; fairly well localized or generalized; or look worse due to volume loss under the skin from aging. All of these factors help determine the course of the treatment. Here are some of the treatments available today:
1. Topical creams are good first line treatments. Cortisone creams help reduce inflammation and this can reduce redness. Skin lightening creams can reduce dark areas left by scarring. Look for creams that include kojic acid, arbutin or vitamin C – all gentle skin lightening ingredients. These creams can be purchased over-the-counter. The drawback – they don’t work for everyone.
2. Filler injections can be used to fill in deep pockets left behind by acne scars. This works well on most people for localized areas. The one drawback to this type of treatment is that is has to be repeated every 4 to 6 months because the filler is reabsorbed into the skin.
3. Chemical Peels are a stronger treatment. They will help with mild scarring. This type of treatment involves applying a chemical solution to the skin to produce an even “shedding” of the top layers of skin to reveal newer, smoother skin. The treatment is then followed up with skincare products to keep the new skin moisturized and soft. For best results the type of chemical peel used has to be matched with the patient’s skin type.
4. Micro-needling is used to help rebuild the collagen under the skin. A Micro-Needling treatment can provide dramatic results improving the appearances of scars. The micro needles stimulate new collagen to be generated with the added benefit of new capillary growth. The increased blood supply helps create healthier existing skin. The physical nature of “skin-needling” breaks up fibrous and uneven scar tissue and stimulates the growth of new tissue. While each patient is different and conditions will vary, the typical treatment regimen will consist of 3-6 treatments.
5. Fraxel laser is one of the latest advances in non-surgical skin rejuvenation treatments. Fractionated lasers excel at treating deeper wrinkles, textural changes from sun damage, wrinkles, blotches, acne scars, and surgical or traumatic scars. This treatment allows a small area to be treated while leaving the surrounding area untouched. This allows for quicker healing. This treatment also stimulates collagen production for a long lasting effect.
When searching for treatment for acne scarring consult with a professional that can explain the different types of treatments and which may be best for you and your skin condition. Call Bodylase® in Raleigh and Cary to set up a consultation today.
