Acne Scar Treatment

Treatment for Mild Scarring

If you squeeze or pick at a pimple it can leave behind a red or brownish mark on your skin. If acne becomes inflamed and painful, it can scar even if you don't squeeze. Such marks will usually fade over weeks or months. If they bother you, you can cover them with concealing makeup or try a gentle bleaching agent containing hydroquinone. These are sold over-the-counter at the drugstore. Dark-skinned people may find that the discoloration happens more often and lasts longer. In that case, a gentle chemical peel from a dermatologist may hasten improvement.

There are many over-the-counter creams that claim to help heal scars. Some people swear by Vitamin E or cocoa butter. It is not clear how much these really help, but if your acne scarring is mild you may want to give them a try.

More Extensive Acne Scar Treatment

Permanent acne scars usually look like indentations in the skin. They may be small or large, deep or shallow. You may have them only in one area of your face, or in multiple places. Whether or not you need intensive acne scar treatment is an individual decision. If your scars don't bother you, it's easiest to leave them alone. If they do, talk to a dermatologist about your options. Here are some potential treatments.

Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion is essentially the sanding away of the top layer of skin. Dermabrasion machines use wire brushes, fast-spinning wheels covered in diamond dust, or similar devices. Either ice packs and a freezing spray, or an injectible anesthetic like lidocaine, is used to numb the skin. Afterward, an anesthetic-containing compress helps reduce stinging and pain.

Dermabrasion leaves the skin red and raw-looking for several days, and then noticeably pink for two or three months. The pinkness will fade as the new skin develops. Scars should continue to improve even after the pinkness has gone away. It takes about six months to see the final result of dermabrasion.

One fairly common complication is a darkening of the skin called hyperpigmentation. Staying out of the sun and using prescription bleaching creams can help to prevent this. Other possible complications include infection and the occurrence of new scars.

Laser Surgery

Laser surgery is expensive, but it can help remove acne scars. The laser helps to remodel the scarred skin so that it appears smoother. Some types of laser also remove the top layer of skin to help even out the appearance of scars.

Like dermabrasion, laser treatment usually leaves skin looking red and feeling raw. It will heal gradually over several days, and remain pinkish for up to several months as the new skin grows. Laser surgery and dermabrasion have similar potential complications.

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is a gentler acne scar treatment and carries fewer risks of hyperpigmentation than laser surgery or standard dermabrasion. It involves spraying the skin with a high-pressure stream of crystals made of aluminum oxide or salt. A vacuum then removes the crystals and exfoliated skin cells. The treatment causes some skin redness, which should go away within a few hours. Skin may continue to look a bit pink or tender for the next few days.

Each treatment takes less than an hour, but it usually takes many treatments to achieve a good result. You may need to return once or twice a week for several weeks to several months. Microdermabrasion will not work for very deep acne scars.

Microdermabrasion is not right for everyone. You shouldn't have the procedure if:

• You have used isotretinoin (Accutane) within the past year
• You have an active herpes infection
• You have skin cancer or certain other types of skin tumor

Collagen or Fat Injections

Collagen or fat can be injected into pitted acne scars, to fill in the area below the skin and raise it up to the level of the surrounding tissue. Collagen is a molecule that is part of normal skin. The collagen for injections may be made from animal tissue, human tissue, or your own body. Fat tissue is usually taken from another site on your body.

It usually takes only one or two injections to improve the appearance of a scar. However, the results of this acne scar treatment usually only last from six months to a year. Complications from the injections aren't common, but they can occur. Potential problems include:

• Allergic reactions (if animal collagen is used)
• New scar formation
• Infection
• Bruising

Surgical Removal

Very deep acne scars, sometimes called "ice pick" scars, will not improve with the above treatments. Your doctor may suggest minor surgery to remove the scar.