How to get rid of acne scars

There are a few different types of acne scars

Ice pick scars – These are deep pits, that are the most common and a classic sign of acne scarring. Ice pick scars are deep, very narrow scars that extend into the dermis. The skin looks as if it has been pierced by an ice pick or sharp instrument. Ice pick scars seem to make a small, deep "hole" in the skin. Some may look like a large, open pore.

Box car scars - Angular scars that usually occur on the temple and cheeks, and can be either superficial or deep, these are similar to chickenpox scars. Boxcar scars are round or oval depressions with steep vertical sides. Wider than ice picks, boxcar scars give the skin a pitted appearance.

Rolling scars - Scars that give the skin a wave-like appearance. Rolling scars are the result of tissue damage beneath the skin, and have the appearance of a rolling hillside; hence the name. Because these scars are the result of tissue damage beneath the skin, resurfacing treatments like dermabrasion and lasers will not work, instead they are usually treated with subcision (explained in more detail in the next section). These are most commonly found on the cheeks and forehead.

If you found us then at some point we are assuming that you had acne, now you are left with embarrassing, ugly scars. There are ways to diminish and reduce the appearance of the acne scars. The severity of the scars will determine what you will need to do to diminish them. I would recommend seeking advice from a dermatologist or a cosmetic surgeon to determine the best course of action.

Get Dermabrasion. This is not to be confused with micro-dermabrasion which removes the very top layer of dead surface skin cells from the face. Dermabrasion is a coarser method, which removes further layers. Almost as if you were to rub sandpaper on your face (which you shouldn't!) But the sandpaper imagery is the general idea of what this process entails. The dermatologist will numb your face first and then begin removing layers through the "sanding" process. Recovery time is usually a couple weeks. Your skin will eventually scab. Once the scabs fall of, new skin will emerge with a fresh youthful glow. This works best on patients with very light or very dark skin. Patients in between might want to look for another procedure.

Have a chemical peel performed. This is a good treatment for very light acne scarring. Different types of acid are applied to the top layer of the skin. The acid is then removed about 15 minutes later. Again this will remove the top damaged layers of the epidermis. Redness and swelling is common after the procedure. Depending on the amount of acid applied, recovery time can take from a day to a couple of weeks.

For very mild scarring you can try a few at home procedures and products to help reduce the appearance of the scars. At home dermabrasion and chemical peels can help diminish some scarring especially if you also use retinol or alpha hydroxyl acid lotions or creams. For sensitive skin you may not want to apply retinol or alpha hydroxyl products right after dermabrasion or peels because it can cause redness and irritation. Other products you can try are scar reducing creams like Mederma or Rosehip seed oil which is said to be great at reducing scar tissue. Aloe Vera juice and gels and lavender oils are also said to work well on reducing scars.

Apply a bleaching cream to your acne scars. These creams are available over-the-counter and will lighten the scars, helping them to blend in with the surrounding skin. You'll need to apply the cream daily for several weeks in order to see results.

Treatment of scars left by an acne condition also comes in the domain of professional treatments. The treatment of scarring, if it is extensive, involves much time and patience, that is why appropriate preventive care is so important. Scars have been treated by an clinical pealing procedure called vegetable pealing. The treatment is geared towards improving the contour and the texture of the skin, in order to minimize scarring.

The problem with 95% of the treatments out there is that they try to simply cover up or treat pimples AFTER they have already popped up. They don’t actually treat the problem, they simply try to treat one zit at a time after they are already on your face.

Professional treatments for scarring include Laser Resurfacing which involves the use of a laser to remove skin so new skin can form in its place. Laser resurfacing can cause uneven skin tones in people with darker skin. It is still being studied but shows a lot of promise. After treatment you may experience redness and swelling which may last for several weeks.

Dermabrasion has been around for decades. Originally sandpaper was used to remove damaged skin. Now a machine rotates to remove the damaged skin, the skin is numbed or frozen first. After the procedure your skin is raw and scabs will form. After the scabs heal your skin will be reddish for several weeks.

Augmentation is a procedure where material like collagen or your own fat will be injected under the scar to bring it to the surface. The treatments last for about six months but they are working on more permanent solutions.

Subcision is a technique that detaches the scar from deeper tissue and allows a pool of blood to form under the scar. The blood clots and helps form connective tissue under the scar to level it with the rest of the skin surface. Subcision is usually combined with either dermabrasion or laser resurfacing.

The depth and shape of your scars will determine what treatment your doctor will recommend.