How to Get Rid of Acne Scars
For many acne sufferers, having to resort to treating acne scars is the last thing they want. When people ask me about how to get rid of acne scars, it’s normally accompanied with a tone of despondency and desperation, almost as a concession of their defeat to acne.
Well i’m here to deliver good news, acne scarring is NOT incurable – far from it! There are a variety of methods available guaranteed to eradicate acne scars, if not reduce it to a level that will be unnoticeable. You no longer need to be ignorant about how to get rid of acne scars.
However, not all methods are created equal, some are even complete myths! The purpose of my 2-part article below is to debunk the myths and lay down the facts regarding each of the treatments commonly recommended to treat acne scars.
Click here for the Best Guide on How to Get Rid of Acne Scars
In the second part of this article, I will also introduce you to a variety of natural acne scar treatments, tell you which ones work and which ones don’t. It is my hope that with all this information, you will be able to make informed decisions about the best treatments that work for you. Learning how to get rid of acne scars takes some time, but hopefully this guide gives you a headstart.
Ok, let’s dive straight into the types of acne scar treatment commercially available :
A) Microdermabrasion.
This method of removing acne scars tends to work best on deep acne scars or even for deep wrinkles. It has mixed reviews, some good and some extremely damning. In this method, your top layers of skin are literally peeled off using various mechanical instruments.
One thing to note: this treatment is very expensive, with average treatments costing anywhere from $1500 – $6000. Also, it is not recommended for people with darker complexion, since it does drastically cause skin whitening in areas of treatment, often permanent. My advice – avoid if possible! There are other newer methods available that will work better that will certainly not burn as large a hole in your pocket.
Pros: Can work not only on deep acne scars but also deep wrinkles, moderate recovery times.
Cons: Very costly, can cause severe side effects, including loss of pigmentation, blotchy appearances and severe pain.Not the best way to get rid of acne scars, and certainly not one I recommend.
B) Laser resurfacing treatment.
For severe acne scars, this seems to be the treatment of choice. Laser therapy works by removing skin layer by layer and normally produces good results, also depending upon the nature of the scar. A depressed scar may get better results with other treatments but a scar that ‘bulges’ may be the best target here.
Bear in mind, treatment is not cheap, with a session often costing around $500 – $1000 per session, and you may need to go 3 or 4 sessions for full treatment. It is generally better to have a few larger sessions than a collection of small sessions. There is a possibility of similar side effects to microdermabrasion, and the recovery time varies from person to person.
The verdict for this – consider carefully only after having consultation with a laser surgeon or dermatologist. You might be pressured to go ahead with surgery, but make sure you get all the facts and side effects from the surgeon beforehand
Pros: Generally effective against severe acne scars, short recovery times (2 -7 days).
Cons: Very costly, may cause severe pain and redness/swelling in face temporarily, treatment can be messy.Once again, not particularly the best way on how to get rid of acne scars.
C) Chemical Peels
I recommend this method only for people suffering mild acne scars. It works by introducing a variety of chemicals and mild acids to dissolve dead skin layers at the top so new skin tissue can grow in their place. Some patients may suffer from allergy to substances and should always check before undergoing such treatments.
It is hard to see results in a few sittings, so treatment may have to be administered continually to obtain optimal results. The treatment tends to be supplemented with antibiotics and creams to soothe the skin. It is inexpensive for a session, around $100, but the cumulative bill of multiple sessions may end up being quite high.
My advice is to consult a doctor about any allergies you may have first and only then to proceed with treatment if you choose.
Pros: Tends to be effective against mild acne scars.
Cons: May be costly depending on session required, works only on mild scarring, users may experience allergy or redness post-treatment.
Click here for the Best Guide on How to Get Rid of Acne Scars
D) Dermal Fillers/Augmentation
This is a popular method of treatment for depressed scars. It works by the injection of collagen or other filler material directly beneath scars to raise it up to skin levels. An alternative to collagen is your own fat extracted from other parts of your body. While this does not remove the appearance of scar tissue, this treatment does go a long way in making facial skin depressions less visible.
The only downside is that the effects are non permanent, since collagen and fats can dissipate within your body over periods of time. .Dermal fillers tend to last around 6 months, but continuing research is being done to find material that has a longer life. This is certainly one method I would recommend, but only for specific scars.
Pros: Very effective against scars where skin has depressed in, very short recovery time – can return to normal activity almost immediately.In many cases, the best answer on how to get rid of acne scars.
Cons: Works as a temporary fix, lasts up to 6 months per treatment, fairly costly – $500 per session.
E) Punch techniques
There are 3 associated techniques that fall in this group:
- Punch excision: A method where the scar tissue is “punched out” and the edges of skin around it are sutured together and left to heal. The “seam” of skin stitched together will typically disappear over time.
- Punch replacement: Removes a pitted scar and then replaces it with a skin graft obtained elsewhere, usually from behind the patient’s ear. One of the most successful methods for treating deep acne scars.
- Punch elevation: A technique where the surface of scar is left intact but is cut loose from underneath, allowing the scar tissue to float up level to skin surface. It is then attached via sutures or skin-glue called Dermabond.
This collection of techniques perhaps work the best for “ice pick” or “boxcar” (deep) scars and are relatively affordable. Punches can start anywhere from $50 to about $150 per procedure. The only downside is that they may take several weeks of recovery.
This technique is often accompanied with resurfacing techniques (laser and dermabrasion) to enhance results. Ensure you have a reputable surgeon perform the technique, since the results are only as good as the person doing it.
Pros: Very effective against deep scars, relatively inexpensive done by itself
Cons: Long recovery times, results may vary drastically based on experience of surgeon.
Now that you’ve seen what conventional methods are available to get rid of acne scars, let’s have a look at natural acne scar treatments available. As before, not every method listed has an equal chance of success, but it is always useful to have a perspective of what’s out there.
Click here for the Best Guide on How to Get Rid of Acne Scars
This is part 1 of a 2 part article series. To read part 2 on Natural Acne Scar Treatments, please click on the link here