One of the most common issues faced in dermatology offices in patients with acne is how to get rid of acne scars. This is such an important issue because, like acne has its own problems, the resulting occasional acne scars may be cosmetically annoying as the original acne. Many good results have been achieved to the appearance of acne scars, but no over-the-counter remedies are currently available. The following discussion and proposals must be carefully reviewed with the experienced dermatologist.
The first step in the treatment of acne scars is the treatment of the underlying acne. Without an effective anti-acne regimen, the treatment of acne scars are meaningless as more scars occur despite treatment. For a thorough discussion about acne and acne regimens, please click on these issues in the DermBlue Learning Center or accompanying press articles:
* Acne
* Acne Skin Care Regimen
* Blackheads, large pores, and oily skin
* Over-the-counter acne Care
May their regime are simply over-the-counter acne care or prescription News as Retin-A or Tazorac ® ®. Other treatment options are antibiotics, Blue-light photodynamic therapy, and oral isotretinoin therapy. These decisions are between you and your experienced dermatologist. Acne scarring can be divided into two primary categories: Rolling acne scars and acne scars. Rolling scars are best described as the hills and valleys that really accentuated with tangential lighting. Ice Pick scarring is the crisp, deep holes from pitting, as if a pimple was poked into the skin. The treatment of these two different types of scarring differs both in the methods employed and the rate of success. For rolling scars, there are surgical, ablative and non-ablative methods to reduce scar formation. Surgical methods include succession treatments, in which a needle / blade is located underneath the scar and moved side to side to loosen the underlying tissue drawn. Another option is the treatment with a filler such as Restyling ® or medical silicone to fill the scar. Non-ablative therapies include an infrared laser heat and transformation of the underlying scar tissue. Ablative therapies include the mabrasion (manual sanding the skin) or ablative lasers, such as the Er: YAG or CO2 lasers, to remove the top laser skin and in essence the "hill-tops and valleys" the rolling scars.
For ice-pick-scarring, surgical methods include punch excision, where a circular cookie-cutter tool is used for the scar under anesthesia and a stitch may or may not be in a position to help with healing. Another new technique involves using 90% trichloroacetic with a toothpick. This serves to damage to the skin within the scar and to promote the scar Remodeling. The other treatments mentioned above also apply: the use of filler materials, the mabrasion, laser and again.
In general, non-ablative laser therapy May reasonably lead to 50-70% improvement in rolling acne scars. Succession and the use of fillers are ideal for limited rolling acne scars and punch excision treatment can be used when isolated pimple scarring is noted. For more extensive scarring of either type, the mabrasion or laser ablative therapy rather than the best option.
Many of these treatments are skin-type-specific and must be under close consultation with your dermatologist. While these treatments are not covered by any insurance, the cosmetic results can be well worth the price. Make sure to provide all possible treatment options and combinations, as well as the reasonably expected results.