Acne scar removal methods vary  depending on the cause, nature and severity of acne scarring. There are different acne scar treatments for early acne scars and those that have lasted for some time.

What are acne scars?

Acne scars are marks, pits, indentations, spots or even raised bumps on mostly your facial skin caused by either an over-production of collagen or the lack of it during the acne healing stage. Acne scars are generally categorized into depressed (indented) acne scars and raised (protruded) acne scars. Cystic acne, if left untreated, can cause skin disfiguring.

Causes of Acne Scars

Acne scarring more commonly can be caused by ‘popping’ or force squeezing the acne. The purging of pus not only causes bacteria to spread across the skin, resulting in more pimples or acne to develop, it also ruptures the outer skin layer. This tearing of skin is what is causing it to scar, because as you prick or poke the zits, you are in fact pushing the bacteria down deeper into your skin tissue, causing it to be inflamed and thus heal even slower. If you attempt to get rid of acne on your own without professional help, you may also risk developing cystic acne that is highly contagious and worsens the acne scarring condition. Other causes of blemished skin can be genetics in that you inherit acne-prone or oily skin, hormonal imbalance, sun damages and delayed in having an anti-inflammatory treatment.

Acne Scar Treatments

There are various acne scar treatments made for topical uses, oral consumptions and even administered intravenously. Acne breakouts that are raised on the skin are mostly treated topically, while the indented and pitted acne types would require professional clinical treatments such as laser, microdermabrasion or chemical skin peels.

Steroid & Antibiotic creams for Acne Scars

They contain alpha-hydroxyl acids (AHAs) and beta-hydroxyl acids (BHA)or benzoyl peroxide that help in gentle skin exfoliation as well as drying up of acne over time. These are sometimes used with hydroquinone, a skin-bleaching agent that helps to lighten the blemishes and discolorations. There are also steroid creams prescribed by the dermatologists or over the counters such as cortisone, to help reduce swells and inflammation. Steroid creams however have side effects; they can cause depression, anxiety, cataracts, osteoporosis and insulin resistance amongst many others. If you have acne scars that require non-invasive treatment, there are natural acne treatment products like aroma therapy and facial masks that are safer to try.

Laser Treatment & Light Therapy for Acne Scars

Light therapies (such as pulsed light, blue light, photodynamic treatments) basically repair the deeper dermis layers without hurting the outer skin surface. These methods sends heat energy and light signals to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin from within, making the skin plumper and hence appears smoother. When combined with non-ablative laser treatment, this type of acne therapy (such as diode laser, pulsed dye, Krypton ion) uses wavelengths that helps to reduce excess sebum production as laser impairs the sebaceous glands that is causing the follicles to clog and getting inflamed. These treatments benefit the skin by reducing the appearance of acne scars as well as help improve the skin texture. Laser treatments come in both ablative and non-ablative methods. Ablative laser involves skin resurfacing and may pose risks of having side effects such as infection, flares, and further scarring. Those with diabetic condition, or are pregnant or on any other medication are advised to avoid such treatments for health complications reasons.

Microdermabrasion for mild Acne Scars

Microdermabrasion treatment on the other hand targets at removing the outer skin tissue (epidermis) for the underlying new skin to take its place. This technology involves abrading the epidermis layer away with high-pressure crystal particles that to improve the skin structure. Microdermabrasion is usually used on mild and non-inflammatory acne due to the abrasive nature. The skin is essentially polished off so that plugged pores are exfoliated, and mild acne scarring is reduced or removed. This type of treatment has known side effects for dry skin, irritations and redness.

Chemical Peels for Acne Scars

Chemical peels are suitable for superficial acne scarring, especially if the condition is caused by sun damage such as ultraviolet radiation. The chemicals reduces melanin pigmentation by penetrating into our epidermis to stimulate the regeneration of skin cells. The common chemical solutions used include alpha-hydroxy acids, beta-hydroxyl acids, trichloroacetic acid (TCA peel) and phenols; these acids helps in exfoliation (peeling) of the skin and reduced blemishes and acne scars through skin resurfacing.

Derma Fillers for Pitted Acne Scars

Derma fillers are especially effective to smoothen out pitted or indented acne scars such as boxcar, ice pick, atrophic and rolling hill types of acne scars. The filler treatment is a non-surgical procedure that involves injecting a gel substance into the scars to soften them and even the surfaces out with the rest of the skin. Apart from reducing acne scars, filler injections are also used in plumping up the skin to reduce fine lines and wrinkles in restoring the degeneration of fibroblasts and collagen in our skin.