How to Get Rid of Acne Scars

If you have landed on this page then you are either someone how has acne scars or you know someone who has acne scars, in either case you want to get rid of them. In this article you will learn first what acne is and how it is caused. After establishing the underlying cause of acne and acne scars, this article will walk you through the various treatment options for acne scar removal including laser micro dermabrasion , dermabrasion, laser resurfacing, and chemical peels.

The first and most important point that I would like to get across is this; if you are still suffering from acne, it is extremely important that you get rid of  your acne know because this will prevent further scarring. So after explain the basic cause of acne this is where we will begin.

While there are other causes of acne, the most common cause is a bacterial skin infection. This happens when your skins pores are clogged with dead skin cells and dirt. Because your skin naturally produces oil, which is secreted through the skins pores; it becomes backed up when it cannot escape the pore. This creates the ideal living conditions of bacteria, which then begin to reproduce and spread to uninfected areas of your skin. As you can see, without intervention this can result in what you know as an acne breakout.

If you still have acne the first thing you need to do before you begin thinking about treating scars is prevent new scars. The best acne treatment to kill the bacterial infection that is causing your acne is antibiotics. This can be achieved through the use of oral and topical antibiotics, both of which will need to be obtained and administered from your dermatologist. There are other acne treatment options, just do a Google search to learn more.

Up until this point we have discussed only acne, which is important, but the real reason you are reading this article is to learn how to get rid of your acne scars. So, without further ado, let's dive in.

Micro-dermabrasion is the process of removing a very thin layer of skin from the affected area. This used to be a process preformed by a plastic surgeon, which used special tools and equipment. Nowadays this procedure can actually be done at home by using a kit, which you can buy at almost any pharmacy. It should be noted that while this is intended for the treatment of scars, and it will be adequate for most light scarring, severe cases of acne scarring will likely require much more, which brings us the next treatment; dermabrasion.

Dermabrasion, unlike micro-dermabrasion, is a serious medical procedure, intended for deep acne scarring. This procedure is performed by a doctor with the use of special tools, anesthesia, and ice or a cryogenic spray. The procedure is done of one small area at a time and it involves the use of a diamond wheeled tool, which removes the outer layer of skin. Unlike micro-derm, dermabrasion removes a rather large amount of skin, so much in fact that a local anesthetic is used in combination with ice or a cryogenic spray, which freezes the outer layer of skin. During the procedure the skin will often bleed, which is stopped with gauze. The healing for dermabrasion is generally ten to twelve weeks.

Laser resurfacing is another option for treating acne scars. This process involves the use of a laser, which vaporizes a thin layer of skin; this exposes the 'new' skin underneath. Like dermabrasion, this process is also very painful; because of this the patient is usually given a local anesthetic for small areas and a general anesthetic for larger areas, such as the entire face. There really is not set time for healing with this procedure, how long the healing process takes depends on how deep your scars are and how large of an area is treated.

Chemical peels are another option you may consider if you are wondering how to get rid of acne scars. The basic process here is that you have a chemical applied the areas where you have acne scars and over the course of ten to fourteen days the skin peels off. This exposes causes 'new' skin to grow back in its place. There are three different types of chemical peels: Superficial peels, which are the mildest type of chemical peel, this is indented for very light scaring. Medium peels are the next step up, and they are meant for more severe cases of acne scarring. This peel literally causes second degree burns to the area in which it is applied; because of this the healing time is usually longer. Deep chemical peels are the last type, and they are only recommended for the most extreme cases of acne scarring. This is because they have the tendency to actually bleach skin, especially in people with darker complexions.