Even though acne usually clears up after the teens, acne scars can remain for a lifetime and can be extremely disfiguring. However there are methods to minimise any scarring, so what is the best acne scar treatment for you? There are a range of methods obtainable, however they can be expensive therefore you ought to thoroughly investigate them before you decide on the right one for you.

Microdermabrasion is appropriate for small acne scars that protrude above the surface of the skin. This essentially exfoliates the skin and eradicates damaged and dead skin that is on the surface. This method is not right for deep scars or scars that are below the surface of the skin. In this treatment a device is used to send out extremely small crystals onto the the skin’s surface in a stream under pressure. The crystals are typically aluminium oxide but others, for example sodium chloride, magnesium oxide or carborundum, are sometimes used as an alternative. This method takes off the very top layer of the skin and also completely cleans out the pores. An added benefit is that it eliminates dead skin cells. It is not a hazardous procedure and doesn’t require any recovery time.

Laser Skin Rejuvenation is a gentle method that doesn’t remove the skin’s top layer as other laser procedures do but uses rays of light which penetrate below the surface layer of the skin. This intensifies the growth of collagen which then starts to fill up the scars in the subsequent months. There is no healing period as there isn’t any damage to the skin and it takes only around twenty minutes to complete. There may possibly be some reddening of the skin which is transient and may be easily covered by the use of makeup. Laser skin rejuvenation procedures are customarily carried out over around a month with about four or five treatments.

Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing is obtainable in two different forms called ablative and non-ablative. Healing from non-ablative laser treatment is a lot quicker and is typically used for less severe scarring. The laser damages the skin close to the scars which triggers the growth of extra collagen in these areas which helps to heal the scar. This is often regarded as one of the best acne scar treatments, however it is one of the most expensive.

Acne Scar Thermage Treatment is an alternative technique which makes us of radio frequency waves and is usually used for wrinkles and lines on the face. This technique stimulates collagen growth and as a result doesn’t heal scars in the same way as fractional laser skin resurfacing. It is painless and isn’t invasive and takes less than an hour.

Dermal Filling is by and large temporary and consists of injections of collagen which fill in the scars. A few months later the material used is absorbed by the skin. The collagen can be made from either animal or other natural sources, hence if you’re using animal-based collagen treatment you will need to be tested for an allergic reaction first. Newer dermal fillers, for instance Restylane®, use man-made materials which do not cause an allergic reaction and generally last much longer than other collagen methods. If you would prefer a inexpensive, although temporary method, this may perhaps be the best acne scar treatment for you.

Chemical Peels aren’t so popular as they were in the past as acne scar treatments such as laser skin resurfacing are being used more frequently instead. In spite of this they are reasonably valuable for mild to moderate acne scarring as they actually blister the top layer of the skin which then allows new healthy, unscarred skin to grow. The most popular kind of chemical peel is made from glycolic acid which is an organic acid that is found in plants and fruit. The procedure only takes about 15 minutes and is relatively painless though there might be some stinging. Side effects can include flaking and redness of the skin which possibly will last from a few days to as much as a week depending on the variety and severity of the chemical peel technique. A course of at least three treatments is required to observe any marked improvement in acne scarring.

Final thoughts

What then the best acne scar treatment? This will certainly depend on the amount of scarring you may have and, of course, on your finances. A number of of the most successful acne scar treatments are expensive and need repeated visits to work effectively. Bear in mind how deep your scarring is and arrange a consultation with a dermatologist to talk about the laser treatment for scars that will be best for you.