Author: Janet Ashby
Source: ezinearticles.com

If you have scarring left behind from severe acne you will be looking for the best acne scar treatment for you. Acne is a major problem, especially in the teenage years but, thankfully, usually clears up by the late teens or early twenties. It can however, leave behind disfiguring scars. There are a range of treatments for acne scars so we’ve put together information on all the current methods available so you can talk with your dermatologist armed with the knowledge you need to make an informed decision.

Microdermabrasion is right for small acne scars that are raised above the skin’s surface. This basically exfoliates the skin and gets rid of dead and damaged skin on the surface. Microdermabrasion is not suitable for deep scars or sunken scars. In this procedure a machine is used to scatter very small crystals onto the the skin in a stream under pressure. The crystals are as a rule aluminium oxide but others, for instance zinc oxide, sodium chloride or magnesium oxide, can be used as an alternative. This takes off the very top layer of the skin and is very useful to completely clean out pores. An added benefit is that it eliminates dead skin cells. It is low risk and does not require any recovery period.

Laser Skin Rejuvenation is a moderate technique that does not take away the skin’s top layer as other laser techniques do but makes use of light rays which penetrate below the surface layer of the skin. This intensifies collagen growth which then starts to fill in the acne scars over the following months. There is no recovery time as there is no damage to the skin and it takes only around twenty minutes to carry out. There may well be some slight skin reddening which is brief and can be simply covered by the use of makeup. Laser skin rejuvenation treatments are typically done over approximately four weeks with around five or six treatments.

Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing is obtainable in two different forms called ablative and non-ablative. Recovery from non-ablative laser treatment is to a great extent quicker and is usually used only on less severe scarring. The laser is used to make small areas of damage to the skin around the scars which causes the production of more collagen which helps to heal the scar. This method is often regarded as one of the best acne scar treatments, however it is also the most costly.

Acne Scar Thermage Treatment is a newer procedure which makes us of waves that are in the radio frequency range and is mostly used for lines and wrinkles on the face. This procedure stimulates the growth of collagen and therefore doesn’t treat scars in the same way as fractional laser skin resurfacing. It is pain free and isn’t invasive and takes less than an hour.

Dermal Filling is mostly temporary and employs collagen injections which fill in the scars. A few months later the filling material used is absorbed by the skin. The collagen is derived from either natural or animal sources so if you are using collagen derived from animals you must be tested for allergic reactions before undertaking the treatment. Some newer dermal fillers, for example Restylane