Acne Scar Treatment

How does Acne Scar Treatment Work?

By: Cosmetic and Laser Clinic

We develop scars for many reasons. Most of us have experienced acne to some degree in our lives. The scars occurring from acne, and having to deal with these scars can be hard on our overall self-esteem. There are several effective treatments that can help to dramatically reduce or eliminate scarring. These are dependent on the depth of the scars. The type of acne scar determines what method of treatment should be used and sometimes a combination of treatments are needed.

Keloid and Hypertrophic scars can be a normal part of the tissue healing process. When scar formation is excessive and beyond what is necessary or normal to heal a wound, some patients develop keloid or hypertrophic scars. This is a result of an abnormal wound healing response. They can occur spontaneously, but are usually developed after skin trauma such as surgery, ear piercing, abrasions, burns, vaccinations, etc. They appear as raised, often red/purple scars. The difference between keloid and hypertrophic scars can some times be difficult to determine. Keloid scars tend to extend from the original wound boundary and do not regress, where as hypertrophic scars tend not to extend from the original wound boundary and do regress over time. Keloid/hypertrophic scarring are more common in darker skin types.

Cost is varied, depending on the scar type and treatment method.

What types of acne scars are there?

There are many types of acne scarring.

They include macular scarring, which appear as flat areas of increased and/or decreased pigmentation.

• Ice-pick scars are deep, small holes in the skin. There may also be deep holes where there is subcutaneous tissue loss.
• Boxcar scars appear as superficial, punched out scars that have sharp vertical edges on cross section. These can be round or oval shaped.
• Keloid scars are significantly raised, dark, puffy looking scars which are left from the trauma to the skin.
• Hypertrophic scars are slightly raised and often contain pigment.

Who is a candidate for scar revision?

All patients are candidates for scar revision. Dr. Farooq will complete a complete skin examination to determine what type of scarring you have, and which procedure/procedures may help for your particular type of scarring.

Some of the treatments used at our office include:

• Dermal Fillers Juvederm/Restylane/Revanesse are soft tissue/dermal fillers that are placed underneath deep acne scars, which helps to lift the scar. Many times the skin is treated with chemical peels and laser resurfacing to decrease the pigmentation.

• Laser resurfacing is able to remove the damaged layers of skin and expose a smoother surface. This procedure is comfortable and requires little downtime. It may need to be repeated depending on the depth of the scars to provide the best result.

• Chemical Peels can greatly improve shallow scars and pigmentation associated with acne. There are many different types of peels and most have benefits for the treatment of scars. Chemical peels usually do not improve extremely deep acne scarring.

• Keloid Scars can be treated with a variety of therapies consisting of, injections of the scar with a cortisone preparation, and treatment of the scar with a laser. Also a variety of topical preparations including silicone gel and Aldara can be used to promote healing after treatment.

How many treatments are required?

Multiple treatments are usually required for acne scarring. Most times, the treatment of acne scarring and facial scarring requires a combination of these treatments. However, the improvement in acne scars can be a life changing experience with increased self-esteem and confidence.

How do I book a treatment or a free consultation?
If you would like to learn more about your cosmetic options, or find out if Scar Revision treatments might work well for you, please book a complimentary visit to speak with Dr. Farooq at 705-735-2844.