Acne and the resulting scars are a part of adolescence and growing up for millions of people worldwide, both men and women. It is unfortunate as it can cause lower self-esteem and even depression as one sees themselves as undesirable due to this acne condition. Now acne can be treated and there are various treatments for acne to include skin and chemical peels, laser therapy treatments and even strong prescription drugs like Accutane.
But what treatments short of plastic surgery are therefore acne scar removal?
First of all, we discuss what acne scarring is. Acne scarring is caused by either the acne itself and the swelling of the postules were many times they can also be caused by picking at, pressing and squeezing the postules like a pimple or zit. I can never say this enough, do not pick at or squeeze acne pustules. Unlike pimples and the occasional zit, acne pustules do not heal right away after squeezing and many times squeezing them is unproductive and will only make the matter much worse. Besides squeezing acne postules usually leads to permanent acne scarring, pitting, and pockmarks.
Most acne scars are either depressions like pits or pockmarks or are discolored spots. These spots can be purplish or dark-colored or clear in some cases but results in impress or depressed areas on the face. Some dermatologists will use dermal fillers to fill in these depressed areas and raise them back to where they should be. These treatments are only temporary and will last from a few months to a year at most. None of the fillers are permanent fixes as your body will sooner or later synthesize the filler material and it will disappear.
Generally the best way to describe dermal fillers is that you will look the best the day after it has been done. From that moment onward the dermal filler will slowly dissipate and disappear. The cheaper dermal fillers will usually not last as long as some of the others – basically with dermal fillers, you will get what you pay for. There is no such thing as a cheap dermal filler as they usually cost $500 to $2500 per treatment, but some clearly are better than others and last longer.
Dermabrasion for scarring
Another very effective treatment doctors use for acne scarring is to remove the top several layers of skin and allow new, younger skin to emerge. This is done through either dermabrasion, medium strength skin peels (like the TCA peel, which is universally accepted as the best and most effective skin peel in treating acne scars), or laser therapy. Dermabrasion, is effective but is not used as often anymore due to the amount of time that is needed to properly do it. An application could easily take an hour or more, whereas a chemical peel or laser therapy can be completed in a few minutes.
The results from all three are basically about the same. All three stimulate the skin to produce more collagen which also helps to erase the acne scars especially the depressions and pits. Laser therapy is the most expensive by far of the three. Usually, most dermatologists and doctors will recommend a series of laser treatments and this can easily cost several thousand dollars. A strong chemical peel like TCA peel is usually the cheapest at around $500 per application by a dermatologist. If you need more information on specifically dermabrasion, I found this article really helpful https://skinpractice.com/trophy-skin-microdermmd/.
All three will remove the top levels layers of skin to the desired depth that the doctor or dermatologist feels will produce the most marked results. For acne scarring treatments milder skin peels and chemical peels like lactic acid peels, glycolic skin peels, combination peels, lunch time peels, etc. will not be used as they will not reach deep enough to be effective on acne scars. Also Mike or dermabrasion will not usually be used because that is also more of a surface treatment that will not reach deep enough to effect deeper pits and scars that acne causes.
If you notice, I did not mention products like proactive and Murad here. These products are not for acne scar treatment and are not effective for DIY acne scar removal. It’s also funny how being that these products Proactive, Murad, etc. proclaim on TV with the likes of Jessica Simpson, P Diddy (Puff Daddy), Alyssa Milano, etc. that they are miracle acne cures, when in fact no dermatologist or doctor anywhere (outside of the infomercials) prescribes or recommends these products to their patients.
You know why? Because they are not anywhere near as effective as products like the TCA peel and others mentioned above.
The products mentioned above are not only effective in treating acne scars, but some like the TCA peel are extremely effective in treating existing acne. A TCA peel removes all excess oils from the skin all the way down to the bottom of the pores. All clogged pores are completely unclogged. The skin pH is restored to it should be. And all acne related bacteria are killed. What was once a breeding ground for acne causing bacteria is now restored to give you a cleaner, clearer and more youthful looking skin.
So, when you put it altogether, the TCA peel rises to the top as the most effective, lowest cost and best treatment currently offer by just about every dermatologist, plastic surgeon and doctor out there. It is effective for acne scars (both mild and deep pitting and pockmark types), acne, pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, zits, and even age-related problems like wrinkles, crows feet, sun spots, freckles, etc. Now you know works and what doctors use on actual patients in their offices to treat acne scarring, acne and more.