Acne is not just a trial for teenagers but can and does afflict adults as well. A very bad siege of acne in adolescence can have repercussions even into adulthood when flare ups of acne are no more. That’s because some types of acne that come as nodules or cysts can leave scarring behind. Scars happen because the inflammation caused by the acne stimulate the skin into healing itself. The scarring is the result of an excess of collagen in the area.
In the past, people would have to live with these scars. Now there are several safe ways to remove them or at least make them less noticeable. During the procedure the dermatologists removed the top layer of skin with a wire brush or a tool that sprays the scar with an abrasive like diamond particles.
Dermabrasion
In dermabrasion, the top layers of the skin are removed surgically. The patient’s face, or the area of the face to be operated on, will be numbed first. Dermabrasion can be performed in a doctor’s office as an outpatient procedure.
A similar procedure is dermaplaning, where the dermatologist uses a dermatone. The dermatone looks and behaves somewhat like an electric razor and uses blades to precisely shave away the top layers of the patient’s skin. Both dermabrasion and dermaplaning are quick procedures that only take a few minutes.
After the operation, the patient’s face is red and irritated and he or she might feel some pain in the form of itching and burning. The surgeon will prescribe medications, including ointments, to control the pain. Normally, the swelling will disappear after about a week, but scabs will form over the surgical site. These too will fall off. The surgeon gives the patient instructions on how to help the healing along and it’s important that the patient follow them. It’s also important that he or she keep follow-up appointments.
Laser
Laser uses a beam of intense, focused light to treat acne scars. This focused light removes the scar tissue layer by layer. This precision cuts down on the risk of the surrounding skin becoming damaged, which can be seen if the skin becomes lighter or darker than the surrounding skin. The laser also stimulates the production of more collagen, which will fill in the scar tissue in a way that’s esthetically pleasing. The effects should last about three to six months.
The recovery is very much the same as what happens after dermabrasion.
Dermal Fillers
Some people will opt for dermal fillers to erase acne scars, especially if the scars are pitted. Dermal fillers, which are applied through a needle inserted into the scar, add volume to the skin and so fill out the scars. Many dermal fillers are made out of natural substances that are found in the human body. Indeed, one dermal filler can be made out of the patient’s own fat. The fat is removed during a procedure like liposuction, sterilized then returned to the body to fill out the acne scars or whatever other skin problem the patient wants treated. Eventually, the filler will be absorbed and another treatment might be needed. A dermal filler treatment usually lasts about six months.
Punch Excision
This is surgery were the scars are literally cut out of the flesh. The surgical wound is then repaired with a skin graft or sutures.