Acne Scars Treatment Options

Let us start with a brief introduction of acne. Acne is an inflammatory disease of the skin, caused by changes in the skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland. Acne lesions are commonly referred to as pimples, spots, or zits. Acne develops as a result of blockages in follicles. Hyperkeratinization and formation of a plug of keratin and sebum (a microcomedo) is the earliest change. Sebum is commonly associated with acne. It is believed that excess sebum causes acne and that sebum production is one of the main causes of sebum. Acne treatment is a tough job for one who has it. They want acne to disappear overnight. But that does not happen. Soap has a role in treatment of acne. Some patients use soaps that peel off the skin and make it very dry assuming that acne will be treated faster.


Before we proceed towards finding out about treatment options, let us learn something about acne scars. The first fact to keep in mind is that any acne scar is a permanent defect in the skin. At the site of scar, the skin has lost collagen and new skin has formed over the depression. So unless that depression is filled or surgically removed the scar will not change in look. Every treatment should be able to achieve this to succeed. A scar is not a discolored spot in the skin but a permanent defect deeper in the skin. Now let us learn more about different treatment options for acne scars

Home Remedies-
Acne scars are permanent changes in the skin. Many home remedies are recommended to treat scars. But unless a method produces more collagen inside the skin below the scar it will not help. If any product can help produce collagen at the scar site, that collagen will fill the depression. If you are trying any home remedy, find out if that will help create more collagen.

Topical prescription-
Vitamin A topical applications such as tretinoin boost collagen production in the skin. Vitamin C topical also boosts collagen production in the skin. You should consult with your doctor about Vitamin C topical brand because Vitamin C is highly unstable and must be formulated properly. Some other formulas are available that reduce the scars. Mederma and Scarguard brands of the USA are popular amongst these formulas.

Surgical treatment-
Dermabrasion, Chemical Peeling, Laser Therapy, Soft Tissue Filling and Microdermabrasion are common surgical treatments to improve the look of acne-scarred skin. The surgeon decides about the type of procedure considering the type of scar, expenditure and number of days required for recovery.