Techniques for the prevention of Acne Scars 

Acne Scars – the best products for prevention and removal....

Acne scar removal or how to get rid of acne scars are very common questions.

Generally speaking, the bigger percentage of people with mild to moderate acne conditions will recover without any serious scarring.

However in cases of severe acne scarring and possible longer term skin damage is almost inevitable.

But never give up hope – the wonders of modern science are finding new acne treatments which are able to minimize scarring. And more good news - existing scars can now be removed with a variety of techniques.

You will find that most pimples will leave behind a discolored patch of skin. Don’t be alarmed - this is not really a scar and will usually clear up by itself within a year or so. Skin marks or defects that hang around for longer than one year are then considered to be scars – but fortunately, they can be treated.

Preventing Acne Scars

By following a thorough program of active treatment and self-control acne scars can certainly be prevented.

Here is where the self control comes in – pimples, blackheads or whiteheads – most people have this huge uncontrollable urge to squeeze and pick at them – if you don’t want to end up with scars then control this insatiable urge to squeeze them.

Apart from spreading the bacteria which causes acne further around your face you are also heading to permanent scarring.

If you have a mild case of acne then it can be self treated with over-the-counter medications but with more severe cases you should consult a dermatologist.

The doctor can prescribe oral medications as well as topical ointments for use on the affected skin. In some cases, the doctor will also physically remove blackheads or whiteheads and lance and drain pus filled nodules.

The dermatologist uses surgical instruments which have been sterilized – it is important that you don’t try these sorts of procedures at home.

The presence of bacteria causes pimples to form which inflames and damages the skin. Once you have the acne under control and it clears up, the skin may appear discolored – don’t be concerned at this stage as this is part of the natural healing process and the discolorment will disappear after a period of time.

You can speed up the healing process by using medications such as Retin-A, Renova, and Alpha-Hydroxy Acids.

Also remember that when you are outside that sunshine can damage the skin and this will delay the healing process – so always wear sunscreen and a hat.

Here is another tip in the self control department – don’t pick the scabs that may form over old acne lesions - scabs are a very necessary part of the healing process and picking them off exposes the skin extending the time necessary for the scars to heal and could also lead to more serious infection causing permanent scarring.

How to Treat Acne Scars.

There are a number of ways. If your scars are not too severe there is a chemical peel which can be applied to the skin. It is effective and removes the microscopic top layer of the skin allowing the cells underneath to rejuvenate.

Severe scarring can be treated with lasers or dermabrasion. Lasers remove the damaged layer of skin and tighten the skin underneath which in turn raises the depression in the skin caused by the acne scar.

This process can sometimes be mildly painful so your dermatologist will often use an anesthetic to numb the pain. The healing process after laser treatment only takes about three to ten days.

Dermabrasion is another effective treatment which removes the scars by scraping away the surface of the skin where the scarring has occurred.

In the healing process a new layer of skin is formed to replace the scarring. As you can probably imagine both the dermabrasion and the laser treatments are relatively severe processes and normally cause the skin to turn red around the treated area – don’t be concerned as this will disappear after a few months leaving nice healthy blemish free skin.

If you would like to learn all about natural acne treatments see our next article.