You can learn more about using tretinoin to treat scars and other skin blemishes in our guide to tretinoin for acne scarring.
Acne scar surgery involves surgically lifting a scar or modifying the tissue around it to reduce its visibility. Dermatologists and plastic surgeons use several techniques to surgically fix acne scars. One is to physically lift a scar by moving it closer to the surface of the skin. Another is to break up the scar tissue to make the scar better match the texture of the skin around it. In some cases, a dermatologist or plastic surgeon may completely remove a scar using a punch excision technique, then replace the affected skin with a skin graft.
Dermal fillers are injected into the skin to provide additional volume. If you have atrophic acne scars, a dermatologist or plastic surgeon may use fillers to plump the affected area and help it match the texture of the surrounding skin. Several different fillers are used to treat acne scarring, including artificial fillers and permanent options such as fat grafting.
A chemical peel is a type of minimally invasive procedure offered by dermatologists and plastic surgeons. It involves using a chemical solution to remove the layers of your skin with scars and other imperfections. Most chemical peels use stronger versions of the ingredients used in home exfoliants, such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid and maleic acid. Others, such as deep peels that penetrate further into your skin, use stronger ingredients, such as phenol carbolic acid.
Your healthcare provider will let you know which type of chemical peel procedure is best suited to your skin type and needs. As well as treating acne scarring, chemical peels can also improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, sun damage, rough skin, acne and irregular pigmentation. These include:. Also known as collagen induction therapy, this procedure involves the use of small, sterilized needles to puncture the surface layers of the skin and stimulate the production of new collagen and elastin.
This procedure involves carefully sanding the skin with a special surgical instrument. Laser resurfacing. This procedure involves removing damaged, irregular skin using a surgical laser.
It can treat scars from acne and chickenpox, as well as warts, age spots, fine lines, wrinkles and other common signs of skin aging. Your dermatologist or plastic surgeon will inform you about which type of procedure is the best option for you based on your skin type, the severity of your acne scars and other factors.
The best way to get rid of acne scars is to prevent them from forming in the first place. Use the following tips to deal with acne quickly and stop scars, dark spots and other skin problems from developing:. Regardless of how you got the acne scar, you no doubt want it gone. Will your acne scar fade on its own? Can you speed up the healing process? Here are three things you need to know about how long acne scarring can last:. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation PIH is a common pigmentation disorder which is often preceded by other diseases or injuries that affect the skin, such as acne or eczema.
PIH can take up to two years to fade on its without treatment. To increase the likelihood that your PIH fades, be sure to stay out of the sun whenever possible and wear a daily moisturizer with SPF.
PIH can worsen with UV ray exposure. You can also treat PIH through regular exfoliation 2 times per week, max. Using a gentle exfoliating scrub on your skin can inhibit the production of melanin by increasing cell turnover.
Unlike post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, acne scars are more than just discoloration of the skin. Acne scars are often raised or form a depression in the skin, making them less likely although not impossible to fade. However, knowing which type of acne scar you have can help you choose the right treatment option:. Atrophic scars are caused by a loss of skin tissue, resulting in a depression in the skin. Types of scars in this category include boxcar scars shallow scars with sharp edges , rolling scars very shallow scars with soft, smooth edges and ice pick scars narrow and very deep.
They are prescribed to clear active acne, but they also lighten the dark marks left behind. Unfortunately, these are the only types of scars Retinoids will help.
They make no marked improvement on pitting or indentions in the skin, however. Laser Skin Treatments Laser skin treatments can be very effective on certain types of acne scars. Ablative laser treatments work the surface of the skin by removing outer layers. These work by burning the skin to a specified depth. Redness is a result of the treatment and can take weeks to months to fade. After healing, this gives the skin an overall softened look.
Non-Ablative treatments Non-Ablative treatments can stimulate collagen production and tighten the skin. Common treatments of this variety work best on mild acne scars and hyperpigmentation.
This method involves a revolving wire brush that works on the top layers of the skin. While there is some downtime to heal, it helps soften the look of scars and if the skin is pitted, will curtail some of the depth. This is often used to treat boxcar scars. Aesthetic Medicine 35 years experience. Years: Scars do shrink with time.
If you have acne scars they will improve in time but most likely will have areas of depression that are permanent. There are laser procedures , chemical peels and dermabrasion as well as dermapen that can help and are not very expensive. Robert Keller answered. Emergency Medicine 40 years experience. Depends: The deeper the acne infection , the deeper the scar. Cystic acne can scar for life. If it was a deep, bad pimple, theoretically, some scars can take up to a year to heal.
Most acne scars will also pigment and that can be permanent. Usually if its superficial, will disappear in 2 weeks. Anil Shah answered. Facial Plastic Surgery 21 years experience. Depends: Some acne scars fade , some stay forever. Redness will typically fade. Deeper scars will linger and may require intervention to help fade.
Ed Friedlander answered. It varies: Red marks are necessary for healing and fade in a few weeks.
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