Derm Acne Scars

Hiding the Evidence: Acne Scar Removal

By Sarah Harper

Published on January 08, 2008

The existence of nearly 28 million acne-related websites testifies to the fact that people want a solution for bad skin. Acne affects adolescents, adults, males, females, celebrities, and non-celebrities alike; even Jessica Simpson, Vanessa Williams, and Elle Macpherson have appeared in ads for products intended to eliminate or prevent zits. However, even after treatment, acne often leaves scars that linger, affecting a person’s appearance and self-confidence. Are there ways to reduce or eliminate the effects of acne to reveal beautiful, radiant skin?

What Is an Acne Scar?

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, acne scars are areas of the skin that have gained or lost tissue while healing after being affected by acne. This process typically results in “ice-pick” scars or thick, raised tissue (“keloids”) that do not disappear. If you have recently wrestled a zit to the ground but still have some lingering redness or inflammation, take comfort: it may not be a scar. You may be experiencing post-inflammatory pigmentation or “pseudo scars,” both of which generally disappear in about 6 to 18 months.

Acne Scar Removal Options

Depending on the level of scarring, dermatologists may recommend one or more of the following treatments:

Dermabrasion– Not to be confused with microdermabrasion, dermabrasion treatments remove shallow skin imperfections, using a rough, diamond-edged wheel to scuff away the top layer of skin. In a few weeks, healthy, unscarred skin forms in its place.

Laser Skin Resurfacing– Also effective for surface-level flaws, laser skin resurfacing techniques quickly remove the top layer of skin with great precision and less trauma to the skin than dermabrasion or chemical peels.

Chemical Peels– For patients with very mild scars, a chemical peel may be effective. The procedure involves the use of various types of gentle acids to remove the skin’s top, scarred layer, allowing new, healthier skin to take its place.

Augmentation– Patients with deeper scars may benefit from augmentation, in which the dermatologist injects collagen or fat taken from the patient’s own body below the scar, thereby elevating the scar tissue and creating a smoother appearance.

Punch Techniques– “Punch techniques” are aptly named, since they involve punching out and replacing pitted scars with skin grafts, fat, or collagen. Another punch technique, “subcision,” involves loosening the scar tissue from the surrounding skin, around which healthy tissue forms to elevate the depressed area.

To Treat or Not to Treat…

If you are not bothered by the scarring, or are willing to wait to see if the scars fade, it may be best to forego treatment. It is also important to consider these facts: Hollywood images are airbrushed, few people have perfect skin, and other people most likely do not examine your pores as closely as you do. If you pursue dermatological treatment, the degree of scarring will dictate which treatments will be most effective. Finally, a professional’s opinion should be the deciding factor. Ultimately, if the scarring is severe, will respond well to treatment, and has affected your confidence, scar removal may be worth the investment.

Comment on this article →

Keyword Tags: acne, scar removal

Still Have a Question? Ask a Specialist in Your Area

Comments

1

I have acne dark spots around the sides of my face including forehead. I sought the advice from a dermetologist in my area, however i am not so convinced with the products that i've purchased. I wanted to try microdermabrasions, or even dermabrasions. Even though, it is an expensive and evasive procedure, I'm not sure what I should do? I thought about Retin A again, but then again, not to sure about that. I also have acne on my back(upper),not lower. So any good advice?

Mia Charles
over 2 years ago

2

I have on left side of my cheek several acne holes which are noticeable. I would like to know if fraxell lazer is better then dermabrasion. I was told being that my holes are a little deeo lazer would not do the job, i would have to remove several layers of skin in order to see nice smooth skin and for my acne holes to dissapear. please help me here??? thank you which way should i go???/

sara
over 2 years ago

3

Hi,
My question is also regarding ance scars & holes which left after reduction in acne.These are tiny holes on my face and i feel embarrase to meet anyone.I consult dermatologist here in germany and she asked for the treat of "furchtsäuerbehandlung"/ fruits peeling first and later if it dont work then she goes for laser...i want to know in my case does it really work that these holes goes off frm my face or become lighter by applying these peeling or i simply go for laser treatment.....

^Sadaf
about 2 years ago

4

im 20 had acne since i was 10.used every medication out there,cream,pills,laser surgery.chemical peels..u name it.is there anything else out there that can help me??

brittney
about 2 years ago

5

Hi Everbody
I have deep ance scars on my both cheeks but it's a lot less. I had microlaser treatments twice. I works. I just had chem peeling today and I wanted to see how it going. I will go back to microlaser if chem peeling doesn't work. My aunt is going to have microlaser, too. Since, she noticed my cheeks are different then before. She has deep tiny holes on her both cheeks

Natasha
about 2 years ago

6

Hi everyone,
Ive been suffering from acne since i started puberty which was about 6 years ago. i am now 18 so it all started when i was about 13. my acne on the face is very easy to control and its actually not that bad. cleaning it daily and using the cleaning soaps and stuff really do help. The worst acne i have is on my back, and arms and sometimes even on my buttocks. I am a very athletic guy with a really nice body. i wish i could do things more when it involves water and taking of my shirt but i cant. The acne on my back is very cystic and pimples come and go but they always leave the scars. my back is full of scars and so are the upper part of my arms. thats the thing that really makes me feel so uncomfortable, all those scars. Im hispanic with a natural tan. the scars are very dark brown. There is no really big history of my family having acne. the only one that grows some body acne is my mother but it was never really bad. my father has had really healthy skin. the rest of my family has beautiful skin. I want to know what i can do, what would be the best advice for me to get rid of the acne that grows on my body and for the scars. thanks.

joi
about 2 years ago

7

Hey joi, and everyone else.. Im 17 years old, and have minor acne, but I've always had a perfect face and perfect skin so I've been trippin about it lately, and I've been using retin-a and its helped me a lot, because it exfoliates the top layers of your face and gives you new smooth skin, sometimes your face might be peeling but that means that its working. But as for really bad acne, I think you should go for a chemical peel, but like a mild one, because you don't want to scar your face, I feel like a light or mild peel will be safer. And it gives you new smoother skin. Im going to see about that soon, because im meeting with my dermatologist this upcoming week, well good luck for everyone! =]]

aaron
almost 2 years ago

8

Well Aaron please let me know how that goes. I have suffered from Acne since I was 8 yrs old Iam now 21. I have tried everything in the market from proactiv-to retin a micro. I have been to the dermatologist several times and nothing seems to work. I no longer drink sodas because it would make my face worse. I now use tazorac cream at night and take minocyclin at night and that helps some but I still have very cystic acne. Not to mention I have scars as well. I have been praying for many years for my acne to go away because I would love to know whats it like to have clear skin or to even wake up in the morning and see ONE pimple I would be satisfied. Please help someone. I do realize acne is note cureable so what should we do?

Kristen
over 1 year ago

9

Kristen - have you tried birth control pills yet?

Michele
over 1 year ago

10

Hey I have been suffering with adult acne. I have used everything! I started using NeoStrata High potency cream 20 before bed and I can't believe the improvement. I would highly suggest trying it. It's 40 bucks and should last about 6 weeks or so. It exfoliates the skin but you don't have all that gross peeling. Give it a try. Good Luck!

Kim
over 1 year ago

11

i hav large acne holes in my face likemoon face......what shoud i do reduce that condition
plz help me

lahiru
over 1 year ago

12

I had a bad bite on my collar bone about 7 months ago that has now resulted in a very noticable scar. It is about the size of a dime but is quite elevated and very hard to the touch. I heard scars on your chest are usually hard to get rid of. What do you suggest for this? It is really starting to bother me especially considering it's in such a noticable area. Thank you

rachel
over 1 year ago

13

Most of the stories I have seen about laser have been negative so I probably won't go that route.... a lot depends on the doctor and type of laser and how much skill he or she has as well as how you heal, allergies to things, and whether or not you hyperpigment. Most people that have medium to darker tones will hyperpigment and from what I have heard their skin looks horrible after. And if that isn't bad enough they end up with bad acne they can't get rid of . I'm glad I found that site, I almost made an appt. yesterday.

shauna
about 1 year ago

14

i have deep pitted holes and scars on my cheeks....i m very depresssed plz help me...will microdermabrasion kit remove my deep pitted holes from mey face....plz suggest something cheap..i have tried 4 microdermabrasion sessions at clinic of docotr and paid Rs 3000...i cant spend more moneyy...plz tell me wat shud i do

prateek
9 months ago

15

Hi everyone,i'm 4rm nigeria.i've ds pitted acne scars and many tiny holes on my cheeks.i've tried so many medications bt 2 no avail.pls kindly suggest 2 me d right type of products 2 use or where i can get a very good dermatologist here in nigeria.thanks

Esther
6 months ago

16

Im 16 years old and i have noticeable pores(acne scars) and i was wondering what procedure would you reccomend that i use. Which one of the acne scar removal option would be best for me without it having a bad after effect with it or with out it damaging my skin?

neil
6 months ago

17

hi everyone, im 21 yrs old and have suffered from systic acne since the age of 12. Since then i have FINALLY gotten my acne under control with Accutane, it really is nothing less then a miracle and if you are suffering with acne i strongly suggest you look into Accutane, because for those of you concerned with acne scars you have to first get rid of any acne before trying to conquer the harder stuff. I have realllllly bad acne scars on my cheeks and temples similar to "moonface" (hate that name by the way) but its the best way i can describe myself. I am also bi-racial, black, white, and native american. I am very light skinned however when it comes to scar treatments out there i have found that alot of them catter to to fair Caucasian, even more darker tanner white patients have to be carfull because of higher risks of more problems erupting from treatments. Im primarily talking about laser, because thats what im most interested in. I have up until now gotten a total of 2 Fraxel Re-store treatments, and i feel a little depressed and and helpless because i havent really seen any results. When they showed me my pictures from my first initial treatment compared to my second treament, i have to admit that i saw a improvement however its nothing close to what im looking for. Now i have been know to be an impatient person hah, and my doc has said its going to take time to see mass improvement because the formation of new collagen is a process that takes months to see and is suppose to keep on improving even after treatments are all finished. I guess my biggest concern is, am i ever going to see improvement. I jus think if i will be devasted if this treatement doesnt work for me considering all the thousands of dollars ive already put into it. The treatments are very expensive and im a college student which means...im broke already. I know the healing takes time, but what if i dont see improvement after my fourth and final treatment. Then what? Has anybody else gone or is going through what i am going through, i need real unbiased opinions on this treatment, preferably from people who have underwent it. Please any advice is welcomed and appreciated.

jayda
3 months ago

18

i have white milla around my face. those little white bumps, i tried to pop them out but i ended up having some more on my face. i have tried everything. i have been to doctor but no use the milla will not go away. i am going to see a dermatologist soon. i wanted to ask is there anyway they can just take the milla off my skin and it won;t come back ever again. please can someone help me thank you.

zubia
3 months ago

Post your comment

Public comments are welcome. For answers to your personal questions, ask a specialist in our directory.

Name
Email (kept private)
Website
Message