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Saturday, September 12, 2009

Acne Scarring Treatments

There are numerous proposals on how to remove the scars caused by acne. Unfortunately, not all of them actually work. And the best way to lose money is to invest it in something that does not do the job it was intended for. Sometimes, instead of removing the scars, it even makes it worse. And the most vulnerable person to this kind of scam is the one suffering from those scars caused by acne.

Luckily, most skin disfigurations usually fade during a certain period of time. Surgery is not an option for these types of scars. For faster effects, hydroquinone or other topical formulation used to whiten skin with licorice can be used. Retin A or Renova, a topical derivative of vitamin A, can be used for light scarring. Its generic name is Retinol. Unfortunately, there are also scars that are resistant to any medication and cannot be removed. Consult a dermatologist or any skin care expert as to what can be done to remove or minimize those scars.

When there is an increase in tissue formulation, a keloid is formed. Formation of keloids may be inherited. When a wound or a pimple does not heal well, excess collagen forms fibrous lumps, red brown in color over the healing lesion. People with increased melanin in their skin are the ones usually affected by keloids, although it can occur on everybody. Treatment of keloids can be a challenge since cutting them creates other keloids to form. Cortisone is the drug of choice since it flattens them and reduces its inflammation. This type of scar due to acne is caused by the loss of tissue.

Some scars look like shallow indentations with even edges, which may make the skin appear rippled or wavy. These are called dell scars. There are also dell scars that have rough or ragged edges. Initial treatment for these kinds of scars is to soften it by microdermabrasion. Thermage and laser resurfacing may also assist in clearing these kinds of scar. An injection with restylane, a skin filler, can treat the depression in the skin by filling it out and smoothing it, although it is a just a temporary solution which may last from six months to one year. Allergic reactions should also be avoided since this will just add to the scar formation.

There are also scars that resemble the injury made by an ice pick: small but deep depressions with jagged edges. If left untreated, it will form a bigger depression due to the formation of fibrotic scars. To remove them is to undergo surgery to cover the scar with skin tissue, usually from behind the ears.

There are scars that arise from the sinus tracts under the skin. Since they are interconnected to sebaceous glands, when surgery is used as treatment, these scars lead to more scars and acne formation.

Macular atrophy of the follicles looks like whiteheads and are usually seen on the chest and back. Scars on the body due to acne are harder to treat as compared to those on the face. Treatment includes pulse dye laser to relieve the inflammation, hydroquinone to lighten the area, and restylane for filling the depressions.

Always consult your dermatologist or a skin care expert on what is best to use on your facial scars. It may sometimes be a tedious and long process owing to the fact that there are different types of acne scars that might have surfaced on the skin. You have to accept that there will still be scars that will remain resistant to any form of treatment, even surgery. Some scars will be harder to remove as compared to others. It is vital that you speak to your dermatologist on what options will be available for you and if she is qualified to do such procedure.

Knowing that there might be a treatment out there that can rid you of all your scars can boost one's hope and self confidence. But beware of fast talking scammers. Most products that boast of medications that will just take several days to see an effect is probably not real. Frequently, these products contain bogus materials, packaged in such a way that naive people will be tempted to buy them, even at a very high price. When doubts creep in when you are purchasing something, the best way to go is not to buy it. Some sales personnel try to hard sell their product in order for them to receive commission. If there is too much pressure on you to get the item, then don't because you may already be scammed.

Before you have any scar removal work done, make sure that you are taking good daily care of your skin, that you are exfoliating regularly. Give your skin time to normalize to see how much healing it can do on its own.

Before undertaking any removal of scars, your skin should first be healthy since it might aggravate the problem instead of solving it. Usually, the skin just takes time before it heals completely. The body has the most complex system of healing scars. Rely on it first before undergoing dermabrasion, microdermabrasion and laser resurfacing. If it does not work, then there are still options available like medical make up which may have the better formulation in covering up your scars.

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