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Acne
Scars
Millions
of people suffer the ravages of acne scars long after adolescence has
passed and the acne condition has faded. Acne in its most severe form can
leave sufferers with deep permanent scars. Acne typically results in two
types of scars - "icepick," or pitting scars, and
"depressed," crater-like scars.
Treating Acne
Scars
Thanks to the
refinement of a number of surgical techniques, acne scars can be treated
with a variety of safe, effective procedures that improve the appearance
of a patient's skin and boost the patient's self-esteem. Your UT Physician
will choose the technique or combination of treatment approaches based
upon the nature of the scarring, our medical history, and the status of
recent clinical studies in this rapidly evolving area of research.
Following are common techniques and procedures used to improve acne
scarring:
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Dermabrasion
The dermatologist freezes the patient's skin or uses tumescent
anesthesia and then removes, or "abrades", the skin with a
rotary instrument. The skin undergoes a "remodeling" process
as it heals, resulting in a smoother and fresher appearance.
-
Excision
and Punch Replacement Graft
A depressed acne scar is surgically removed. A patch of skin from
elsewhere on the patient's body is removed and placed in the area left
by the removal of the scar.
-
Soft
Tissue Fillers
Bovine collagen, collagen-related fillers, polymer implants or a
patient's own fat (taken from another part of the body) is injected in
small quantities below the surface of the skin to elevate depressed
scars.
-
Laser
Therapy
By delivering short pulses of the laser beam, the dermatologist
can smooth, sculpt and normalize the appearance of acne scars. The ultrapulsed carbon dioxide laser, the erbium YAG laser and the pulsed
dye yellow light laser are most commonly used for treating acne
scarring.
-
Chemical
Peeling
By applying a chemical solution to the skin, mild scarring and certain
types of acne may be treated. The procedure enables new, regenerated
skin to appear, improving the appearance of the condition.
-
Microdermabrasion
Tiny
particles passing through a vacuum tube gently scrape away the top
layer of scarred skin and stimulate new cell growth. Because of the
superficial nature of this technique, patients with mild scarring are
the best candidates, and multiple treatments are usually required.
Additional
Information on Acne:
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