Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Acne Scars 101 Part 2

Once an acne scar has occurred, it is never pleasant looking and no one brags about it. Acne scars can have a big impact on emotional status of the individual. The ugly scars lead to anxiety, isolation, difficulty in social life, depression and chronic embarrassment.

As of today, there is no ideal method to prevent acne scars. The biggest problem is that it is not possible to know who will develop scars. The best way to prevent acne scars is to seek early treatment. The one other thing all individuals should do is stop squeezing the pimple(s) either manually or with any mechanical device- this is a guaranteed method of inducing a scar. Most skin doctors recommend early treatment if the acne is inflamed or of the nodular cystic type.

Is there anything for acne scars? Yes, the last decade has seen a number of decent treatments. These treatments depend on type of acne, skin type and how much money you have (unfortunately this appears to be a very important aspect of medicine).

Treatment of acne scars is expensive.

Never jump and see the first physician about treatment of acne scars. Many people have gone that route and have had an even worse result. So be realistic. There is no treatment that can cure your scars completely but most can make some difference in your skin. Read the condition you have, find out who is a skin physician treating acne, ask for credentials, talk to other people and select your health provider well.

The current treatments for acne include:

- Injection of dermal filler to fill up depressed
scars. The cosmetic benefits of these fillers last
anywhere from 3-9 months
- Sometimes fat can be injected into the scars. Fat
lasts longer than collagen type fillers but is also
a lot more expensive.
- Dermabrasion is only effective for superficial acne
scars. Plus, one needs numerous sessions. The results
with dermabrasion are mediocre at best
- Lasers can help remodel and minimize scars. The latest
lasers have fewer side effects and can improve the scar
significantly. Lasers are also very expensive

Other methods of treating acne scars include skin grafting and injection of steroids. Before you undergo any treatment, get in touch with a skin doctor whom you can trust. Do not fall for a trial and error treatment. If the physician says try this and we will see what happens means he/she is clueless. You want a treatment that will work and improve your skin. Remember, there is no guarantee that any treatment can completely bring back your skin to normal- so do not rush. Even after you have selected a physician, ask questions. Who know this time delay may even help your scar spontaneously disappear.

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