Overview
Although acne affects almost every teenager to some degree, not everyone suffers from permanent scarring as a result of acne lesions. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), people develop acne scars if their acne was particularly severe, or sometimes if their genes predispose them to acne scars. Regardless, dermatologists offer effective treatments for acne scars, the AAD says.
Significance
Acne scars generally fall into three categories: raised scars, depressed scars and colored spots, which technically aren’t scars but which can take months or years to fade after the pimples clear, the AAD says. Not everyone with scars left over from acne wants treatment; the AAD recommends considering treatment if the scars lower your self-esteem or make you feel self-conscious or depressed.
Function
Different types of acne scar treatments target the three different kinds of acne scars, but all have one result in mind: reducing the appearance of those scars, according to the Mayo Clinic. Unfortunately, no available treatment can completely erase the scars. But in many cases, one type of treatment or a combination of different treatments can make the scars much less apparent, and in some cases can make them all but invisible.
Topical Applications
Many patients start with over-the-counter treatments containing glycolic acid, vitamin C and retinol. Although the AAD warns that these creams and gels generally aren’t particularly effective, the group says they can help reduce mild acne scars to a small degree. Prescription creams can bleach colored spots left by acne, and the prescription medication tretinoin (sold under the brand Retin-A, among others) can help smooth skin and promote the growth of collagen, which helps improve depressed scars. But for moderate to severe scarring, most patients will need to turn to surgical procedures.
Surgery and Resurfacing
Acne scar surgery aims to replace a deep scar with a smaller, less deep scar, according to the AAD. To do this, dermatologists can punch out scars and replace the missing skin with a skin graft from elsewhere on the body. Other procedures include laser skin resurfacing, which uses lasers to polish or remove the top layer of skin, and dermabrasion, which uses an abrasive tool to remove the skin’s top layer. Both of these procedures can leave scars looking less deep. Microdermabrasion, a gentler version of dermabrasion, generally is effective only in mild scarring cases, the AAD says.
Considerations
No two cases of acne scarring are alike, and consequently, dermatologists need to devise an individualized treatment plan for each patient. Some of the treatments, such as surgery and dermabrasion, can result in significant recovery time. In addition, because scar treatment often is considered cosmetic, health insurance companies may not reimburse for it, so patients are left to foot the entire bill themselves.
