Acne can leave behind pits and scars on your face or elsewhere on your body. Long after the acne has cleared up, scars can linger and mar an otherwise good complexion. Scarring can result from the skin’s inflammatory response to acne, especially when there’s been trauma to the skin from popping or picking at pimples and blackheads.
Scars can be hard to get rid of, but there are ways of dealing with them. Some people swear by home remedies, like cocoa butter and vitamin E, for reducing scars. Over-the-counter scar reducing gels and creams may be helpful for some people to reduce their appearance. However, these are often ineffective or take a long time of faithful use to see any results. Professional scar removal treatments often give faster and more effective results. Two successful methods of acne scar removal are laser resurfacing and chemical peels.
Laser Resurfacing for Acne Scar Removal
Laser skin resurfacing can give you better-looking, smoother skin. It is used to treat many skin problems, including acne scars and wrinkles. Laser resurfacing evens out the skin’s surface and stimulates collagen with the use of laser technology to remove the outer layers of skin. The laser treatment can target a specific area that needs improvement. Often an anesthetic is used for the procedure, and afterwards there may be an itching or stinging sensation. Following the treatment, cleaning the treated area and using an ointment to prevent scabbing is necessary.
Chemical Peels for Acne Scar Removal
Chemical Peels are another option for acne scar treatment. During a chemical peel, an acidic solution is applied to the skin to remove the top layers and reveal fresh, new skin. The result is less visible scarring and less discoloration. There are superficial, medium, and deep peels, depending on your needs. The side effects vary depending on the depth of the peel. If you get a medium or deep peel, there might be some blistering and more obvious skin peeling. Deep peels often require the use of an anesthetic, and there will be a longer recovery period. Multiple treatments of chemical peels are often needed.
There is little need to go around with scars that make you feel self-conscious. There are many methods of acne scar removal available to achieve clear, even skin.