3 Options for Improving the Appearance of Old Acne Scars

Perhaps you experienced severe acne breakouts in your teens, or maybe you currently struggle with adult acne. Even when you get your blemishes under control, a scar can develop at the site of the breakout.

Acne scars develop when the skin is unable to properly repair the lesions caused by a breakout. Large blemishes are more likely to scar than smaller blemishes due to the additional damage to surrounding tissue. Both tissue loss and the over-stimulation of collagen (the protein that helps give skin its structure) can contribute to acne scarring.

If your scars make you feel self-conscious, you have multiple treatment options that can improve the appearance of your scars. Keep reading to learn about a few of the top treatment options that can help diminish the look of your scars.

Dermabrasion and microdermabrasion are both procedures that remove layers of the old skin (the layer that has the scar) to reveal new, unblemished layers of skin. The microdermabrasion procedure uses crystals that deeply exfoliate the old skin to reveal the new skin, while dermabrasion uses a tool similar in function to a sander. This tool literally sands the old skin away.

Whether you should pursue microdermabrasion or dermabrasion depends on your skin type and the severity of the scars that you need to remove. Microdermabrasion is suitable for all skin tones, but it yields the best results for less severe scarring. Your skin may appear pink for approximately 24 hours after your appointment.

Dermabrasion only works for patients with fair skin tones. It is a more intensive procedure that requires the use of a numbing agent, typically a numbing shot. However, it can rid the skin of deep acne scars. The healing process after a dermabrasion session can take up to 10 days. Your skin will often appear red and feel as if it has been burned.

A chemical peel is a treatment that removes the top layer of your skin using a mix of acids and other ingredients. Your acne scars are typically less noticeable on the skin underneath the old layer. It works best for mild to moderate scars that aren't severely raised or depressed and is ideal for fair skin tones.

You can perform a light chemical peel at home using an over-the-counter product. These peels can improve the appearance of surface acne scars and the dark spots that appear when a blemish clears up. If you need more dramatic results, consider consulting a dermatologist to do your peel.

Your dermatologist can adjust the peel so that it suits your skin's unique needs. Light to medium chemicals are usually appropriate for acne scars. However, if you have other skincare goals (like improving the appearance of your wrinkles), a deep peel may work best for your skin. Stronger chemical peels usually have a longer, more intense healing period.

Acne scars that have created depressions within the skin call for a different treatment than those that appear raised or surface level. To reduce the appearance of a crater-like scar, you need to restore the tissue that the blemish damaged. Your dermatologist can insert soft tissue fillers into depressed scars to plump them back up.

Various types of fillers are available, and your doctor will work with you to find the ingredients ideal for your skin. Your dermatologist uses a small needle to insert the filler into the depression. One of the benefits of this treatment is that it requires little downtime. However, if you have a mix of depressed and surface level scars, you may need to combine the fillers with another treatment for the best results.

Ready to boost your confidence levels? Contact the San Antonio Skin & Cancer Clinic to schedule your consultation.