Acne Treatments

In many cases acne can lead to scarring of the skin. The scars can be slight or very serious causing psychological problems. Fortunately there are a number of very effective treatments available.

The most common Acne Treatments for acne scarring are:

Surgery

Dermabrasion

Treatment with Drugs

Laser Resurfacing

Surgery – this solution for acne scarring is for patients with serious scarring. A technique called ‘punching’ may be used where an incision is made into the scar down to the level of the skin’s subcutaneous fat. The wound is then repaired either with sutures or with a skin graft. An alternative technique is ‘subcision’ when the scar tissue is raised away from the underlying unscarred tissue.

Dermabrasion – is for treating mild and shallow acne scarring. A local anesthetic is applied before a high speed brush is used to ’sand’ off the top layer of skin. The Acne Scars gradually disappear or are significantly reduced during the natural healing process. Unfortunately, the procedure is often repeated several times to remove even relatively mild scarring.

Treatment with Drugs – drugs can be applied to the scarred area either by injection or a topical cream. Sometimes other treatments may cause certain forms of scarring such as ‘keloids’ to spread even further so drugs may be the most suitable option.

Laser Resurfacing – the procedure is not dissimilar to dermabrasion because it burns away the top layers of the skin.

Isotretinoin – for Cystic Acne Cystic Acne is a severe type of acne in which cysts are formed by acute inflammation. Isotretinoin is a very effective treatment for severe acne and acne that is resistant to other treatments and medications. Isotretinoin is a type of vitamin A, a synthetic creation, in pill form. It is administered once or twice a day from between 16 to 20 weeks.

There are many possible side effects that may occur while undergoing this therapy. While taking isotretinoin patients are monitored closely by their healthcare provider during a series of appointments.

Note: The information contained in this post is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice nor is it intended to be for medical diagnosis or treatment. Always consult your doctor or health care specialist before taking any medical advice or if you are in any way concerned about your physical wellbeing.