Techniques and Options for Acne Scar Resurfacing
In the past years, a technique known as skin resurfacing has become a popular way of treating the signs of aging, sun damage, and to even helping you rid acne scars. There are several different options that you can choose from. To make the right choice, you'll need to know what they entail.
Laser therapy, chemical peels and microdermabrasion are some of the most common resurfacing techniques. Here is a general overview of the benefits and contraindications of each one of these procedures.
Recently, laser therapy has become a popular form of treatment for acne scars. This type of procedure uses a carbon dioxide laser to literally "burn off" certain layers of the skin. The amount of visible damage depends on which type of therapy is used: ablative or non ablative.
Ablative laser therapy removes the epidermis and, therefore, leaves visible signs of treatment which will require down time. Non-ablative treatments deal with the underlying layers of skin. This makes the damage less visible and recovery time less necessary.
Chemical Peels & Acne Scarring
A popular way of resurfacing acne scars has been with the use of chemicals peels. This procedure helps remove or peel off dead skin by using different chemicals. The removal of these skin cells will help promote the growth of new, healthier layers of skin.
Retinoic acid peels are the best type of treatment for treating acne scars. This type of peel not only helps with acne scars, but also helps improve the signs of aging such as wrinkles and age spots. If your acne scars are deep, then you will require the use of stronger acids.
Downtime will depend on the depth of the chemical peel so if you have a light chemical peel you probably won't require anesthesia or a recovery period. Medium and deep peels will require anesthesia, pain medication and a few weeks of recovery.
Microdermabrasion for Acne Scars and Acne Scarring
If you prefer a gentler way of treating your skin problems, then microdermabrasion is a good option. If you suffer from minor scars, then you can also undergo microdermabrasion in order to treat them. Keep in mind that it will also take more time to produce any noticeable effects.
This procedure does not require medical assistance, but it should be done in a sterile environment in order to minimize any risk of infection. In fact, you can undergo a microdermabrasion treatment in a doctor's office, salon, or even a spa.
The interest in microdermabrasion systems has made several cosmetic companies develop an at-home version. These systems usually include a portable machine with sponge or brush attachments. They are generally used with a microdermabrasion cream.
The convenience of at-home treatments is that they can be done more often than traditional microdermabrasion and can also be applied to your entire body.
BIOSKINEXFOL is a natural microdermabrasion cream that can be used to remove dark spots, wrinkles and acne scars. This cream is a gentler form of acne scar removal. It contains snail serum and abrading micro crystals that work together to help dissolve scar tissue.
Published January 14th, 2010
Filed in Health