Is acne scar removal possible? Acne scars form as a result of severe acne, and although some types do diminish over time, they are often permanent. However, there are several methods of acne scar removal. Many of these methods work from the same general principle: the scar needs to be removed to allow new skin to grow in its place. These methods include dermabrasion, laser resurfacing, fractional laser resurfacing, and various forms of injections. All of these methods of acne scar removal will be discussed below.

The first and most popular form of acne scar removal is dermabrasion. Just like its name implies, dermabrasion is the process of physically wearing the skin down with a high-speed brush. The patient is first given a local anesthetic, and the skin is then worn away. This can totally eliminate protruding scars and change the contour of the indented scars, making them less noticeable. However, if the indented scar is wider below the skin, this treatment will make it more noticeable. The new form of this is called microdermabrasion. This is done by using essentially the same principle, only rather than using a brush, fine crystals of aluminum oxide are passed through a vacuum and remove only the outermost layer of skin. These both allow fresh new skin, not scar tissue, to grow through and replace the scar.

When acne is very severe, usually due to ineffective treatment, a patient risks incurring acne scars, which are a permanent reminder of what is already an embarrassing condition These scars are present in two common forms: depressions in the skin and raised bumps such as keloids. Acne scars are caused by serious damage to the skin tissue and are a result of the body”s natural-healing process. The causes of the formation of acne scars and the methods of prevention will be discussed below.

When understanding acne scars, it is important to understand the various forms of acne with their various types of severity. The least severe form of acne is simple whiteheads and blackheads, which nearly everyone experiences from time to time. The second most severe form of acne is two forms of red-inflamed bumps known as papules and pustules (the difference is that the pustules contain white pus at the center). The nodules are the third and most severe form of acne (therefore, the most prone to scarring). These are pus-filled lumps that are usually very painful, are found under the skin, and are, therefore, the most damaging to skin tissue. The main point is that, with the increasing severity of acne, there is an increased likelihood of scarring, especially the more severe forms of scarring.