Some acne scars improve with the passage of time, but they do not completely disappear. The treatment to clear acne scars will depend on the appearance and the severity of the marks. Surgical procedures currently available are effective but have limitations. Thus, knowing the options and discussing with a doctor the most suitable treatment is a good start in dealing with acne scars.
Dermabrasion is a surgical process that resurfaces the skin by the use of a drill-like tool that has an abrasive wheel. This abrasive portion is run over the top of the scar resulting in the removal of the top layers of the skin. This procedure may take only a few minutes for small areas and approximately two hours for larger surfaces.
Another way of clearing acne scars is by laser resurfacing. This procedure utilizes carbon dioxide and erbium:YAG to burn the surface skin layer, thus revealing the skin underneath. Healing after the treatment takes about two to four weeks and is generally without pain. However, this procedure does not remove very deep scars.
Dermal fillers such as human and bovine collagen, fat, and different forms of hyaluronic acid can also be injected into pitted acne scars to smoothen the skin. However, the result is not permanent and the procedure has to be repeated.
For deep scars, the surgical procedure Punch Excision can be used. In this treatment, the bottom part of the scar is cut out using a small round tool. The walls of the scar are sutured and the scar produced disappears with time.
Punch Excision with Skin Graft Replacement is a surgical procedure similar to the procedure described earlier, but instead of stitching the walls of the scar together, a skin graft is used. Ear skin is usually used, and this might result in uneven appearance because of the difference in texture and color. Thus, a resurfacing procedure may be required after the surgery.
Subcutaneous incision or Subcision is another surgical procedure that cuts the fibrous bands under a scar. This procedure allows the skin to regain its normal appearance, but may cause too much bleeding and formation of a mass of tissue under the skin also known as subcutaneous nodules.
