Acne Scars

Are acne scars making you self-conscious or embarrassed about your skin?

While some people are fortunate enough to have blemishes that come and go without leaving a mark, others are left with visual reminders of their past breakouts, which can take a real emotional toll.

As if acne isn’t bad enough, a scar that develops after a pimple can take weeks or months to fade — if it fades at all, notes the informational website KidsHealth.org. (1)

If you think there's no hope for stubborn scars, think again. The upside is that many treatments can remove or fade these scars, making them less noticeable and helping you regain your self-confidence.

Dermatological Procedures to Improve or Remove Acne Scars

But while certain measures can help prevent new scarring, what are your options for minimizing the appearance of existing scars?

Common procedures to remove or improve acne scars include:

· Dermabrasion This effective scar removal treatment uses a high-speed brush or other instrument to resurface your skin and remove or reduce the depth of scars. It can take up to three weeks for skin to heal.

· Microdermabrasion For this less-intensive type of dermabrasion, a dermatologist or aesthetician uses a handheld device to remove surface skin. More than one treatment may be required, but there’s no downtime, according to the AAD.

· Chemical peel During a chemical peel, a chemical solution is applied to the skin. It removes the outer layer of your skin, resulting in a smoother, more even appearance. You may experience redness and peeling for three to seven days after the procedure, notes the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS).

· Laser Your dermatologist can use a laser resurfacing treatment to remove the outer layer of your skin, contour areas of acne scars, or lighten redness around healed acne lesions. Healing may take between 3 and 10 days.