Dermatologist Treatments That Help Fade Acne Scarring

Successful treatment of acne scarring may take several trips to your dermatologist and a little bit of experimentation. Today there are many different methods that can help reduce the appearance of marks and scars left behind by pimples, but individual results vary greatly across the board. While it can be frustrating trying several different treatments that may not produce the results you desire, patience can pay off.

There is a diverse range of scar types that can occur depending on the kind of acne, location, and severity. Many people will have some form of ice pick scarring, which are deep and narrow marks. They can be numerous or few, but when clustered together can be far more noticeable. They may occur at any location. Boxcar type of scarring is more common across the temples and on the cheek area. These are characterized by sharper edges and a wider and more angular appearance. They can range in depth from very shallow to quite deep. Makeup can help cover up lighter marks, and some cosmetic treatments may be quite effective in greatly reducing their appearance.

More disfiguring scarring can be one of two types: rolling or hypertrophic. Rolling is the milder of the two, but tends to cover larger areas of the face such as the cheeks. These scars are created deep within the skin, and are very shallow but extensive. Hypertrophic is much less common but can cause great emotional distress due to their appearance. The scars are raised and textured. They may even expand beyond the original wounded area. While hypertrophic scars can fade and smooth out slightly over time, they will likely remain the same without dermatologist intervention. Both rolling and hypertrophic scars are usually the result of deep cystic acne.

Most people start treatment by focusing on the surface with topical medications to help reduce scarring and acne marks. Retinoic acid is one such common dermatologist prescribed topical cream. The cream is applied twice daily to the affected areas and will cause noticeable peeling and dryness as it strips the first layers of skin. This may be effective on very shallow, fresh scars. Anything that is deeper below the surface will require something more intensive. Chemical peels have also been used with varying degrees of success in patients recovering from acne. These are more powerful and require application by a professional. They also will require a healing period due to the levels of peel and scabbing that occurs.

Laser treatments that use intense pulse lights have worked wonders on some individuals. There are several benefits to laser scar treatment including a short recovery time as opposed to chemical peels, improved skin texture, and evening out pigment inconsistencies. The downside to this treatment is that it takes several sessions to see results, and each must be spaced out over every month or more. It can also be more expensive than topical creams and light or medium chemical peels. It can, however, help eliminate any active acne that may still be present, as well as discourage future development.