Acne Information:
Acne is something that many teens face when going through
the transitional years of puberty. It can remain a problem
through the 20’s and can even sneak up on some
in the 30’s and 40’s. Even when we finally
rid our faces and body’s of acne, it still haunts
us by leaving behind severe scars that only remind us
of that less than wonderful period of our lives. Scars
are all sized and shaped differently, so various methods
for acne treatment have been developed. The following
are some of the procedures that are used in order to
rectify the permanent damage of acne scarring.
Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion is not a procedure for everyone. It has
been known to work best on those patients with either
very light or very dark skin. Those in between, would
not be likely candidates for this procedure. This treatment
works by numbing the skin and then using a machine with
quickly rotating diamond edged wheels. The wheel is
brushed over the facial skin, in effect, scraping it
away from the face. The outcome of the procedure will
depend on the coarseness of the wheel. Most procedures
take anywhere from a half an hour to an hour.
Following the procedure, the face will swell and often look scraped, but scabs will form in order to protect the new layers of skin. After the scabs fall off, the skin will be red for several weeks. Eventually, the color will fade back to normal. Overall results will be clear, acne scar free skin.
Punch Techniques
There are three different punch techniques that can
help with acne scarring removal:
- Punch Excision – This method uses a punch biopsy
tool that is used to remove the scar from the face under
local anesthetic. Once the scar is removed the wound
is closed and allowed time to heal.
- Punch Elevation – The same tool that is used
in punch excision is used in this method. It cuts the
base of the scar free but leaves the walls in tact.
The base of the scar is then elevated to the level of
the surrounding skin. This leaves it free to be removed
through skin dermabrasion or some other method.
- Punch Replacement – this treatment is basically
the same as punch excision, except instead of closing
the wound, it is filled with a skin graft. This graft
is almost always taken from behind the ear. This is
the punch method thought to be most effective for treating
deep scars.
In all cases, acne removal involving the punch techniques
will take several weeks to heal.
Peels
There are different variations of facial peels, but
they all involve the application of a high potency chemical
solution on the skin. This is done in combination with
a sandpaper-like brush connected to a high-speed wheel.
When brushed over the skin it removes the top layer
in order to expose the smoother layer underneath.
Once the skin is removed, scabbing will occur in order
to protect the newly revealed layer of skin. After about
7 to 10 days the scabbing will fall off and the new
skin will be fully exposed. The new skin will be very
red for several weeks following the procedure, but will
eventually return to the body’s normal skin tone.
Each procedure takes about 15 minutes, and several might
be required in order to obtain permanent results.
Augmentation
Augmentation is a process that involves material being
injected into the skin directly under the acne scar. Fillers
such as Restylane, collagen, and even the patients own
fat can be used during treatment. When this is done,
the scar is raised to the same level as the surrounding
skin.
This procedure is very simple and pain associated with
it is minimal. Most patients are able to immediately
return to their normal daily schedules. While this treatment
is fast and effective, it is not permanent. Most Augmentation
procedures can last anywhere from three to six months.
...
Many of these acne removal procedures are also used in conjunction
with laser procedures in order to achieve better results.
Some acne scar elimination treatments are permanent,
whereas others only provide relief on a temporary basis.
Either way, depending on your budget, your skin type
and your level of scarring, one or all of these procedures
could be right for you.
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