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An acne scar in the past was an almost unavoidable result of an acne lesion.  The person suffering from acne is repeatedly warned in the literature and by well-meaning family and friends to keep their hands off the blackheads or whiteheads.  In particular, the individual is cautioned to never squeeze a zit or blackhead, since that can drive the bacteria causing the swelling and pain deeper under the surface of the skin. The larger the skin eruption and the more effort that is made to squeeze the residue from the follicle, the more likely you are to see permanent scarring at the site. 

Understanding the Cause

Understanding the cause of acne can help to prevent the formation of an acne scar in many types.  There are many different types of acne that have been identified.  Some have identified cures or have responded well to active treatment. Other types of acne have no cure, but the symptoms can be managed or controlled.  The knowledge of what type of acne is involved is key to determining how to alleviate the symptoms without over medicating.  For extensive scarring due to most types of acne, the assistance of a cosmetic surgeon may be required. Modern techniques have made treatment possible and successful in most cases.

Early Treatment

To avoid the formation of acne scar tissue, early treatment is a key factor.  Don’t wait around for your adolescent to outgrow the symptoms.  While home remedies or natural remedies can be quite effective, it is important to visit a dermatologist for diagnosis and treatment recommendations.  Usually mild or sporadic outbreaks can be treated with topical antibiotics, while more significant outbreaks may require more radical oral treatment or other type of remedies.  By treating early, the symptoms may be caught in time to prevent escalation of the condition.

Professional Assistance

Professional assistance to treat a recent or old acne scar is critical.  There are many reasons why treatment should be sought for removal of scars from the skin due to acne lesions. For those people who have careers where appearance is critical to success, a scar detracts from the chances of success in the chosen field.  Getting rid of the blemish is often a relatively simple procedure with new techniques making it possible to quickly and easily correct the problem. Other people who benefit from professional assistance to remove the scars include those individuals with low self esteem.

Self Esteem

Self esteem, particularly in those adolescents suffering from acne can be significantly reduced by even one acne scar on the face. Accordingly, the treatment of scars can be an important part of the total treatment for the symptoms of acne. It is perhaps more important that scars can be prevented in many cases through prompt and proactive treatment.  By treating the symptoms to prevent the formation of blackheads, whiteheads and lesions, and by reducing the severity and frequency of the outbreaks, many opportunities for negative blemishes will be eliminated. Combining various treatments including psychological counseling if needed will help to restore a positive self image.

While most leave acne behind with their teenage years, some carry the scars of their acne through their adult life. Since these scars can have an affect on the bearer’s self confidence and self image, it is important to learn to deal with these scars.

Perhaps the first step in dealing with acne scars is avoiding them in the first place. Once acne scars exist, it is extremely hard to get rid of them. Here are some tips to help avoid the acne scar, information on different types of scars and removal methods for the acne scar.

The first line of defense against the acne scar is to properly treat breakouts of acne when they first appear. Without acne, it is impossible to have an acne scar. With the number of acne medications now available there is no reason for acne sufferers not to receive proper treatment.

Another note for acne sufferers who don’t wish to live with scars – resist the urge to pop your pimples. This action can cause more damage to the skin and can actually make scars worse.

When dealing with the acne scar, there are two main types of scars. These are the ice-pick type scar and the keloid scar. The ice-pick scar is a depressed area that looks like damage that may have been done by an ice-pick. Keloid scars are raised areas caused by the build up of collagen in the skin resulting in a raised mass. Staining of the skin by acne is often confused with acne scars. Unlike scars, however, staining fades over time and may even disappear completely.

Removal of an acne scar can be a complex and costly procedure. Some of the more well known methods include dermabrasion, laser resurfacing, chemical peels, punch techniques and augmentation.

Dermabrasion, which is a surgical scraping of the skin, works well on shallow acne scars. However, this procedure will set you back about $1,500 per treatment. In laser surgery, layers of damaged skin are removed using a laser. This procedure can cost $3,000 or more per treatment. Chemical peels are a less expensive option, coming in at $750 each treatment. These peels, however, are only effective on the most minor acne scar.

Two options for ice-pick scars include punch techniques and augmentation. In the punch techniques, the acne scar is surgically “punched” out using an appropriately sized biopsy tool. The remaining skin is stitched together resulting in a smaller scar that is more receptive to dermabrasion or other resurfacing techniques.

In augmentation, a substance, either collagen or the person’s own fat, is injected under the scar to bring it to level with the rest of the skin. Again, this procedure is costly and the results are only temporary, repeated procedures are required.

Although acne scars can be removed, the procedures are costly and the results may not be the same as undamaged skin. The best way to avoid the acne scar is to get proper treatment for your acne as soon as possible. Also don’t pick at, squeeze or attempt to pop your acne as this can make scarring worse.