Acne Scars??

Acne scars refuse to fade. What should I do? pl. help.
Acne Scars??
http://www.doctorgoodskin.com/ds/acne/ac... has every information on acne and acne scars.
Acne Scars??
Only time will really fade the scars. Go tanning a few times and your scars will be hidden by your tan/pink complexion.
Reply:nope..
Reply:I copied and pasted this directly from wikipedia











Treatments for skin scars


No scar can ever be completely removed. They will always leave a trace, but their appearance can be improved by a number of means, including:.











Simple treatments


Some suggest that using creams containing Vitamin E, taking vitamin E supplements, or including plenty of vitamin E in a diet from sources such as wheat germ, nuts, vegetable oils, eggs and green vegetables, can help speed up the healing process, and lessen the appearance of any scar afterwards.





Other research, however, suggests that applying Vitamin E to post surgical scars does not reduce the size, shape, or color of scars and can, in up to one third of patients, result in contact dermatitis, allergic reactions, or other irritation that can worsen a scar's appearance. (Source: Baumann, Dermatologic Surgery, 1999. Also: [1])





There is also a suggestion that cocoa butter cream can be used to help heal scars, and to prevent the formation of keloid scars.





[edit]


Surgery


Any surgical scar removal will always leave a new scar that will take up to two years to mature. Surgery can never remove a scar but can be used to alter its alignment or shape to make it less noticeable.





Surgery can sometimes make the scar bigger, but improve its overall appearance. Surgery can sometimes be necessary to remove a scar on skin near a joint where it restricts movement, but it will leave another scar.





In the case of hypertrophic or keloid scarring, surgery is not recommended, as there is a high risk of re-occurrence of possibly worse scarring following surgery.





[edit]


Laser Surgery %26amp; Resurfacing


The use of lasers on scars is experimental treatment, the safety or effectiveness of which has not yet been proven.





The redness of scars may be reduced by treatment with a vascular laser. It has been theorised that removing layers of skin with a carbon dioxide laser may help flatten scars, although this treatment is still highly experimental.





[edit]


Steroid injections


A long term course of steroid injections under medical supervision, into the scar may help flatten and soften the appearance of keloid or hypertrophic scars.





The steroid is injected into the scar itself and very little is absorbed into the blood stream, side effects of this treatment are minor. This treatment is repeated at 4-6 week intervals.





[edit]


Pressure garments


Pressure garments should be used only under supervision by a medical professional. They are most often used for burn scars that cover a large area, this treatment is only effective on recent scars.





Pressure garments are usually custom-made from elastic materials, and fit tightly around the scarring. They work best when they are worn 24 hours a day for six to twelve months.





It is believed that they work by applying constant pressure to surface blood vessels and eventually causing scars to flatten and become softer.





[edit]


Radiotherapy


Low-dose, superficial radiotherapy, is used to prevent re-occurrence of severe keloid and hypertrophic scarring. It is usually effective, but only used in extreme cases due to the risk of long-term side effects.





[edit]


Dermabrasion


Dermabrasion involves the removal of the surface of the skin with specialist equipment and usually involves a general anaesthetic. It is useful when the scar is raised above the surrounding skin, but is less effective with sunken scars.





[edit]


Collagen injections


Collagen injections can be used to raise sunken scars to the level of surrounding skin. Its effects are however temporary, and it needs to be regularly repeated. There is also a risk in some people of an allergic reaction.





[edit]


Other treatments


There are also a number of gel sheets available which are usually made from silicone, which can help to flatten and soften raised scars if worn regularly. Silicone, pressure, occlusion, topical cortisone and vitamin E have all been shown to decrease the collagen that forms scars. Patches and pads help but are unsightly so people tend to quit. A popular treatment among plastic surgeons is Scarfade, a silicone gel that improves the appearance of scars and prevents abnormal or excessive scar formation. Also chemical peels performed by a dermatologist using glycolic acid can be used to minimize acne scarring.
Reply:Neosporin tripple antibiotic ointment works wonders
Reply:laser removal
Reply:i have them to and they r begining to fade....i got some special neosporine scar stuff at a drug store..
Reply:Horgy Shmorgy
Reply:Time will work but if you would like quicker results then you may want to consult with a dermatologist and they can recommend various types of treatment.
Reply:Time, I would seek the help of a dermatologist now, because it is your precious skin and he/she may be able to recommend something...





Preventing Early Acne Scars


The best way to prevent post-inflammatory changes caused by acne is to prevent acne lesions from occurring. This is done by understanding the factors that cause acne and using the appropriate treatments for the different acne types.





Treating Early Acne Scars


The post-inflammatory changes caused by acne are part of the skin's natural healing process. There are certain practices and medications that can help facilitate this healing process.





• Unprotected exposure to the sun causes more skin damage and delays healing, therefore wearing a good sunscreen is important.


• Using tretinoin (Retin-A) speeds up the skin's remodeling process and helps heal post-inflammatory changes.


• Appropriate formulations of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) and Beta-Hydroxy Acid (BHA) that contain the correct concentrations and are at the appropriate pH also help the skin's remodeling process.


• Picking at scabs should be avoided at all costs. Scabs form to protect the healing process that is going on underneath them. Pulling a scab off before it is ready interferes with the healing and remodeling process, prolonging the time that post-inflammatory changes will be visible.











Late acne scars.





Acne Scars - Icepick


Icepick scars are narrow, sharp scars that make the skin appear it has been punctured with an icepick. They are usually narrower than 2 mm and extend into the deep dermis or subcutaneous layer. Icepick scars are usually too deep to correct with skin resurfacing treatments such as dermabrasion or laser resurfacing.





Acne Scars - Boxcar


Boxcar scars are round to oval depressions that have sharp vertical edges. Unlike icepick scars they do not taper to a point at the base. Shallow boxcar scars are 0.1-0.5 mm in depth and can usually be treated with conventional skin resurfacing techniques. Deep boxcar scars are %26gt;0.5 mm in depth and require full-thickness treatment techniques.





Acne Scars - Rolling


Rolling scars occur as a result of tethering of otherwise normal-appearing skin to the subcutaneous tissue below. This process gives the skin a rolling or undulating appearance. Conventional skin resurfacing techniques do not work on rolling scars. They must be corrected by breaking up the subcutaneous fibrous bands.





Acne Scar Treatment After Accutane


An important consideration in the treatment of acne scars is the past use of Ro-accutane. Ro-Accutane is a powerful medication that can significantly remodel skin. However, studies have shown that people who have resurfacing procedures performed within 6 months of finishing Ro-accutane therapy have a higher risk of developing scarring as a result of the procedure. Based on this data, most physicians do not surgically treat patients who have taken Ro-accutane in the past 12 months.








Acne Scar Treatment Procedures





There are numerous procedures that can be used to correct acne scars. Each procedure has its own risks and benefits, and several procedures are normally combined to create the smoothest appearing skin. Here is a brief discussion of the more effective acne treatment procedures.





Dermal Fillers


There are many types of dermal fillers that can be injected into acne scars to raise the surface of the skin and give a smoother look.


Examples of dermal fillers are fat, bovine collagen, and hyaluronic acid derivatives. The injection of these materials does not permanently correct acne scars, so further injections are necessary.





Punch Excision


This method of surgically correcting acne scars is used on deep scars such as icepick and deep boxcar scars. This procedure uses a punch biopsy tool which is basically a round, sharp "cookie-cutter" tool that comes in diameters ranging from 1.5 mm to 3.5 mm. The size of the tool is matched to the size of the scar to include the walls of the scar. Under local anesthesia the scar is excised with the punch tool and the skin edges are sutured together. The newly produced scar eventually fades and may not be noticeable. If it is noticeable, it is more amenable now to resurfacing techniques.











Punch Excision with Skin Graft Replacement


With this method the scar is excised with the punch tool as above. Instead of suturing the skin edges together, the defect is filled with a punch skin graft usually taken from behind the ear. With this procedure a color and texture difference may be noticeable, but a skin resurfacing technique can be used 4-6 weeks after the grafting to correct this difference.











Punch Elevation


This method of surgically correcting acne scars is used on deep boxcar scars that have sharp edges and normal appearing bases. The same punch tool as above is used to excise the base of the scar leaving the walls of the scar intact. The excised base is then elevated to the surface of the skin and attached with sutures, steri-strips, or skin glue called Dermabond. This method lessens the risk of color or texture differences as can be seen with graft replacement, and lessens the risk of producing a visible scar as can be seen when wound edges are sutured.











Subcutaneous Incision


Subcutaneous incision, also known as Subcision, is used to break up the fibrous bands that cause rolling scars. Subcision is performed under local anesthesia by inserting a specially beveled needle under the skin so that it is parallel to the skin surface. Staying in the plane between the dermis and the subcutaneous tissue, the needle is gently advanced and retracted in a piston-like motion cutting the tethering bands. This procedure causes bruising which fades after about 1 week. The risks of subcision include bleeding and the formation of subcutaneous nodules. Bleeding can be controlled with proper use of anesthetics and bandaging, and the subcutaneous nodules can be treated with injection of corticosteroids into the nodule.








Dermabrasion.


This is one of the most effective treatments for acne scars although laser resurfacing has been more popular recently for treating acne scars. “Laser” sounds more advanced and more precise but when done by an expert dermabrasion gives frequently the best results. It does require general anesthesia and ten days to heal. The procedure involves using special mechanical rolling instrument to level the scars.
Reply:My boyfriend used mederma, it worked great. I'd try that.
Reply:i use sebo de macho.. it really works.....
Reply:read tips on reducing acne scars and more on skincare on this site