Millions of people suffer the ravages of acne scars long after adolescence has passed and the acne condition has faded. Likewise, chicken pox and other illnesses, as well as injuries, can produce scars that may cause self-consciousness and discomfort.
Thanks to the refinement of a number of dermatologic surgical techniques, scars can be treated with a variety of safe, effective procedures that improve the appearance of a patient's skin and boost the patient's self-esteem. Your dermasurgeon will choose the technique or combination of treatment approaches based upon the nature of the scarring, the patient's medical history, and the status of recent clinical studies in this rapidly evolving area of research. Following are common techniques and procedures used to improve scarring:
The dermasurgeon freezes the patient's skin or uses tumescent anesthesia and then removes or "abrades" the skin with a rotary instrument. The skin undergoes a "remodeling" process as it heals, resulting in a smoother and fresher appearance. View the dermabrasion fact sheet for more information.
A depressed scar is surgically removed, and a patch of skin from elsewhere on the patient's body. View the dermasurgery fact sheet for more information.
Bovine collagen, collagen-related fillers, polymer implants or a patient's own fat (taken from another part of the body) is injected in small quantities below the surface of the skin to elevate depressed scars.
By delivering short pulses of the laser beam, the dermasurgeon can smooth, sculpt and normalize the appearance of scars. The ultrapulsed carbon dioxide laser, the erbium YAG laser and the pulsed dye yellow light laser are most commonly used for treating scarring. View the laser fact sheet for more information.
By applying a chemical solution to the skin, mild scarring and certain types of acne may be treated. Chemical peeling enables new, regenerated skin to appear, improving the appearance of the condition.
Tiny particles passing through a vacuum tube gently scrape away the top layer of scarred skin and stimulate new cell growth. Because of the superficial nature of this technique, patients with mild scarring are the best candidates, and multiple treatments are usually required to achieve subtle results.
For more information on skin conditions and treatments, along with a list of ASDS members in your state, please visit the Find a Dermatologic surgeon section of our Web site.
Dos and don'ts for acne
Before and after photos: Atrophic scars
Before and after photos: Acne scars treated with dermabrasion
Before and after photos: Hypertrophic scars
Before and after photos: Acne scars treated with subcision