How To Get Rid Of Acne Scars Fast

Acne Scars And How To Get Rid Of Them

admin — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:46:26 +0000

Acne is a chronic skin disorder in which spots of several characteristic types form on the skin of affected areas of the body. It is most common in teenagers, however people in their 20s and 30s may also have it. It can also appear at the time of the menopause in some women while certain medications are being taken. It’s very common and affects about 80 out of every 100 people aged between 11 and 30 at some time. It’s not life threatening, but permanent scarring can occur and emotional distress if not treated properly. Early treatment is vital for the avoidance of lasting cosmetic disfigurement associated with scarring. The treatment of choice depends on what type of acne is present. It is the most common skin disorder that doctors see. It isn’t contagious and you cannot “catch it” from anyone. It’s common in both men and women, and is found in all ethnic backgrounds, making it one of the commonest medical conditions in the world.

Scar Formation

After the inflammation is finished, the skin can be discoloured by brown stains (hyperpigmentation). It can also be damaged by scars. These are a visible indication that there has been tissue damage on the skin. There are several types of acne scars: hyperthropic scars, box pick scars, ice pick scars and rolling scars. The scars occur when the hair follicle has an inflammation. This happens when bacteria, sebum and other cells create a plug. Medical treatment can improve your skin appearance and self-esteem, and stop the formation of lifelong pitted scars. Some people with the severe scarring form of this condition need powerful medicines supplied by hospital skin specialists to control it, and laser therapy to reduce the scars. Scar treatment may vary in type and cost on the basis of the type of scars on the skin.

Treatment

The question most sufferers want an answer to is how to get rid of acne scars. As the most visible scars are as a result of severe cases, it is important to treat the symptoms early on and with an ongoing treatment plan. The success of this type of scar treatment is variable. You must check facts by seeing the extent of improvement patients see after the treatment. A mix of acne scar treatment is likely to be required depending on the type of scars your skin displays. Before undergoing treatment, ensure that your condition really does warrant the treatment. Your condition may not be as bad as you think. These scar treatments need a person’s skin to be free of active acne, so if you still break out you will have to consider this. Once it is clear, you can decide whether having scar treatment is right for you. You should ask a dermatologist which type of acne scar treatment is best for you. The most commonly-used treatment is resurfacing. This includes methods such as laser treatment, chemical peels or dermabrasion. Acne Scar CO2 laser treatment can produce good results for facial scarring, however it takes around 18 months to show. Collagen injection is a more expensive type of procedure. Bovine collagen is not advisable as a treatment for those with autoimmune diseases. Carry on reading for more information about how to get rid of acne scars.

Acne Tips To Prevent Scarring

admin — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:28:47 +0000

photo credit: Alyssa L. MillerHere are a few acne skin care tips which will help to avoid the formation of acne. There are also some acne treatment tips to help to clear acne and therefore avoid acne scar formation.

Too much skin scrubbing can make the acne worse. It is recommended that you reduce your consumption of junk food and also reduce the amount of foods which are rich in fats in your diet. Foods such as hamburgers, chocolate and french fries are all high in fat. Eating a greater amount of green vegetables, leafy vegetable and fruit is also believed to be beneficial for your skin because they contain high levels of nutrients called beta carotene and also vitamin a.

Acne prevention has several aspects, from daily routine things you can do to the acne products and treatments which you can buy. The purpose of cleansing the skin is to remove most of the excess oils which your skin produces. The physical action of scrubbing the affected areas of skin will just force the oil and the dead skin cells into the skin’s pores. You can find many acne treatments to buy that will clean the skin, but don’t use treatments which can dry out your skin. Skin needs to contain moisture, and if it is dry, the pores can make extra oil, making the situation worse. Another acne tip is to avoid the temptation to squeeze the acne or to scrape at the acne. Picking or squeezing acne can give rise to worse problems. It could mean that you are spreading large numbers of bacteria over the skin of the surrounding areas and the damage squeezing or picking causes could lead to permanent acne scarring.

Non-comedogenic acne products are recommended (these products will not block your skin’s pores). Try to not use moisturizer on the areas of your skin which are most susceptible to acne. If you need to use a moisturizer at all, try to use one that it isn’t acnegenic. Use of topical acne products such as medicated spray on the areas where you get acne breakouts can often help. It’s usually recommended to wash the skin gently using a cleanser or alternatively a mild soap. When washing, you need to use warm water (be sure to avoid using hot water) and make sure that you wash twice daily. Hot water or harsh cleansers can often irritate the skin and make acne worse.

Acne Laser Treatment Facts

admin — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:27:21 +0000

photo credit: Ilares

Acne is the commonest disease of the skin. More than 90% of adolescents have acne at some time, and even people in their fifties can suffer from outbreaks.

Although it is a physical condition, acne can have serious psychological effects. It can undermine self-confidence and in the worst cases turn people into virtual recluses and affect relationships. Treatment to improve the skin’s appearance can transform the way people feel about themselves and change their lives for the better.

Lasers can be used for treating either acne scars or acne itself. Laser treatment for acne scars is a proven cosmetic procedure which is used for improving the appearance of skin discolouration and scarring that can be left after acne has subsided. The technique resurfaces the skin to give a better look to the affected areas. Acne laser treatment is a different treatment, and is aimed mainly at treating the acne and therefore scar formation is avoided. It can also reduce acne scarring if there is scar tissue as well as acne.

The idea behind this acne laser skin treatment is to kill off the bacteria living in the pores of the skin which are involved in acne formation and to stimulate the natural repair mechanisms of the skin.

Killing the bacteria and stimulating the skin repair mechanisms can have positive effects which are said to last for several months.

Acne can be successfully treated in as few as two sessions and it is suitable for all types of skin. Areas of the body suitable for treatment include the face, neck, chest and the back.

A facial treatment takes approximately thirty minutes to complete for the whole face, and usually three separate sessions of thirty minutes are needed. Results are usually seen after two weeks, with the appearance of the treated areas improving for up to three months after treatment.

The improvements in skin appearance are said to last for up to nine months, and periodic repeat sessions will be required to keep the acne at bay.

The treatment is gentle and there is little chance of side effects. Lunchtime treatments in working days are possible.

Cinical trials have shown that after a single treatment, improvements were seen after two to four weeks. After twelve weeks 87% of people treated showed significant improvements with no side effects. The procedure is simple and can be carried out by nurses or laser practitioners.

Use Acne Cream To Treat Acne And Avoid Scars

admin — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:27:04 +0000

A successful acne treatment will mean that the likelihood of acne scars in the future is considerably less. Your chosen acne treatment cream needs to suit your particular skin type to work well. For people who have dry skin acne cream with a lower percentage of benzoyl peroxide is usually best to treat the acne. Twice daily antiseptic facial washes are also useful to cleanse the skin. Benzoyl peroxide and other antimicrobial products can sometimes cause skin dryness. If you have dry skin, try to avoid using products containing these properties. Other antimicrobials which can possibly cause the skin to become dry are erythromycin and clindamycin. Acne cream which is to be used by individuals who have an oily skin type should not clog the skin pores. When choosing over-the-counter acne treatment creams, it is best to choose creams known as non-comedogenic. Creams for acne which are oil-free or water-based are a good choice of acne cream to treat oily skin. Combination skin can often be more difficult to treat satisfactorily, as different areas will have different requirements. Products which have been specially formulated for this type of skin are also available to buy and can give good results. Erythromycin is usually ok for this skin type as is gel-formulation benzoyl peroxide.

Acne cream can be very effective in eliminating acne. If the acne is mild to moderate, then acne cream is usually the best way to go. If the acne is severe, the cream may not work very well.

When it comes to choosing an acne cream, there are chemical creams and natural creams. If you are planning to use natural creams, those which have green tea as their main ingredient are said to be effective. Chemical creams are not a bad alternative choice if used correctly and following the instructions, these creams will usually work. Most chemical creams need you to follow a 3-step procedure, usually to first cleanse the skin then tone and then finally repair. You must follow the instructions exactly and be sure that you carry out each step as per the instructions so that the treatment can give you the optimum results.

There are also homeopathic acne creams available. These contain herbs, which have been homeopathically prepared. They are prepared by the diffusion method, and are in a cream base that which may be used by either adults or children.

Use of the correct acne cream to treat your acne can mean that you can avoid acne scars or that any acne scarring which you already have will not be added to.

What Are Home Remedies For Acne?

admin — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 16:25:38 +0000

photo credit: quinn.anyaIn this article we look at home remedies for acne. Home remedies for acne scars will be covered in another article. Natural acne remedies are preferred by many people who are concerned about side effects and do not like to use chemicals on the skin or to take them by mouth. Some acne medications can have side effects such as nose bleeds, headaches, dry skin, and even major birth defects. Remedies suggested as treatment for acne include tea tree oil, yogurt & oatmeal, egg white, lemon juice, garlic, and orange peel. Tea tree oil is a popular home remedy for acne and is a natural oil which has anti-bacterial properties. Because of this, tea tree oil has been used by people as a home remedy for acne. It’s believed that the oil kills Propionibacterium acnes, the bacteria which are involved in causing acne. Tea tree oil is applied to the acne to kill off these bacteria, and reduce the occurrence of acne.

Home remedies for acne are one of the most frequently-used types of natural remedies. Yogurt and oatmeal is another popular one of the home remedies for acne. Oatmeal is mixed with yogurt and is then applied as a face mask which is left on for several minutes. Egg whites are also a popular acne remedy and they are applied to the affected areas for a few minutes.

The effectiveness of home remedies for acne is said to be improved by taking vitamin and mineral supplements. Drinking plenty of water is also said to help improve the skin and help to avoid acne. It has also been suggested that washing the affected areas twice daily in warm salt water can be a good treatment for acne. A mixture of lemon juice and rose water may also help get rid of acne and improve the quality of the skin. Applying avocado paste which has been diluted with a little water then washing it off 30 minutes later is also said to help get rid of acne.

Calamine lotion can be used as a treatment for acne. It is applied straight onto the acne. Another suggested remedy for acne is to apply honey to the acne then rinse the honey off after a few minutes.

For some people, natural remedies may produce good results. For people who suffer from more severe forms of acne however, they may not give adequate results. It is important to consider that the effect of not getting the acne under control could be scar formation, and for people who have anything other than mild acne it may be better to see a dermatologist or other professional to ensure that you have an effective treatment.

Is Benzoyl Peroxide The Best Acne Treatment?

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:34:36 +0000

photo credit: daveynin
The best acne treatments can often differ from person to person. There are many acne treatments which are available nowadays. The two main types are topical treatments (these are rubbed onto the skin) and oral acne treatments which are taken by mouth. Milder forms of acne are usually treated with over-the-counter medications, but more aggressive forms will often need prescription medication. You should begin treatment as early as possible, this will usually make acne scar formation less likely.

Topical Treatments

Usually topical treatments come in the form of creams which are applied to the skin of the affected areas. These treatments include topical benzoyl peroxide, topical retinoids, and topical antibiotics. Benzoyl peroxide is usually used in the treatment of mild acne to moderate acne, and topical antibiotics for treating mild acne to moderate acne. Topical retinoids are normally used for moderate acne.

Benzoyl peroxide is usually the best treatment for acne for the majority of people. It comes in a several different concentrations and is generally applied to the affected skin twice daily. It occasionally causes dry skin and irritation, but applying it less often then working up gradually to full dosage can get round this.

Oral Acne Treatments

Oral treatments like antibiotics, retinoids (Isotretinoin or Accutane), and hormone pills are used to treat moderate acne to severe acne. Isotretinoin is frequently used for treating severe cystic acne. It’s thought that it works by reducing the size and sebum production of the sebaceous glands. Women who are pregnant shouldn’t use this treatment, since isotretinoin could have serious side effects on pregnant women and their unborn children.

Availability of Treatments

Benzoyl peroxide is usually available for purchasing over-the-counter, and does not require a prescription. Topical retinoids, isotretinoin, topical antibiotics , oral antibiotics, and hormone pills will all usually need a prescription.

Herbal Acne Treatments

A lot of people choose herbal acne treatments, preferring to avoid drugs. When it comes to herbal acne treatments there are several to choose from:

* Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil has anti-bacterial activity. It is usually used topically, and is diluted to a concentration of 5-15%.

* Licorice Root Extract

This is also said to have anti-bacterial activity.

* Olive Leaf Extract

The extract of leaves from the olive tree is believed to have antibacterial properties.

* Green Tea Extract

Green tea extract has bioflavonoids plus antioxidants. These are believed to help in treating acne.

Acne Scar Treatments: Subcision, Biological & Microdermabrasion

admin — Sun, 03 May 2009 19:45:43 +0000

photo credit: titlap

Subcision

Acne scar subcision is a procedure used for sunken or depressed scars. Subcutaneous incision, also called subcision, breaks the fibrous bands causing acne scars. Subcision will not work on all scars because some scars are only in the upper epidermis level of the skin, and can only be removed by removing the upper layer of the skin several times in order to reach a lower level where the skin evens out.

It is a technique which utilises a micro-needle which separates the acne-scarred skin from the underlying tissue. The procedure releases fibrotic strands beneath the surface of the skin that bind the covering tissue. It also disconnects the scar from the deeper tissues and causes blood to migrate underneath the scar. Subcision appears to be safe and may provide long-term improvement in the rolling scars of many patients. This technique is used for depressed scars, ice pick scars and pitted scars. It is quite often applied in combination with laser therapy or dermabrasion. Around ninety percent of treated patients report that this technique improved their appearance. The risks of this procedure include the formation of subcutaneous nodules. After the procedure, the previously deep areas of the skin would appear to rise a little as a result of the temporary swelling.

Biological Treatments

Biological treatment of acne scarring is intended to stimulate the growth of new skin cells to replaced damaged and scarred tissues. Mucin, extracted from snails, is used in a topical cream which is applied to the scarred areas of skin. This is said to regulate healing of the skin to improve the appearance of scars.

Microdermabrasion

Acne scar microdermabrasion is a new technique, similar to a surface-only type of dermabrasion. Instead of a brush rotating at high-speed, the technique of microdermabrasion uses aluminum oxide crystals moving along a vacuum-tube to remove the surface of the skin.

It is a technique that has a similar effect to traditional dermabrasion, but is less radical. It is a non-surgical, non-invasive procedure that only affects the upper most layers of skin. Microdermabrasion exfoliates only the external layer of skin and, therefore, rarely causes serious complications. It is great for all skin types and is especially recommended for people who are hypersensitive to chemical procedures. Microdermabrasion cannot produce great results against deeply pitted acne scars however.

Whichever method you choose, you should seek advice from an expert. He or she will be able to tell you how to get rid of acne scars in the best way for you.

Chemical Peel Treatment Of Acne Scars

admin — Sun, 03 May 2009 11:38:11 +0000

photo credit: titlap

Acne scarring may be treated with an application of one or more chemicals and this is known as a chemical peel. Chemical peels are useful for both women and men and there are chemicals to suit all types of skin.

As there are several strengths of chemical peels, the type that your doctor uses is going to depend on how bad your scarring is. Compositions of chemical peels can be changed by your doctor in order to treat the particular needs you have, and to achieve the desired treatment results. All types of peels can treat the face, and most of the available peels can also treat areas on the neck and also on the hands.

Three main types of chemical solutions are used for chemical peel treatments: AHA (alphahydroxy acid) or glycolic acid peels, TCA (trichloroacetic acid) peels and, lastly, phenol peels. AHA types of peels are the most gentle and lightest, TCA types of peel have a little higher strength, and phenol peels are the highest strength. For light peels, you will probably have very little discomfort if any. AHA peels usually take around fifteen minutes for a treatment and you may need weekly treatment over a set period of time. TCA (trichloroacetic acid) is normally used for peels of medium-depth. Although TCA isn’t as high-strength a chemical peel as phenol, the TCA type of peels can result in unwanted changes to skin colour. Medium-depth peels won’t affect the pigmentation of your skin permanently, however some colour change might initially occur. For medium-depth to deep peels, you will probably have to get somebody to drive you home. Following a phenol acne scar chemical peel, the patient’s face may be badly-swollen. In the worst cases the eyes may even be temporarily shut due to the swelling. Because of this, up to two weeks of recovery at home are normally needed following a phenol peel. A phenol peel is normally the highest-strength type of peel offered.

The biggest downside of phenol treatment is permanent skin paleness. Because of this, a deep peel should be avoided for darker skinned people such as Asians or Black people. The high-strength types of chemical peels remove a larger number of skin layers than the gentler types of peels. Using tretinoin before undergoing these types of treatment and other types of facial treatments has been clinically proven to give better results and reduce the healing time.

Treatment Of Acne Scarring With Dermabrasion

admin — Sun, 03 May 2009 09:38:16 +0000

photo credit: Norrel Blair

Acne scarring is presently the commonest reason for having dermabrasion-based treatment. Dermabrasion has been in use for many years to treat scarring caused by acne. This treatment consists of a controlled removal by abrasion of damaged skin from the face, in order to form a region where a new skin layer may grow.

To determine a patient’s suitability for the treatment, the doctor needs to take into consideration the type of skin, medical history and colouring of the patient-to-be. The procedure is usually carried out in the doctor’s surgery, although it might also be performed at the hospital or at an outpatient surgical centre, depending on your doctor’s preferences in addition to your own. The procedure may be performed in combination with other resurfacing treatments, e.g. microdermabrasion, laser resurfacing and chemical peels.

The actual acne dermabrasion procedure is usually performed using a hand-held electronic instrument (about the size of a pencil) which has a rotating sanding tool which contains diamond particles or a wire brush. Some surgeons will give sedation before whole-face dermabrasions while others may use local anaesthesia if the area to be treated is limited , e.g. a single scar. After the treatment , the treated area may be covered with a wet or waxy covering, an ointment, and/or a dry covering.

Not all individuals will have the same outcomes after treatments. Patients who have lighter skin tones usually have the best results from this type of treatment than patients who have darker skin. For example, those patients who have dark skin tones may find that their skin becomes permanently blotchy or discoloured following their dermabrasions.

If you are thinking about having this type of procedure, you should bear in mind that you will probably not be able to see the true results of the procedure until at least several weeks after surgery. Following the procedures the patient’s skin is likely to be red, and swelling of the skin is common. Patients may also have difficulty when trying to talk or eat. Any pain experienced after the process should treatable with pain-relieving medicines and any swelling is likely to begin to reduce starting from several days to a week after.

After this type of process, the most important thing to do is protect the treated skin areas from exposure to sun until the skin’s pigment has returned to normal. This might take as much as a year after the treatments have been carried out.

Acne Scar Treatment With Lasers

admin — Sun, 03 May 2009 08:16:13 +0000

photo credit: Sarah G…

If you are wondering how to get rid of acne scars you may want to think about having laser treatment. This is usually performed with local anaesthesia as an outpatient. Laser scar treatments can be quite expensive, but may be the right type to have for severe cases. It looks to be set to revolutionise acne scar treatment, and the procedure is generally non repetitive. This type of treatment is a fairly new technology, but one that can be highly effective in many patients. More prominent types of scarring are best treated by this technique.

Laser resurfacing involves burning the outer layers of skin to a certain depth. Laser resurfacing also helps to regain the elastic nature of the skin by means of reducing the length of the collagen fibres that are in the layers of skin, reducing or eliminating the visual apperances of scars. This form of treatment attempts to change the scar tissues and cut down the redness around healed lesions.

The different energy levels and tissue-penetrating powers of various lasers may be used to treat scars. For example, the deep penetration power of a YAG laser can be used to treat irregular scarring, whereas the infrared beam of a carbon dioxide laser can be used to increase tightness of collagen fibres in the skin and raise sunken scars.

Depth of penetration into the skin is more easily controlled with lasers than with other methods including dermabrasion. After the procedure, the skin can be pink and exhibit swelling for a week or more. A new type of non-ablative acne laser treatment created within the last few years works underneath the surface of the skin, using short pulses of light to treat scars, and also treat redness and capillary dilation commonly found with rosacea.

However, it should be noted that because individuals vary greatly in their physical makeup, their body’s reactions and also in healing abilities, the outcome of these type of treatments is never guaranteed. Overall, acne laser therapy is rapidly becoming a widespread form of treatment for patients who are seeking acne scar removal in a non-traditional and more efficient manner. One word of caution though, as these type of treatments are relatively new, they are not highly regulated. You would be wise to ensure that you’re going to undergo laser surgery under a trained and experienced doctor.

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