Microdermabrasion

Acne treatment is incomplete without removing the dirty looking acne scars. Acne may go away but the scars remain for a lifetime. Many treatments are suggested for treatment of acne scars. Out of these chemical peeling and laser are very popular. Let us compare both of them.

Acne scars- treatment with chemical peeling-

Chemical peeling is one of the popular cosmetic procedures to remove old skin and get a fresh new skin. Chemical peeling is also called derma-peeling or chemexfoliation. As the name implies, in this procedure, the skin is peeled off with chemicals and when the new skin grows it is fresh and with lesser sun damage and wrinkles. Depending on the strength of the peeling chemical, the peeling procedure may be called- superficial, medium-depth or deep. The name refers to the depth of the skin to which the chemical peels off the old skin.

The common chemicals used for chemical peeling are alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), trichloroacetic acid and phenol. Your doctor may also choose other chemicals to get the desired result. With superficial peeling, you can go back to work immediately while after getting medium or deep peeling done, you may have to let the new skin grow for some days before you go out. The pain and trouble associated with peeling also depends on the depth to which peeling is done. Superficial peeling will remove fine lines, wrinkles etc. while with deep peeling, deep scars and pre-cancerous sun damage gets removed.

Acne scars- treatment with lasers

A laser is focused high energy light. The scientific name of LASER is ‘Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation’. Ordinary light emits photons in all the directions and consists of many wavelengths. Unlike that, laser emits photons in a single direction and consists of a single wavelength. Laser therefore has very high energy and can be focused on any object or in any direction. In laser skin resurfacing, the laser burns away the unwanted skin tissues bloodlessly and gives a new shape with precise control.

Laser resurfacing is a bloodless process and doctors can control the resurfacing more accurately with it. The risk of infection is also low with this procedure. With latest lasers available, this process is revolutionizing the procedure of facial resurfacing and scar removal.

Both lasers and chemical peeling give good results. Lasers are more expensive than chemical peeling. Lasers can also be controlled much better than chemical peeling. But chemical peeling is much cheaper.

By: CD Mohatta

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Danny asked:

So my daughter keeps asking me to take her to a specialist in beverly hills to get rid of her 2 minor acne scars that she has got from picking them is their any way i can tell her something or do someting about it? its affecting her life and her self confidence so anyone? prefferably specialist

Light chemical peels belong to the list of the most popular acne treatment methods offered by estheticians and dermatologists. Since this is a non-invasive procedure, there is really no downtime for this treatment. Light chemical peels can be done in an hour and you won’t have to take a rest or get a day off after the procedure. That is probably why most people often refer to this method as “lunchtime peels”. You can get the procedure during your lunch break and then return to work right after.

How the procedure works

Light chemical peels do not really result to skin peels. Instead, the procedure just promotes rapid skin exfoliation. This way, the skin can generate new cells and shed off its dead skin cells more rapidly. As the procedure gets rid of the dead skin cells and the excess oil in the skin, the pores will not clog up and bacteria cannot accumulate in the follicles.

Most of the time, the dermatologist or physician will use glycolic acid as a peeling agent. This acid is one of the most popular forms of AHA or alpha hydroxyl acids. AHAs are made from sugar cane and these acid components work effectively as acne treatment materials. Aside from AHAs, beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) are also achieving utmost popularity.

Beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) pretty much function in the same way as AHAs. These ingredients can dissolve the oil and dirt that clogs up the pores of the skin. According to clinical trials and studies, BHAs also have fewer side effects. The most common form of BHA used for light chemical peels is the salicylic acid.

Preparing for the treatment

Many dermatologists will ask their patients to use a special moisturizer two weeks prior to the treatment period. Some will also prescribe the use of a special cleanser. Topical treatments may also be used. The most common of which is retinoid. These steps are made so your skin becomes more sensitive to the effects of the chemical peel.

What to expect during the procedure

During the procedure, the infected area should be thoroughly cleansed. Once the area has been dried, the clinician will apply the peeling agent. This substance which is almost water like, should be applied in small amounts. This exfoliating agent will be applied using a cotton pad or a small brush. Once it is applied on your face, you will feel a warming sensation with slight stings. In other cases, the peeling acid can bring about a “burning” feeling. The acid will be left on your face for 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the severity of your acne problem. On the average, most will leave it for ten minutes.

After 10 minutes, the peel with then be removed through the use of a neutralizing agent and cold water. If you need a full facial treatment, you will have to undergo a soothing mask application, a facial massage and toning. Some patients can also opt for light moisturizing since the peeling procedure can dry out the skin.

After the light chemical peel, the treated skin will look like it’s sunburned. Fortunately, this redness will fade in just a few hours. However, in some cases, the redness can last for five days. During this time, you can use makeup to conceal it. But, if the redness persists for more than a week, you should immediately consult with your doctor right away.

By: Wong Darren

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It is still unknown how acne forms into the different acne types. What science can tell us right now is that when the sebaceous glands produce excess sebum (oil), it can mix with the dead skin cells and dirt in the skin. This mixture becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. The dead skin cells, dirt and sebum clog up the skin pores. They the manifest themselves as reddish blemish on the skin surface, and this is what we know as acne.

 

Acne that is close to skin surface are what we know as whiteheads and blackhead, non-inflammatory type of acne. Acne that is painful to the touch and swell up, on the other hand, is the inflammatory type of acne. These are the pimples or zits and they can leave scars since they go beyond the top layer of the skin.

 

Acne scars vary from person to person. This is because people have different facial topology. Thus, one person with acne scars can have just shallow imperfections (acne scars that are not so deep), another person may have “ice pick” scars (acne scars that look like chickenpox scars), and another person may have deep acne scars.

 

To date, there is still not a lot of information and research done on acne scars and how they form. Thus, acne scar treatments are not surprisingly limited. Acne scars and their treatment then needs to be addressed on a case-by-case basis. There is not a single acne scar treatment that works for everyone. If you have acne scars, you’ll need to talk to your dermatologist or a cosmetic surgeon to find out what procedure or treatment is most appropriate for you.

 

A number of treatments for removing acne scar are available, and the treatment type depends on the type of acne scarring. Again, it’s best to talk to your dermatologist and find out which acne scar removal treatment (or even a combination of treatments) is the best for you.

 

Below are a few of the acne scar removal treatments available today:

 

* Dermabrasion

With this treatment, the skin is numbed or frozen. A machine removes damaged skin to make way for new skin growth. Dermabrasion is not the same as microdermabrasion. The latter wont remove acne scars.

 

* Laser resurfacing

This acne scar removal treatment uses laser to remove old skin that has been damaged to allow new skin to grow. Laser resurfacing is becoming very popular, and is promising to surpass dermabrasion as the treatment of choice when it comes to acne scar removal.

 

 

* Chemical peel

Chemical peeling is an acne scar removal method wherein the top layer of the skin is removed by applying acid or chemical. The procedure allows for a new smoother skin layer to grow.

 

* Punch

This acne scar removal method is recommended for people who have deep, pitted scars. The procedure involves removing the scar and the wound closed so that it can heal. This method has three techniques: punch excision, punch replacement and punch elevation.

 

* Subcision

This acne scar removal method involves detaching the acne scar from the deeper tissues. This lets a pool of blood to form under the acne scar and clot. The blood basically helps in the formation of connective tissues under the scar so that the acne scar area comes up level with the skin surface.

 

* Augmentation

In this acne scar removal method, the acne scar is injected with a material, either collagen or one’s own fat, with the goal of bringing the scarred skin to surface level.

By: Lisa Mendel

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There are several ways on removing acne scars. The appearance of acne starts during puberty when the body actively produces hormones that causes too much sebum in the skin. This skin stage may pass but it would definitely leave marks to haunt your appearance forever. Treating acne scars can be done through natural inexpensive ways and dermatological procedures that would probably cost a lot. However, acne scar treatment still depends on the mildness and severity of the scar.

Below are some of the techniques on removing acne scars naturally:

1. Hydration is the key. It has been proven that water is one of the best natural methods on how to remove acne scars and prevent acne breakouts. Drinking at least 8 glasses of water or more helps your skin to shed those unwanted dead skin cells.

2. A lot of people are recommending the use Vitamin E capsule for those scars. You might apply it topically to the affected area by pricking a spot in the capsule and apply the oil to the scar. Another option is to take it orally to have that cell renewal from the inside.

3. Rosehip seed oil is also an effective remedy on how to remove acne scars. This is an anti-ageing and anti-wrinkling agent that helps the skin to regenerate. Massage it on the scar twice a day.

4. Eating a balance diet may help in removing acne scars. The more nutritious foods you include in your meal, the faster the scar will heal. It helps in building the skin cells and gives a healthy skin glow as well.

5. Combine rose water and paste of sandal wood and apply it on the spot where the scars are. Leave it overnight then rinse with cold water the next day.

Aside from the natural ways of removing acne scars, there are also dermatological procedures that would definitely give you a much faster result. However, pregnancy and other health conditions may hinder your want to undergo these procedures. Here are some of the hi-tech methods on how to remove acne scars effectively.

6. Nowadays, not only certified dermatologists do a dermabrasion but facial salons as well. Dermabrasion is the removal of the top skin layer using a machine that chafes off the skin. Once the skin heals, the top layer will then have a smoother and clearer appearance.

7. Laser resurfacing is one of the most affordable anti-scar treatments available. It simply uses a high-energy light that would remove the fine scars and even prevent wrinkles.

8. You may also have a chemical peel procedure. This is just like dermabrasion. The only difference is that the top layer of the skin is peeled off using chemicals not machines. This is not a very advisable procedure for all since some people may have allergic reactions to the chemicals.

With all the available choices for treatment, you surely would not have an excuse as to why your acne scar is still obvious. It’s your choice whether you would opt for the natural way or the dermatological procedure on how to remove acne scars.

By: Robert

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Soft acne scars have gentle sloping rolled edges that merge with the surrounding skin. They are usually small, circular or linear in shape, and soft to the touch.

Atrophic macules, a form of acne scarring most common in Caucasians, are soft with a slightly wrinkled base. Blood vessels just below the surface of the scar may make them appear purplish when they are recent, but this discoloration may fade over time to a pale ivory. Atrophic macules are usually small when they occur on the face, but may be a centimeter or larger elsewhere on the body.

Follicular macular atrophy is more likely to occur on the chest or back of a person with acne. These small, soft white lesions resemble whiteheads that didn’t fully develop; they may persist for months or years.

In summary, acne scars are caused by the body’s inflammatory response to acne lesions. The best way to prevent scars is to treat acne early, and as long as necessary. If scars form, a number of effective treatments are available. BIOSKINCARE is very effective in helping to prevent scars by treating acne at the source and it is very effective in repairing acne scars by helping both to stimulate new skin cell formation when the skin has been damaged and to speed up the process of scar maturation.

A decision to seek dermatologic surgical treatment for acne scars also depends on:

The way you feel about scars. Do acne scars psychologically or emotionally affect your life? Are you willing to “live with your scars” and wait for them to fade over time? These are personal decisions only you can make.

The severity of your scars. Is scarring substantially disfiguring, even by objective assessment?

A dermatologist’s expert opinion as to whether scar treatment is justified in your particular case, and what scar treatment will be most effective for you.

Dermabrasion.

This is thought to be the most effective treatment for acne scars. Under local anesthetic, a high-speed brush or fraise used to remove surface skin and alter the contour of scars. Superficial scars may be removed altogether, and deeper scars may be reduced in depth. Dermabrasion does not work for all kinds of scars; for example, it may make ice-pick scars more noticeable if the scars are wider under the skin than at the surface. In darker-skinned people, dermabrasion may cause changes in pigmentation that require additional treatment.

Laser resurfacing (or laser blemish removal) may be used to treat serious acne scars.

The treatment is completed by the doctor or dermatologist, in his surgery. The laser removes the top layer of skin (including the damage caused by the acne), leaving the skin smooth. The procedure can be completed within a few minutes, but some treatments will take up to an hour. After the treatment, it will take up to ten days for the skin to completely heal.

Skin Surgery.

Some ice-pick scars may be removed by “punch” excision of each individual scar. In this procedure each scar is excised down to the layer of subcutaneous fat; the resulting hole in the skin may be repaired with sutures or with a small skin graft. Subcision is a technique in which a surgical probe is used to lift the scar tissue away from unscarred skin, thus elevating a depressed scar.

By: Peter sams

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Acne is a terrible affliction which plagues millions of teenagers and sometimes even adults. Not only is this terrible unsightly, it also creates deep impact upon the psyche of the person affected. The people who suffer from acne for a long time will gradually develop an inferiority complex.

How To Treat Acne?

There are many ways to treat acne today. You will need to find out from the many ways that are available, which one suits you the best. The treatment usually involves cleansing of the skin, then steaming it thoroughly to remove the acne as much as possible. The best way to treat acne is to cleanse the skin well, preferably with vinegar, after which you could add a bit moisturizer to the face to prevent it from drying too much.

One of the most tested and tried methods to treat acne are the method using benzoyl peroxide. This solution should be applied to the face in proportion of 5:1 (water : b.p.) daily if possible. If not twice or even once a week would be helpful to treat acne. This solution kills all the bacteria, reduced oil production of the skin and opens the pores making it easier to remove the grime thus accumulated.

Of course, you ought to be very patient with the methods to treat acne, because it is slow in showing their results. Basically speaking, if you have oily skin, you will definitely find the process extremely painful since acne is drawn to it like flies to honey. However, as per the testimony of so many people, the benzyl peroxide solution has clicked with the majority of people and hence there is no reason why you should not adopt the same method for yourself.

There are of course, other ways – Dermabrasion, chemical peels, and laser treatment and so on. In Dermabrasion the upper most layer of the skin would be removed and then new skin would be formed again. This is done with the help of blasting of tin crystals through a vacuum pipe. The same result is obtained with the help of chemical peeling. Here the peeling is created with the help of chemical reactions.

The latest of all the treatments available today is the Laser treatment. This treatment has the same procedure as Dermabrasion; only this time there is no blood and many times very little pain. With the laser the patient is exposed to a great risk of infection – especially bacterial and/or viral. Choose wisely what and when you want to do.

By: Alien

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Millions of people suffer from acne at one point in their lives. Luckily most of you only have a few breakouts here and there that can be managed with a proper skin care routine. Unfortunately there are some folks who have to deal with severe breakouts, painful swelling, and itchy skin for a lot longer than just a few days. For those with more severe cases of acne or pimples treating the aftermath of acne and the scars left behind is part of the ordeal of living with acne.

There is a wide array of treatment options for reducing the visible signs of acne after the breakout is gone. One of the easiest ways to treat acne scarring is by using the products you have at home to make a cost effective cream or ointment. Several different variations of home treatments for scarring can be found online. These treatments are not for everyone and may actually cause additional breakouts if you aren’t careful in how you use them. Be sure to test the product in an area that is not visible just incase you suffer from some weird side-effect or reaction to the treatment. There’s no point in using an acne treatment that’s going to make your skin look worse and leave you feeling worse right?

Depending on the individual situation an at home remedy may not be strong enough to take away deep scarring left behind by acne. Chemical peels are one of the most commonly used products to reduce scars. Chemical peels will only work at reducing the signs of scarring if the damage to the skin is not very deep.

Deeper scars require more intensive treatments that may include dermabrasion, or laser treatments. Dermabrasion and laser treatments are much more expensive than other forms of treating scars and should only be used in severe cases of scarring. These methods go deep into the skin and are not suitable for all situations. Your dermatologist can provide you with more information on whether or not dermabrasion and laser treatments are right for you in the longterm.

When trying to reduce acne scarring it’s important to let your face heal in between treatments. More invasive procedures may require several visits to get the results you are looking for. In the end you may still have a small amount of scarring however in most patients their complexion evens out and scarring is reduced to a minimal amount as the treatments progress over time.

Of course, the easiest way to avoid having to deal with scars is to take care of your skin and treat acne before it becomes a problem. Avoid picking at breakouts as this only makes what might have started as a small problem a much bigger one. Kinda making a mountain out of a molehill type situation. Wash your hands frequently and always use products designed with your skin type in mind.

Why even suffer from acne scars in the first place? Check out the resource section of this article for more info.

By: Piers Valkind

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