The Most Effective Treatments for Acne Scars

To book a consultation call 0208 342 1100
Categorized as Blog Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Acne is a universal skin disease that affects nearly 85% of teenagers around the world. Recently it has come to be known that the previous patterns of acne have changed and 25% of acne is now found to start in adult life, over a third of women suffering from acne are in their thirties.

Deciding to treat acne scars is a very personal decision, however many people choose to have their acne scars removed as they are emotionally affected by the appearance of these scars. Others have scars that are disfiguring and quite severe so they choose to have them removed to restore the natural appearance of their skin.

Acne-Scar Removal Options

Acne-Scar Removal Options

There are many acne scar removal options and depending on the severity and the type of acne scars the practitioner will be able to choose the one most efficient in each individual’s case.

Common scar removal treatments include:

Picoway Laser – A Picosecond is a trillionth of a second which is how long each pulse of this revolutionary laser lasts. Laser light is targeted at unwanted pigment in ultrashort picosecond pulses. These pulses shatter the pigment into very tiny particles which are then easily eliminated by the body’s natural processes. The PicoWay laser emits less heat energy than traditional lasers providing a safer, more comfortable treatment with fewer side effects. The effectiveness of the treatment depends on many factors such as the location, depth, size and type of pigmentation. Some lesions will require several treatments for optimal results, where some can be resolved in a single treatment

Sculptra with Subcision – Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi revolutionised the treatment of deep acne scars through the use of Sculptra combined with subcision. This technique can give powerful results when used to treat acne scarring. A micro-needle is used to break up the fibrous tissue that is causing the acne scar to appear depressed. Sculptra is injected during the procedure to restore the volume lost by the scar by stimulating collagen production. This reinforced collagen structure provides a foundation that gradually restores the look of fullness of shallow to deep facial scars that have been left after acne.

Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion – is a very effective scar removal treatment. It uses either a wire brush or diamond wheel with rough edges and this removes the upper layers of the skin. The brush or wheel rotates quickly abrading the outer layers of the skin. This process causes injury to the skin and causes it to bleed. As the wound is healing new skin grows to replace the damaged/scarred skin. Typically it takes several days after the treatment for the skin to heal. Dermabrasion works well to improve surface scars or nearly flat acne scars. Deeper pitted scars may need another type of treatment along with dermabrasion.

Chemical peels – can reduce the appearance of shallow acne scars. They are also very effective in reducing the appearance of hyper-pigmentation that can sometimes surround a healed acne lesion. The process involves applying a chemical onto the skin to remove its outer layer. This gives it a smoother more even appearance. Some redness and peeling may be experienced for the next few days after the procedure.

Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi

Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi: It is important to remember that while these treatments can improve the skin it is essential that patients have realistic expectations and understand that the skin cannot be completely restored.

There are many different treatments available for acne scarring. A combination of treatments can be extremely effective in treating these scars.

LMA Clinic