Acne Scars
If you have had moderate to severe acne you may have some scars that are still visible. These scars can be classified as raised (above the skin), or pitted (below the skin). The bumps from raised scars are often treated with microdermabrasion, dermabrasion, chemical peels or lasers.
There is also help for the very worse of the scars left from acne, the very deep pitted ones. These deep scars can often be lessened with the help of injectables like Hylaform, Restylane, Cosmoderm or Cosmoplast. These plump up the contour irregularities which gives the skin a more uniform appearance. You must see a physician to utilize this treatment.
There is also a new type of laser known as Fraxel which recently got FDA approval for the treatment of scars caused by acne. This laser makes tiny microscopic tears in the skin which remove damaged skin and induce new collagen production to smooth out the skin. Fraxel treatment is known to be just as effective as the CO2 laser (another treatment method for scars from acne and wrinkles which is known for effective results), without the downtime. It is said that if you make your Fraxel laser treatment appointment for Friday, your skin will most likely be ready for work on Monday. Common side effects are redness and swelling. This treatment has a generally positive reputation and some regard it as a "breakthrough" method of treating acne scars. Advocates say that it gives you ablative (invasive) laser level results with non-ablative level recovery. Most describe the pain level as well-tolerated, however, it does not seem like this procedure would be good for somebody with a low threshold for pain or discomfort. To minimize pain find a doctor who uses a "cool air spray" during the procedure. Some report dramatic results after one treatment although usually it will take 4 to 5. The average price of Fraxel laser treatments is between $1,000 to $1,200 per treatment (although most doctors offer treatment bundle discounts, such as 4 treatments for $3,000).
|
