'Scarring' Category Archive

Posted on Dec 31st, 2007

Acne affects as much as 80% of teenagers and others in their early twenties, while most get out with only a few minor acne scars, some even without any at all; there is also a notable percentage that suffers from acne scars.

There are two types of skin problems caused by acne that can be recognized as acne scars, one is the red pigmentation that appears after acne has healed. These contrary to popular belief, are not scars, rather, these are post-inflammatory lesions which occurs as the acne heals, and these can be present for up to 6-12 months. If however the pigmentation that you see lasts longer than the said period, you may be facing acne scars.

Acne scars come from connective tissue that the body uses to repair damage done to a certain area. Together with antibodies and white blood cells, they work together to heal the wound. After the healing process, you are left with a scar.

Acne scars can develop as long as acne is present, so one good form of prevention is actually preventing acne. However, Acne scars can also be prevented even with the presence of acne. This is done by facilitating the healing of the acne, the faster it heals, the shallower the acne scar will be, making it easier to treat, or may need no treatment at all.

There are two dermatologically tested ways to facilitate the healing of acne, one is the use of Tretinoin, it’s a form of vitamin A, which speeds up the skin’s healing and renovation process shortening the inflammation period, thus preventing Acne scars.

The other treatment used by most dermatologists for Acne scar prevention is the use of Aplpha-Hydroxy Acids of AHA’s and Beta-Hydroxy Acids or BHA’s. These help the skins remodeling process, with the right concentration and proper application; these can also prevent acne scars.

Without the complicated chemicals and difficult dermatological treatments, you can also help prevent acne scars by treating your skin righteously. Avoid sun exposure, this can cause even more skin damage and may hamper the healing process of your skin. Wear sunscreen that has SPF 15 or higher. Picking at scabs never helped either. Never pick on acne as it heals; it interferes with the healing process and might worsen the resulting acne scar.

Of course, not even the most rigorous person can prevent acne scar, with the stress of everyday life, facial and other skin problems are really hard to avoid, there are however treatments available for acne scars, here are some of them.

Dermal Fillers

Collagen or other fillers are injected into the acne scar to raise is just a bit, so that it will be the same level as your skin, these treatments aren’t permanent though. They mostly last 3-6 months and you’ll need additional injections after that.

Punch Excision

This method is effective for some types of scars. It includes the surgical tool that matches the size of the scar; it can be compared to a cookie dough cutter. This tool cuts the scar out and the remaining wound is then sewed back together. The resulting scar will be unnoticeable, but if it is, it’ll be easier for laser resurfacing to treat it. Other types of this treatment include the use of skin grafts.

Laser Resurfacing

Laser resurfacing is a very popular and fast treatment for acne scars. Laser resurfacing basically works by burning a measure upper layer of the skin, and then letting it heal, leaving a newer looking skin. However, care must be taken after the procedure; the correct post operative procedure determines the success of the operation.

Discover how you can get rid of acne easily by visiting our site and discovering the truth about Treating Acne.

Posted on Dec 13th, 2007

Acne scars develop after severe cases or when the acne has been forcibly picked or scratched. There are many types of acne scars, each entirely treatable.

The only sure method of acne scar treatment is prevention early on. In general, you should never pick or squeeze acne, especially inflammatory acne or “pustules”. Squeezing forces infected material deeper into the skin, causing additional inflammation and possible scarring.

But there are many acne scar treatment options. All acne scar treatments are short procedures – fifteen minutes to an hour – but recovery times vary from fifteen minutes to many months. Scabbing, redness, swelling, flakiness, dryness, bruising and uneven skin tone are common post-treatment effects. Acne scar treatment can cost anywhere from $50 to over $3000. Ask a dermatologist which type of acne scar treatment is right for you.

Dermabrasion works on shallow acne scars. For decades, sandpaper was used to scrape away damaged skin, allowing new skin to grow in its place, but now machines with rotating diamond edged wheels are used.

Laser resurfacing is a newer resurfacing technique, with the same effects as dermabrasion. Penetration depth into the skin is more easily controlled with a laser than with dermabrasion and other methods.

Chemical peels are designed only for the lightest of cases. It involves application of different types of acid to the skin in order to remove the top layer so that a smoother layer can surface.

Punch techniques are used for deep acne scars. Punch replacement or excision involves removing the pitted scar, followed by a skin graft or suture. Punch elevation, on the other hand, just cuts the scar loose and allows it to float up to the level of surrounding skin.

Subcision is a method whereby the scar tissue is broken up underneath the surface of the skin, forming a pool of blood under the scar. The blood clot helps form connective tissue under the scar, leveling it with the surface.

Dermal fillers are used for deeper acne scars. Material - often collagen or fat – is injected under the scar to bring it to surface level. Injections usually last about six months, although research into the longer lasting materials continues to this day.

Acne Treatment Info provides detailed information on the best acne treatments, including laser acne treatment, and scar treatment, as well as adult, natural, home treatment, and more. Acne Treatment Info is the sister site of Microdermabrasion Web.

Posted on Dec 2nd, 2007

Acne refers to a skin condition where pores on the skin contain blackheads, whiteheads and/or pimples. In severe cases, plugged pores can result in lumps, cysts or nodules.

While Acne tends to predominantly affect teenagers (at least 90% develop some form of Acne), it is not uncommon in adults. Acne can occur on the face, neck, chest, back and arms. Acne can have a severe psychological impact, particularly on teenagers, and be a direct causal factor of low self-esteem and diminished confidence. Severe acne may lead to permanent scarring. Many people actively seek Home Remedies for Acne to treat the condition themselves.

Teens and Acne.

While most teens exhibit only mild forms of Acne, even these mild breakouts can cause untold heartache. ‘I can’t go the prom…’; ‘I can’t go on my date…’; ‘I can’t go to school like this…’

These statements are indicative of low self-esteem and/or diminished self-confidence. In a teen-world where ‘perfection’ is propagated by both the media and one’s peers, being ‘disfigured’ by facial blemishes has a massive psychological impact on many teens. Especially in severe cases.

Of course they are NOT disfigured, they simply have a skin condition common to teens due to the hormonal changes naturally occurring within their bodies. Growing up has its challenges.

Treating Acne

It IS possible to gently and effectively Treat Acne Naturally (no drugs or prescription medication required).

A 100% purely natural cure for Acne, that has multiple positive testimonials from thousands of people across the world can be found at www.naturallyguaranteed.com. It comes with a 60 day money back guarantee. I recommend it. Cure acne with no scarring… It’s not only possible, it’s a reality…

Posted on Nov 22nd, 2007

Acne is a horrible expeience to go through. Then, after you’re done breaking out, acne leaves you with dark or reddish scars!

I have had to go through this myself. It took me awhile but I finally found a technique that works. The magic secret is basically to exfoliate the skin, then heal the skin. However, if you want your skin to look good, you must go about this the right way:

Step 1: Prevent future breakouts. Once you clear those pimples up, you’ll want to keep them way because the less blemishes you have, the less scars you’ll have to take care of.

Step 2: Exfoliate every 2-3 days. Do not use harsh chemical exfoliants like salycic acid to exfoliate your skin. These formulas tend to irritate the skin causing it to look more inflammed than it normally would. I found the best method to be GENTLE manual exfoliation. The most effective & economical is wither sand or cornmeal. I prefer cornmeal because it’s much cleaner! Mix this with some liquid soap (like Dr. Bronner’s liquid castille soap) and some water. Prepare a little a time, to make it easier to handle. Apply the scrub to your skin in a soft circular motion. Don’t work on any one area too long. Remember, you do not want to irritate your skin.

Step 3: Heal the skin with pure natural vitamin E oil. Real vitamin E oil will be brownish in color, not clear/yellow. This skin friendly vitamin will do wonderful things for your appearance. The 1st application wll be the one to dramatically reduce scar visibility. To apply, make sure skin is clean & dry. For optimal results, apply after exfoliation. Spread this thick oil on anywhere you want better looking, softer skin. Make sure to cover all acne scars completely.

Step 4: Rinse skin in the morning. Do not wash with soap or cleanser.

Doing this regularly will definitely help your acne scars to fade faster. Skin heals itself while you’re sleeping so use these techniques before bed for the best results. You’re on your way to smooth & healthy skin!

Jessica Kihara

Learn How I Cured My Acne! http://www.InformationHotSpot.com/acne.html

Posted on Nov 19th, 2007

Products - Here are some of the more popular products on the market to help with the prevention and spreading of acne:

Benzoyl Peroxide: Helps destroy the bacteria that cause acne.

Proactiv® Solution: A dermatologist formulated 3-Step acne management system - combining prescription- grade ingredients that work together to heal and prevent acne or combination therapy / acne management system.

Salicylic Acid: Helps to unclog pores and renew skin.

Retinoids: Synthetic derivatives of Vitamin A that unclog pores and aid in sloughing.

Antibiotics: They help destroy bacteria and decrease inflammation.

Oral Contraceptives: Help with hormone level management.

Anti-Androgens: These help with the reduction of sebum production and comedone formation, i.e. they inhibit the body’s production of acne-causing hormones.

Isotretinoin (Accutane): an effective acne control medication especially for the treatment of severe cystic or nodular acne.

Acne — Hormones And Hygiene

Hormones - Hormones or lack of, during later years and especially for women, can play a role in acne flare-ups and prevention. One recent study showed that about 50 percent of women have acne, referred to as hormonal acne, problems during the week before their menstruation. Treatment options can include topical retinoids, oral antibiotics and Benzoyl Peroxide for teen years. On into adult years, some acne aids include oral contraceptives or hormonal birth control pills and hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) for women, combined with systemic or topical treatments, prescription or over-the-counter products and medications, and antibiotics for both sexes.

Hygiene - A healthy skin regimen should include no harsh scrubbing or over-washing, because this can cause possible skin irritation or possible over production of oil to replace what’s washed off, clogging pores in the process. Products with gentle exfoliation ingredients are OK to use; i.e. not scratchy nut or fruit shell pieces that can tear skin. And skip alcohol products when possible; these can take off the top layer of your skin and cause your glands to product more oil, clogging pores in the process.

If you do spot acne-troubled areas, do NOT mess with them. Remember that these are already weeks in the making, and squeezing or picking blemishes can force the infected area to regress back inside, further troubling the region and possibly leave a scar. If necessary, seek help from a dermatologist for alternative treatments.

Susanne Britley is the proprietor of http://www.acne-scar-treatments.com where you will find many solutions, great articles and lots of interesting resources. Take a look now!

Posted on Sep 28th, 2007

Acne or any other type of skin condition can leave marks even after the condition has been cured.

Many adults retain scars from acne breakouts during their teen years and feel marked for life.

If you are one of these individuals plagued by unsightly reminders of your past blemishes, do not fear—there are many excellent types of makeup for acne scars on the market.

The first thing you should look for in any type of blemish cover up is one free of oils or chemicals that could cause additional breakouts.

Check for products that tout noncomedogenic or non-pore clogging properties.

These products will ensure any makeup for acne scars will not add to any skin problems that may exist.

If you are interested in purchasing makeup for acne scars , contact your dermatologist.

He or she will be able to inform you of the options on the market that will best fit your complexion.

If you are currently having problems with blemishes or break outs, your dermatologist will also be able to supply you with cosmetics that will work towards clearing up your skin in addition to covering your unsightly marks.

There are a variety of companies that produce cosmetics that are free from chemicals or dyes and use only natural ingredients.

Visit your local department store or drug store for the best Cosmetics Options

If you are tired of trying to cover up the scars left from past blemishes, there are more permanent options available.

One popular treatment is laser resurfacing, which is usually performed by a dermatologist. In this treatment, the top layer of skin—the damaged layer—is removed using a laser.

The laser also tightens the middle layer of skin, which results in a smooth, even complexion. Recovery takes approximately three to ten days.

Another popular treatment is microdermabrasion.

This treatment involves an instrument that wears down the top layer of skin.

These instruments are often embedded with tiny diamond chips and spins rapidly.

Recovery often takes ten days to three weeks, but the process results in smooth skin.

This treatment is the best for individuals with more serious scarring.

‘Discover more and information and treatment regarding acne and skin treatments’, find more at Acne Treatment Coverup .

Posted on Sep 17th, 2007

Acne scar on the body are generally more difficult to treat than scars on your face. Reason is because there are more blood vessels supply blood to your face than elsewhere on the rest of the body. Hence, wound on the face then to heal faster and better than those on the body.

Also, there are fewer pilo-sebaceous glands on non-facial skin and they are thicker. It is the migration of cells from the pilo-sebaceous glands that heals injury. Therefore the fewer these units, the longer it takes to heal the wound.

Fortunately there are some treatments for body acne scars that are effective and they are carry out by either the dermatologists or aestheticians. For body scars that are red, pulse-dye laser or other vascular lasers can be used to remove the red component. If the scars are brown, then the more aggressive lightening agents can be used. And for depressed body scar, filler can be used to fill up the uneven surface.

There are many options available to treat acne scars. For less serious scars, you can actually them alone, over time, the condition will improve and the scars become less noticeable, blending into the rest of your face.

For more serious and noticeable scar, we’d recommend that you work with a cosmetically oriented dermatologists or plastic surgeon to correct the situation. This will help you greatly in your appearance and also build up your self-esteem.

Alvin Poh shares more ideas and articles like this on the very popular website "Ask About Acne" at http://www.askaboutacne.com

Posted on Jul 22nd, 2007

Scars from acne can have a serious effect on a person’s self-esteem and emotional state. Fortunately there have been advances in the treatment of acne-related scarring in recent years. However, it is important to note that nothing will completely heal most scars.

Laser Therapy - Using lasers to treat scars is a relatively new technology, but is one of the most promising options for severe cases. The lasers remove the scarred skin, and encourage growth of new skin in its place. After treatment, the skin will be pink and swollen for a week or so. During this time, bandages need to be kept over the skin to prevent infection. It takes months for the skin to return to normal, but most people will see less noticeable scars and smoother skin. Laser scar treatment can be expensive, but may be appropriate for severe cases.

Surgical Therapy (Dermabrasion) - This form of scar treatment uses a motorized burr, which usually contains diamond particles. Diamonds are extremely strong abrasives when in a powder-form. A scab will form once the procedure is completed. Once it is healed, a smoother pink layer of new skin is underneath. Multiple treatments are often necessary, and each one can cost $1500.

Creams and Gels - There are many topical treatments that claim to reduce the appearance of scars. Many contain Vitamin E and other nutrients. Mederma is a popular brand name. Many people report that it can improve scars in as little as 8 weeks for new scars, or 6 months for older scars. Results with topical ointments like this will vary from person to person.

Collagen Injection - This is a temporary fix, where the patient’s own body fat or collagen is injected into the scar site. This works well for some people with deep-pitted scars. The material injected serves to raise the skin, and reduce the pitted appearance, and wrinkling from the scar. However, this procedure needs to be repeated every 6 months and can be expensive.

Learn more about acne treatments and Adult Acne at http://www.adult-acne.org.

Posted on Jun 5th, 2007

Scarring is an inevitable outcome of significant skin inflammation. The deeper the scars, the longer it takes to completely remove them. Acne scars are caused by either increased tissue formation or loss of tissue. The best possible means for prevention of acne scars can be its early and complete treatment.

The selection of the method for acne scar treatment depends mainly on the morphology of the scar. Dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, laser resurfacing, punch excision, subcision, skin grafting, dermal filler, and chemical peels are the commonly used scar treatment methods.

Dermabrasion involves the cutting down of the normal skin with a power-driven hand piece to make the scar look less pitted. Its use has decreased because of the associated risk of blood-borne diseases with it. Also, it fails as a therapy for all kinds of scars. Microdermabrasion is a new technique which achieves surface skin removal for acne treatment by making use of aluminum oxide crystals passing through a vacuum tube. This option for acne treatment holds the advantage of causing no additional wounds.

The technique of laser resurfacing holds the benefit of being more precise, safer, controlled and less operator dependent than dermabrasion technique. Lasers of various wavelength and intensity may be used depending upon the desired results. The carbon dioxide laser that emits light at a wavelength of 10,600 nanometer (nm) may be used to actually remove the tissue. The laser treatment has the requirement of a local or general anesthetic and potential of causing both bacterial and viral infection. The other disadvantages are its possible inability to remove very-deep scarring and causing further scarring (rare). This procedure cannot be used for hypertrophic and keloid scars.

The punch excision method makes use of a punch tool to excise the scar and thereby remove ice-pick scars. The procedure of subcision makes use of a surgical probe to detach the scar from deeper tissues and thereby elevate a depressed scar.

The method of skin grafting which implants a small piece of skin into the scar site helps treat pitted scar. Dermal fillers, a non-surgical procedure, are a means of supplementing the skin’s collagen to help treat scars.

During the chemical peel procedure, the top layers of the skin are treated with a chemical solution, most commonly alpha-hydroxy acids, such as glycolic, salicylic, or lactic acid. Chemical peel solutions help to unblock the pores, open the blackheads and whiteheads, and stimulate dermal regeneration.

Acne provides detailed information about acne, acne medication, acne products, and more. Acne is affiliated with Acne Skin Care Products.

Posted on May 19th, 2007

Experts agree, picking at your acne to make it go away is a bad idea. Picking leaves scars that may never heal. Better to keep your hands in your pockets and find a product to do the job.

There are plenty: Clearasil Clearstick, Kelo-Cote, Neutrogena Oil-free Acne Wash, Neutrogena Men Skin Cleaning Face Wash, Neutrogena Clear Pore Treatment, Neutrogena On-the-Spot Acne Treatment Vanishing Formula, Proactive Solution Acne Treatment, Klear Action Acne Treatment System, and Dermaclear. Many contain Benzoyl peroxide and Salicylic acid, excellent for unclogging blocked pores and killing germs. Sulfur lotions also reduce and check acne formation. And Retinoid, which is a variant of Vitamin C and available in creams, can be used to remove scars.

Besides these essential ingredients, scar-removing Dermaclear also contains Laurel Sulphate; Tartaric Acid, which improves skin quality; Allantoin, to reduce dryness; and 8 HO Quinoline, to fade scars.

Burt’s Bees Doctor Herbal Blemish Stick with Tea Tree Oil and Zia Natural Skincare Acne Treatment Mask are natural ways to combat acne scars. Enriched with Tea Tree Oil, an excellent shield against germs and bacteria, the these products reduce the appearance of blemishes. ZEN MED Scar and Hyperpigmentation Treatment Kit consists of ZEN MED Dermabrasion Complex with active ingredients Green Tea and Comfrey, and ZEN MED Skin Eraser for fading blemishes. Syprex and Sycream Scar Cream, Stretch Mark Cream, and Alpha Lipoic Acid also help erase scars, while Derma e Microdermabrasion Scrub lifts dead cells to make scars appear lighter.

So rest assured, there are many products available to help you make acne scarring a memory.

Acne Care provides detailed information about acne care, acne care skin tips, acne skin care centers, and more. Acne Care is affiliated with Acne Skin Care.

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