At some point in a person’s life, she experiences acne, which can result in acne scars. Especially during adolescence when hormonal changes happen, young people have to go through this phase. In fact, the American Academy of Dermatology revealed that for one single year, 85 percent of teens have acne problems. Depending on the seriousness of the outbreak, some just heal in a matter of time, but some are plainly stubborn and leave scars behind. Fortunately, there are ways to get rid of unsightly acne scars.
Types of Acne Scars
To know the best treatment to apply in acne scars, one must identify what kind of scar it is:
- The rolling scars are shallow, mild scars that look like waves in the surface of the skin. The pimple leaves a shallow depression on the skin after it is healed.
- Ice pick scars look like punctured pores. These are deep depressions with narrow openings, like pricked with a sharp object.
- Box car scars are also a form of depression, with sharp edges and flat bottoms. They can be shallow or deep, depending on the severity of the acne.
Best Type of Treatment
As mentioned, treatment depends mainly on the type of acne scar. The treatment is not only assessed according to its effectiveness, but also on its affordability, safety and recovery process. The most recommended type of treatment is saline injection. This is best applied to rolling scars, but is less effective to use on box car and ice pick scars. Generally, users give this a high rating as an effective treatment for shallow and mild scars.
Saline Injections
In a saline injection, saline is introduced into the tissue beneath the scar to force the creation of new collagen. This raises the depressed area to even out with the adjacent skin. The recovery period is relatively fast (about 5 to 10 days), with only minor discomfort or side effects. Four or five injections and a rest period of 2 weeks every session may be needed before the skin goes back to normal. The scar improves 15 to 20 percent in every injection, and the results become visible after the fourth session.
Another advantage of saline injection is its price. Every injection costs $100. Compare the price to $3,000 for laser resurfacing, $1,500 for dermabrasion and $750 for chemical peels--this treatment is definitely a saver. All these treatments are for shallow and mild acne scars only, and saline injection is found to have more favorable results.
When it comes to box car or ice pick scars, treatments like subcision, augmentation and punch replacements are more effective. These deeper acne scars need more than surface treatment, so saline injection won’t be a big help.
