How to Deal With Acne Stress

June 22, 2009

Getting Rid of Acne Scars

Filed under: Non Fiction — Tags: , , — admin @ 2:41 pm
Ian Reygan asked:

There’s nothing fun about acne, nor the scars that it leaves behind. More than 80 percent of teens develop acne to some degree or another. While most teens suffer from mild to moderate cases of acne, an unfortunate few develop severe cases that cause various scars that can last years.

There are several different kinds of acne scar tissues that result from acne, the most common known as rolling, boxcar or ice pick scars. Their names pretty much say it all when comes to describing them. Picture what an ice pick can do to a piece of wood and that’s just about what ice pick acne scar looks like on your skin. The boxcar scar is a piece of fibrous tissue that connects two scars together, like the hook-up mechanism on a boxcar train. The rolling scars are more rounded than ice pick scars, and result in deep tissue damage that cause bumps on your face, after the acne is gone. Another type of acne scar is called a hypertrophic scar, which are small red bumps that can mar the surface of the skin for years after bouts of acne have passed.

The types of treatment available depend on what type of acne scars you have. Some people only have one type of scar, while others have a combination of two, or somethings three different types. Knowing about each type of scar, and the treatments available to reduce their appearance is the first step toward discovering the proper method that’s right for your circumstance, skin type and severity of scar tissue.

Protect yourself by researching the different kinds of scars and their treatments not only to save money, but also to ensure that you’re receiving the right kind of treatment for your situation. No matter which method you choose, be aware that everything comes with its own set of pros and cons, and that there are rarely any guarantees associated with scar reduction treatments.

One such procedure, used primarily for those with rolling acne scars, is called subcision. While this treatment may cost up to $1000, multiple treatments usually serve to treat shallow scar tissue by detaching the upper layer of skin from deeper skin tissue, which allows for greater blood flow in affected areas, which serves to plump up the skin.

Punch replacement treatments are used to literally excise acne scar tissue by removing the acne scar and replacing it with a skin graft. This may cost anywhere from $50 to $150 per treatment. The second procedure is called punch excision, which avoids an actual skin graft, and instead stretches skin around excised acne scar tissue to heal the void.

Chemical peels are popular with many who suffer from mild acne scarring, but is quite expensive, at $600-800 per treatment. With this acne scar treatment, one of many different kinds of acid are applied to the affected skin and then removed, taking with it the top layer of your skin.

Dermabrasion is also popular, though for many, acne scars return after a period of time. It’s also very expensive and painful, as it literally sands off the top layer of your skin. Cost ranges from $1200 to $2000 per treatment.

Perhaps acne scar creams and ointments are your best bet, if you are patient and give them, and time, to work for you. When looking for creams, make sure you purchase one that contains Vitamin E and cocoa butter. Most treatments for acne scars work only temporarily, and can cause discomfort and take a big chunk out of your bank account.



acne scars

June 17, 2009

Minimizing An Acne Scar

Filed under: Non Fiction — Tags: , , — admin @ 5:53 am
Riley Hendersen asked:


Dealing with an acne outbreak is painful and difficult enough, but when you have an acne scar to contend with following the outbreak, the pain is compounded. It’s no wonder that acne can cause depression and anxiety among sufferers. Just when an outbreak of acne seems to resolve itself, an individual may be left with scarring, causing continued pain and embarrassment. Luckily, there are measures that acne sufferers can take to significantly reduce the risk of developing an acne scar and minimize the long lasting impression of acne.

For those who suffer from acne, a resulting acne scar is actually quite common. However, the severity of the scar varies among sufferers; while some individuals who suffer from milder acne may have an acne scar that is hardly visible, others with more severe cases may exhibit far more noticeable scarring.

There are several different types of acne scars including ice pick scars, box car scars, rolling scars, and hypertrophic scars. Ice pick scars are among the most common, presenting as holes or deep indentations on the surface of the skin. Box car scars surface on the temple and cheeks and often resemble a chicken pox mark. Rolling scars resemble soft grooves along the surface of the skin. Hypertrophic scars are among the most visible type of acne scar presenting with thick scarring that changes the landscape of the skin. Often, hypertrophic scars are inflamed and give the face a reddish color. The appropriate course of treatment will depend on the individuality of the skin and the scarring that the patient is experiencing.

Before treatment can begin a doctor or dermatologist will recommend waiting for the acne outbreak to minimize or recede entirely. Chemical peels, laser resurfacing, punch excision, grafting, or collagen therapy are all options used to treat an acne scar. Normally it can take the body between four to twelve months to even out the tone of the skin and heal the appearance of an acne scar. But if the acne scar is stubborn and resists vanishing naturally, a dermatologist may recommend the next step in treatment.

During a chemical peel, a doctor or dermatologist will apply certain types of chemical products depending on the patient’s skin type; the chemical applied to the skin will allow the first layer of the skin - that which hosts the acne scar - to peel away. The patient is left with an unmarked layer of skin.

In a severe case of acne scarring, doctors may use beams of laser light to remove several layers of skin. Because the acne scar is this case may transcend the first layer of skin, the laser process is required to delve deeper than the chemical peel. If the acne scar is still unresolved, a dermatologist may choose to remove the skin containing the scar with a skin graft instrument. Collagen treatments can also be used to smooth out the appearance of an acne scar; a dermatologist will inject collagen directly into the skin to raise any depressions created through scarring.

It is always very important to take into account the patient’s particular skin type and severity of the acne scar before deciding the most beneficial treatment plan with a doctor or dermatologist. Decreasing the habits that could perpetuate an acne outbreak along with an appropriate acne medication and healthy daily skin care regimen can lead to beautiful skin and eliminate the risks of an acne scar.



June 7, 2009

Laser Treatments for Acne Scars - What is Involved?

Filed under: Non Fiction — Tags: , , — admin @ 12:29 pm
Tatyana Turner asked:


You don’t have to live with acne scars any more. Modern methods for acne scar removal are effective and affordable. Laser treatments for acne scars become more and more popular. What is a laser scar removal and is it really that good?

For years most dermatologists recommended dermabrasion or chemical peels to remove acne scars. For some people these treatments worked very well, for some they didn’t. Laser acne treatment is a recent invention and it produces very good results. Modern laser scar removal methods promote the growth of collagen under scars. So the scar is filled from the inside. The effect is long lasting and usually don’t cause any complications.

Laser acne scar treatment is also called laser resurfacing. It uses high-energy light to remove skin damaged by acne scars. Laser treatment is used not only to treat acne scars, but also to minimize wrinkles and other skin imperfections.

There are three different types of laser acne scars treatment:

- Smoothbeam laser

- Vbeam laser

- Fraxel laser

Smoothbeam Laser

This treatment is done under topical anesthetic. Cooling cryogen spray is sprayed to your face just before the laser goes to work. The entire treatment feels comfortable.

One advantage of Smoothbeam laser treatment is that your face doesn’t look red for days afterwards. Actually, redness disappears very quickly and in a few hours your skin looks normal, but smother and refreshed.

Vbeam Laser

Acne scars can be different shape: flat, depressed or raised. Vbeam treatment works for all of them. This scar removal method targets blood vessels in the scar. It works particularly well with red scars, making them significantly less visible.

Fraxel Laser

Fraxel laser scar removal is the most modern of laser methods. It is focused on getting rid of old pigmented cells of the top layers of the skin. This method is very precise; it only targets the scar aria without affecting surrounding skin.

The downside of laser resurfacing for acne scars is that your face will hurt for about a week after the treatment. You will have to take special medicine prescribed by your doctor to deal with the discomfort. Another thing is that you skin will be red for a couple weeks, so you will have to stay home or camouflage it with good foundations. Discuss with your doctor what make up brand would be best, because most over the counter cosmetics will irritate your already sensitive skin.

Would acne scars disappear completely?

This is the question most people who consider laser resurfacing want to ask. And the answer varies from person, it depends on your skin type and how deep your scars are. For some people scars disappear completely, for others they are reduced 60-80 percent. Sometimes one treatment is not enough to reduce the appearance of scars, so it should be repeated. Your doctor would be able to tell you what result you should expect from your laser treatment before it begins.

If your dermatologist is old-fashioned he or she will probably suggest dermabrasion for treating your acne scars. Ask if they do laser resurfacing as well. Laser acne scar treatments are safe, quick and produce excellent results. Even deep scars from cystic acne can be treated with a laser. You don’t have to live with these horrible scars on your face any more, laser resurfacing can definitely help get rid of them.



Acne Stress

The Importance of Acne Scar Treatments!

Filed under: Non Fiction — Tags: , , — admin @ 9:45 am
Hans Hasselfors asked:


We’ve all probably had it at one time or another acne. Unfortunately, even after the breakouts stop the remnants remain. Thanks to research and technology, there are quite a few acne scar treatment options available to diminish and even erase acne scars away. Treating acne scars can be quite pricey depending on what type of acne scar treatment is recommended for you by your dermatologist. For old acne scars that resulted from a more severe case of acne, several acne scar treatments or a combination thereof, may be required to get the desired results. A professional dermatologist is the most knowledgeable about what types of acne scar treatments are best, and can make recommendations on how to get rid of those acne scars forever!

Most acne scar treatments require clear skin before treatment begins, so this is the first issue that must be addressed. If you haven’t done it already, make an appointment with your dermatologist to get started. Every person must be evaluated individually and treated on a case by case basis, and what works for one may not work for another. Antibiotics and acne cremes are most commonly prescribed first to clear the skin and prevent further breakouts. Once skin has healed acne scar treatment can begin. Some common acne scar treatments are lazar removal and dermabrasion, which are quite effective for removal of shallow scars. For mild cases a chemical peel may be all that is needed. Deeper acne scars may require punch techniques first, and then laser treatments. Most cases will require one or more treatments, or a combination of treatments to achieve the desired results. Most acne scar treatments can be performed quickly and with minimal discomfort right in the office.

Most acne scar treatments are not covered by health insurance plans, and can be quite costly if more than a couple of treatments are needed, which is the case in more instances than not. Less expensive acne scar treatments can always be tried first, especially if the scars are not too severe. Check with your dermatologist’s office for prices of various procedures recommended, and also check online for more in depth information on acne scar treatments. Visit www.acne.org for a description of various procedures, and visit chat forums for discussion on experiences of others that have undergone various types of acne scar treatments as well. This is a good place to start, and make an appointment with your dermatologist to discuss what is the best treatment option for you.

This information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or acne scar treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read.

Since natural and/or dietary supplements are not FDA approved they must be accompanied by a two-part disclaimer on the product label: that the statement has not been evaluated by FDA and that the product is not intended to “diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any acne disease”.



May 21, 2009

Is Botox The Right Choice for Deep Acne Scars?

Filed under: Non Fiction — Tags: , , — admin @ 5:34 am
Naweko San-joyz asked:


Pretty soon you might have Botox in your first-aid kit. This cosmetic panacea treats wrinkles, hemorrhoids, migraines and now it may treat scars.

This past August a study published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that Botox (trademarked name for Botulinum toxin type A), helped facial wounds heal with minimal scarring. The investigation involved 31 patients who had a facial wound. The patients received an injection of Botox or saline within 24 hours after the wound closed.

Two plastic surgeons not involved with the study reviewed and rated the healed scars on a scale of 1-10. The improvements with Botox scored 8.9 versus 7.1 for the saline treated scars.

David Sherris, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Otolaryngology at the University at Buffalo directed the study. Dr. Davis reports, “The reason this works is because wide scars are the result of the local muscles pulling the wound apart during the healing phase …Botulinum toxin temporarily weakens the surrounding muscles, thereby lessening the pull on the wound during the acute healing phase of the first 2-4 months.”

Based on these preliminary findings could Botox help with deep acne scarring? According to a report issued by Kiersten Coleman and Jean Carruthers in Dermatologic Therapy in May, Botox is best used in combination therapy where all of the elements of a skin imperfection can be corrected.

Several factors lend to the size and the depth of deep acne or pitted acne scars. This includes muscle strain and collagen loss that can result from inflammed acne cysts that expand beneath the skin and cause deep tissue damage.

Relaxing a tensed facial muscle with Botox can reduce the appearance of the depth of the scar. But because of collagen loss, the scar may still be evident. At this point a physician can inject cosmetic fillers made with collagen or hyaluronic acid to completely fill the acne scar and give it a look flush with the rest of the skin.

The only issue with treating depressed acne scars with combination therapy of Botox and a cosmetic filler is that over time, the scar may reappear as the Botox effect wears off and the contents of the filler are metabolized and removed by the skin. So the smoothness of the skin may only last for six months.

Alternatively, David Goldberg reported in the September edition of the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy that using a substance called calcium hydroxylapatite as a filler did improve certain acne scarring. However the treatment did not enhance ice-pick acne scarring. According to Goldberg, the diminished scar appearance lasted up to 12 months.

Is Botox the smart choice for acne scarring? Just give it the Cosmetic Three Rs test- the rates, the risks and the results. Botox injections and cosmetic fillers can cost between $150-$300 per treatment. The risks include facial swelling, redness and skin allergies.

Plus you want to make certain that your doctor is using FDA approved Botox for treating patients, not illegal versions that may not work or worse are too potent and lead to fatal botulism- a rare paralytic illness caused by the toxins of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.

The results achieved with Botox and injections may be satisfying, but they also may only last for a few months which means that you could spend $600 plus a year to maintain the scar free look. But ultimately, if you do decide to make Botox apart of your long term plan for acne scar correction, you may feel relieved to know that a study in the December edition of the European Journal of Neurology deemed Botox to be safe and effective for long term use.



acne scars

May 17, 2009

Avoiding the Acne Scar

Filed under: Non Fiction — Tags: , , — admin @ 1:43 am
Riley Hendersen asked:


While most leave acne behind with their teenage years, some carry the scars of their acne through their adult life. Since these scars can have an affect on the bearer’s self confidence and self image, it is important to learn to deal with these scars.

Perhaps the first step in dealing with acne scars is avoiding them in the first place. Once acne scars exist, it is extremely hard to get rid of them. Here are some tips to help avoid the acne scar, information on different types of scars and removal methods for the acne scar.

The first line of defense against the acne scar is to properly treat breakouts of acne when they first appear. Without acne, it is impossible to have an acne scar. With the number of acne medications now available there is no reason for acne sufferers not to receive proper treatment.

Another note for acne sufferers who don’t wish to live with scars - resist the urge to pop your pimples. This action can cause more damage to the skin and can actually make scars worse.

When dealing with the acne scar, there are two main types of scars. These are the ice-pick type scar and the keloid scar. The ice-pick scar is a depressed area that looks like damage that may have been done by an ice-pick. Keloid scars are raised areas caused by the build up of collagen in the skin resulting in a raised mass. Staining of the skin by acne is often confused with acne scars. Unlike scars, however, staining fades over time and may even disappear completely.

Removal of an acne scar can be a complex and costly procedure. Some of the more well known methods include dermabrasion, laser resurfacing, chemical peels, punch techniques and augmentation.

Dermabrasion, which is a surgical scraping of the skin, works well on shallow acne scars. However, this procedure will set you back about $1,500 per treatment. In laser surgery, layers of damaged skin are removed using a laser. This procedure can cost $3,000 or more per treatment. Chemical peels are a less expensive option, coming in at $750 each treatment. These peels, however, are only effective on the most minor acne scar.

Two options for ice-pick scars include punch techniques and augmentation. In the punch techniques, the acne scar is surgically “punched” out using an appropriately sized biopsy tool. The remaining skin is stitched together resulting in a smaller scar that is more receptive to dermabrasion or other resurfacing techniques.

In augmentation, a substance, either collagen or the person’s own fat, is injected under the scar to bring it to level with the rest of the skin. Again, this procedure is costly and the results are only temporary, repeated procedures are required.

Although acne scars can be removed, the procedures are costly and the results may not be the same as undamaged skin. The best way to avoid the acne scar is to get proper treatment for your acne as soon as possible. Also don’t pick at, squeeze or attempt to pop your acne as this can make scarring worse.



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