Your acne finally cleared up and you thought that your troubles were over. Then you took a closer look in the mirror and noticed some scarring that was caused by your acne. Acne scarring can be very upsetting emotionally and can wreak havoc with self esteem. You need a way to eliminate those scars, or at the very least to minimize them.
Is it possible to get rid of those acne scars? Yes, it is possible. There are two different ways that you can go about eliminating the scars, you can go to a dermatologist or you can try a home remedy method.
The most effective methods of eliminating your acne scars will come from your dermatologist. There are two procedures to consider and both of them can be performed right in the doctor’s office. The first is laser skin resurfacing. Laser resurfacing uses a laser to penetrate through the layers of skin on your face removing damaged skin and allowing new skin to grow in its place. The second is dermabrasion. Your dermatologist will use an abrasive pad much like a wire brush and remove the outer layers of skin.
Both of these procedures can produce excellent results but have some drawbacks. The results that you can achieve, especially with the laser resurfacing, are directly proportional to the skill of the doctor performing the procedure. Laser resurfacing is a very expensive process, with dermabrasion only slightly less expensive. They need to be performed in a doctor’s office and as with any procedure you run some risk of infection. You will need a topical anesthetic applied to your face before the procedures as both can be very painful. After the procedures your face will continue to hurt for several days as it heals, feeling as if it has been burned or scrubbed roughly for hours. You will need to avoid the sun while you are healing.
Your other choice to eliminate your acne scars is to try a home based remedy. The most common home treatment is the use of a triple antibiotic cream. These creams were developed many years ago as a first aid product and got their name because they contain three different antibiotic components. There are several brands that now advertise the fact that they can help reduces scars and a few more brands that are labeled specifically for that purpose. You rub the triple antibiotic cream on the scarred skin several times a day and over time the scars become less visible, possibly vanishing completely.
Other home remedy options include using honey masks on a daily basis, tea tree oil, lemon juice, aloe vera gel, and egg whites. All are rubbed onto the damaged skin and are said to reduce the visible scarring. The big advantage of the home treatments is the cost. None cost more than $50 and some are already available in your kitchen. The disadvantage is time. Home remedies, if they work for you, make take many weeks or months before you see any results.
Whether you choose to go see your dermatologist or try a home treatment, make sure you have all of the facts before you put anything onto your skin. Reducing your acne scarring will soon have you feeling better about yourself and you will no longer dread looking into the mirror.