Local Plastic Surgeon Dr. Shareef Jandali is a regular contributor to Fairfield HamletHub. In this installment, he provides guidance on "How to Reduce Acne Scarring".
Young or old, no one likes unsightly acne scars. Scarring is caused by severe cystic acne, picking of acne, and steroid injections, although some skin is just prone to scar. Often it is the indentation of the scars that forms dark shadows on the skin and makes the scars so visible.
The psychological impact of acne, from inflammatory eruptions to post-inflammatory acne scars, can be devastating, especially on a young adult. Acne scars are difficult to treat, but there are many new treatments that have shown great results. Depending on the form of treatment, the scars can be completely removed, raised, or lightened. Techniques to improve acne scarring include: chemical peels, microdermabrasion, dermabrasion, Dermapen® micro-needling treatments, surgery, and injection of fillers such as Juvederm® or Restylane®.
• Chemical Peels: Medium and deep chemical peels, like the SkinMedica Vitalize® and Rejuvenize™ Peels, are effective for deep indented scars. These deeper chemical peels remove the outer layer of damaged skin, allowing a controlled wound healing process to increase collagen and elastin content in the skin. This subsequently improves the color and texture of the skin.
• Microdermabrasion and Dermabrasion: Like chemical peels, these procedures are used to remove the superficial layer of damaged skin. Unlike chemical peels, they mechanically remove the outer layer of skin instead of using a chemical solution. The DermaSweep® is an innovative particle-free microresurfacing system that uses bristles and a vacuum for effective exfoliation and improved circulation. The DermaSweep® Hydro-Assisted Dermabrasion is more aggressive than microdermabrasion and can also be performed in the office.
• Dermapen® is a new fractional skin micro-needling device. The device uses multiple vertical needles to cause hundreds of micro-injuries to the skin, stimulating the release of healing growth factors and fibroblast proliferation. This encourages and harnesses the power of the body's innate ability to re-grow and repair the skin by building collagen. Because the process never involves heat or thermal energy or other chemicals, the skin can quickly heal with almost zero downtime. The improvements seen with Dermapen treatments are permanent, but do require a series of treatments.
• Filler injections such as Juvederm® and Restylane® are used to fill in and raise depressed acne scars. Juvederm® and Restylane® are both made of hyaluronic acid, which is a purified natural substance in the human body. It comes in gel form and absorbs water after being injected, allowing it to fill grooves and indentations. When injected underneath acne scars, it is best combined with subcision, which is needle release of the tethered scarred fibers underneath the indented acne scar. This allows the filler to be injected into the empty space underneath the acne scar instead of being squeezed to the sides of the scar if the tight fibers are not released. Long-term improvements can be seen after one or two treatments.
Acne scars can be greatly reduced with these treatments, leaving the skin smoother and brighter. Acne patients must have realistic expectations - acne scars are not made overnight, so they can't be repaired overnight. Treating acne scars will take a series of treatments over a period of time, depending on the depth and amount of damage. It is essential to be patient and committed to a treatment protocol as well as use prescribed skin care products to help obtain the best result.
To learn more about acne scar treatment, visit http://www.jandaliplasticsurgery.com/skin-care/acne-scar-treatment.
Dr. Shareef Jandali
www.JandaliPlasticSurgery.com