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  • With Mayo Clinic dermatologist

    Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.

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Mayo Clinic Health Manager

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Question

Acne scars: What's the best treatment?

What's the best treatment for acne scars?

Answer

from Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.

Acne scars are stubborn, and no single treatment is best for everyone. Various procedures can improve your complexion, however. One option may be to inject collagen or fat under the skin and into the acne scars. This fills out or stretches the skin, which makes acne scars less noticeable. Results are temporary, so you'd need to repeat the injections periodically. As another option, you may consider microdermabrasion to remove the cells on the surface of the skin or dermabrasion to completely remove the top layer of skin. Various laser treatments can also be used to treat acne scars. In some cases, surgery to remove deeply indented acne scars is an option. To determine what's best for you, discuss the pros and cons of each procedure with your doctor or dermatologist.

Next question
Natural acne treatment: What's most effective?

AN01835

May 22, 2008

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