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Acne scars: What's the best treatment?
By Mayo Clinic staffOriginal Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/acne-scars/AN01835
- With Mayo Clinic dermatologist
Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
Dr. Lawrence Gibson likens bad health information on the Internet to food poisoning.
Consumers, he says, need to be aware and will find reliable information at MayoClinic.com.
Dr. Gibson, a Covington, Ky., native, has been with Mayo Clinic since 1986 and is board certified in dermatology, dermatopathology and immunodermatology. He is a professor of dermatology at Mayo Medical School and a consultant in the Department of Dermatology.
Dr. Gibson has served as the fellowship director for dermatopathology and as chair of the Laboratory Division in the Department of Dermatology. He is especially interested in inflammatory disorders of the skin, including vasculitis, and in lymphoma affecting the skin.
"Electronic information has become a staple in the diet of a health conscious society," he says. "It's important to avoid misinformation and provide a credible source for health information. Using this analogy, it's critical to avoid 'indigestion' or, worse yet, 'food poisoning' by the ingestion of tainted information."
Treatments and drugs (3)
- Acne scars: What's the best treatment?
- Birth control pills for acne?
- Birth control pills for acne?
Alternative medicine (1)
- Natural acne treatment: What's most effective?
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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. However, various procedures can improve your complexion.
- Laser treatments. In laser resurfacing, a laser beam destroys the outer layer of skin. As the wound heals, new skin forms. Less intense lasers cause less damage, but are also less effective.
- Other energy-based procedures. Pulsed light sources and radiofrequency devices help create new skin without damaging the outer layer of skin. After several treatments, acne scars may appear less noticeable.
- Dermabrasion. This procedure involves removing the top layer of skin with a rapidly rotating wire brush. Surface scars may be completely removed, and deeper acne scars may appear less noticeable.
- Surgery. In some cases, surgery to remove deeply indented acne scars is an option. A minor procedure, called punch excision, cuts out individual acne scars. Stitches or a skin graft repairs the hole left at the scar site.
- Tissue fillers. Injecting collagen or fat under the skin and into the acne scars can fill out or stretch the skin, making acne scars less noticeable. Results are temporary, so you'd need to repeat the injections periodically.
To determine what's best for you, discuss the pros and cons of each procedure with your doctor or dermatologist.
Next questionBirth control pills for acne?
- Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-6/0/1608/0.html. Accessed Sept. 12, 2012.
- Shamban AT, et al. Multimodal treatment of acne, acne scars and pigmentation. Dermatologic Clinics. 2009;27:459.
- Rivera AE. Acne scarring: A review and current treatment modalitites. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2008;59:659.
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