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A lot of us have dealt with acne in our youth and depending on the severity of it, we are now left with scars that come in all different forms. “We at Sanova care for your well-being and want to share seven different options for treating specific types of scars,” states Kaitlin Scharmann, aesthetician at Sanova Dermatology in Austin, Texas. Please remember to always seek a dermatologist’s or medical professional’s opinion to determine the best treatment.
Subcision
“Boxcar acne scars are more indented, wider scars that are very common,” Scharmann shares. Deeper scars may be more difficult to reduce but subcision can improve the appearance and severity. While more invasive than laser resurfacing, a local anesthetic is used to numb the skin while a hypodermic needle is inserted in the skin surface. The needle is used to break fibrous tissues that hold the scar down. More information along with a detailed video can be found here.
For deeper boxcar scars or scars that are raised, mini-excisions will actually surgically cut out and remove the scar. Most likely, this will need to be combined with other techniques to diminish the smaller scar that is formed. Read about how the mini-excision works here.
Injectable Fillers
Another option for deeper boxcar scars is injectable fillers. “This is a technique most common for anti-aging treatments but can be used to fill in deeper scars to improve the skin’s texture,” says Scharmann.
Laser Resurfacing
Sanova provides three different laser options: Pulse Dye and Diode Lasers which targets new collagen growth in blood vessels to diminish red discoloration in scars; Fractional Lasers which are directed at restoring collagen in the epidermal and dermal layers of skin; and CO2 Laser Resurfacing which removes outer skin layers, stimulating new collagen growth. More information can be found here on laser resurfacing.
Dermabrasion
Hyperpigmentation and rolling acne scars, which leave the skin with an uneven bumpy texture, are often improved with dermabrasion. “Rather than using a chemical to enhance the skin’s surface, dermabrasion uses surgical instruments to remove the top layers of the skin so that it can regenerate,” Scharmann mentions. More information here.
Using medical-grade needles to induce microscopic perforations in the skin stimulates collagen to rebuild itself. This is a technique that is done in a series, so it may take a few appointments before the patient will see results.
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