As if an acne breakout is not enough, careless management (or mismanagement) of acne can lead to a serious skin deformity - acne scarring. Acne scarring happens when the collagen inside the skin is damaged due to irritation and inflammation, leading to lasting texture discoloration in the skin.

There are three types of scarring - ice pick scarring, atrophic scarring, and hypertrophic scarring. But no matter how different the terms of acne scarring are, the effects remain the same.

Dr. Harold Farber, a renowned dermatologist who works closely with The Center for Dermatology, Laser and Cosmetic Surgery, understands how acne scars can break someone emotionally. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. Formation of acne scars can be prevented with the use of antibiotics and topical medications during acne breakouts.

For those who already have acne scars, worry not anymore for though they are permanent, they can also be treated.

Acne scar treatment does not offer 100% skin perfection; rather it results to improvement of the skin’s appearance. The degree of the treatment depends on how badly scarred the skin is.

Dermabrasion improves the color of the skin by using abrasive tools to scratch the top surface of the skin to reveal a clearer skin. Though dermabrasion is the most used method to remedy acne scars, this does not work well with deep ice pick scars.

Laser treatment is another effective treatment for acne scars. With the aid of a high-energy beam light, the targeted epidermis and superficial dermis are destroyed.

There are still many treatments used to alleviate the effects of acne scarring. But these methods depend on how damaged one’s skin is. A visit to a dermatologist can help in deciding which treatment is the best one to undergo.

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