There are a lot of different treatment options out there for those people who have acne, or have developed acne scars. What you may not know is that acne doesn't only affect teenagers. It can happen at just about any age, and it doesn't discriminate based on gender either. A lot of people find success by using creams, ointments and any number of various home remedies. However these methods don't always work, especially in more severe cases.
A quick note before we get started. The following advice is not meant to take the place of a professional opinion. You can use the information to give you a good start on having a discussion about your options with your doctor.
Assuming creams and lotions don't work, then you may have to look at acne scar surgery as a possibility. But don't just assume that's what you will have to do. Everybody is different, and will respond differently to each form of treatment. For example, if you have shallow, barely visible scars, then you probably don't need surgery to take care of the problem.
Of course, there are other types of acne scars, and determining which kind you have is the first step in figuring out which treatment is the best for you and your situation. Ice pick scars are small and deep, and look as though someone may have punctured the skin with a sharp tool; rolling scars are more mild and only somewhat indented; keloidal or hypertrophic acne scars look like raised bumps; and boxcar scars have a sharp edge to the indentation.
So, just what are the acne scar surgery options? For starters, there are laser treatments. These have the benefit of being able to be precisely controlled. Not only can they pinpoint the exact area of the scar, they can also be set to different depths, allowing the doctor to treat the problem at the most effective level. In fact, it can treat other skin blemishes (age spots, wrinkles) besides acne. Side effects--as you will see--tend to be minimal when compared to other surgical procedures for acne scars. Redness is fairly common, though some people have experienced blistering and discoloration.
On the subject of lasers, it should be noted that there are a few different kinds. Such a discussion would be rather technical for this article. But, be sure to understand exactly which laser treatment your doctor is talking about, as well as the pros and cons of each treatment they happen to offer.
Subcision, punch excision, and injected fillers are some of the non-laser acne scar surgery options you may also wish to pursue. Whatever you decide, you can take comfort in knowing that you do not have to live with the scarring caused by acne for the rest of your life. Now that you have a bit more information, it's up to you to take the next step. You can see your doctor, or get some more information on other ways of treating acne and the scars it can leave behind.