- Chemical Peeling
If you have shallow scars, this may be a good option for you.
Chemical peels reduce discoloration and scarring. They prevent breakouts and smoothen the skin. These peels work by removing the top layer of the skin and are a great way to rejuvenate the skin.
Chemical peels usually don’t work well for those with deep scars. You may have to try out a couple of peels before determining which one works better for you.
- Microneedling or Rolling
Microneedling is highly beneficial to reduce scars, wrinkles, stretch marks, and discoloration. It also contributes to skin rejuvenation and improvement in texture.
The medical process involves inserting micro-needles around scars. This stimulates the body to produce more collagen.
Rolling is also an affordable option to address acne scars.
Microneedling or rolling can cause temporary side effects like redness, pain, and inflammation.
- Injections
Hypertrophic scars or keloids can be treated with corticosteroid injections. The process is conducted once every few weeks. Your dermatologist may combine these with other treatments.
- Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are often confused with Botox. However, the former type smoothes out the skin by filling scars or wrinkles, as opposed to “freezing” muscles. Dermal fillers are usually temporary, lasting between 6-18 months after treatment.
These filters work best for atrophic scars. Other commercial fillers like polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), hyaluronic acid (HA), and poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) can also be used.
This is a popular and one of the most preferred methods used to remove acne scars by dermatologists. Laser treatment helps reduce scars by removing the uppermost layer of the skin. This process uses focused light therapy and doesn’t involve any chemicals. It may not be suitable for those with sensitive skin.
What to keep in mind before getting a laser treatment done
- Requires a board-certified dermatologist to conduct the treatment.
- Side effects include redness, itching, swelling, and temporary oozing.
- At times sedation is required, depending on the depth of your scars.
- Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion is the process of using a rapidly rotating device to sand the outer layers of the skin. It is used to treat acne scars, wrinkles, patchy skin, and dark areas. The skin that grows back is younger-looking and smooth.
This process can be conducted alone or in combination with other cosmetic procedures. It can cause temporary redness, lasting up to weeks.
- Surgery
Dermatologists may advise a patient to undergo surgery in case of deep scars. Get this done by a board-certified dermatologist only.
- Platelet-Rich Plasma Technique (PRP)
This technique draws inspiration from the belief that the body can heal on its own. Platelet-rich plasma technique (PRP) involves a large number of platelets. These are concentrated into a small volume of plasma to stimulate growth factors in the body. This fixes broken tissues. PRP has recently been introduced to the world of dermatology.
According to a study, rolling scars responded better to PRP as compared to an ice pick and boxcar scars.
- Punch Techniques
Punch techniques are used to treat ice pick and boxcar scars