Acne or pimples generally occur in teenagers during adolescence as a result of hormonal changes. Acne generally occurs on the facial skin and so is a major cause for embarrassment and discomfort. The primary cause for acne is the blocking of pores through which the sebaceous glands release the oil produced by them. The facial skin contains substantial amount of sebaceous glands is very high in the facial skin. The blocked oil in the sebaceous glands concentrates and leads to infection and pimples. If not treated properly, acne causes severe scars. This article will provide information on the acne scar treatment through surgery.
There are four general types of surgical treatment available for acne scar treatment. They are described in detail below.
Photo rejuvenation: Photo rejuvenation is the simplest of the techniques. In this treatment the facial area which are affected by the acne are treated with light. Also in some cases laser light is used. The light helps to form collagen in the scars which help new skin growth and removal of scars. The treatment lasts for about an hour and has a periodicity of weekly sessions. The entire treatment lasts for a few months to achieve the desired effect of rejuvenation.
Micro-dermabrasion: This is a skin abrasion technique where small granular aluminum crystals help to create the micro-dermabrasion treatment on the skin. This is the most common treatment for mild scars and can be also done to treat sun affected skin, irregular pigmentation, rough complexion, stretch marks, wrinkles apart from acne scars. This treatment involves very minimal pain and short treatment period. Also this treatment can be applied for all skin types and is very inexpensive compared to the other treatments.
Laser skin resurfacing: this therapy mainly consists of two types. The first one is Laser resurfacing and second therapy is Pulsed dye laser. Using the laser the layers of the skin are removed thereby removing the scars to a great extent. The heat produced by the laser helps to tighten the skin which also helps to remove the scars. The results are prolonged in the sense it take several months to see the effects of the treatment. This technique is also used in combination with the other techniques to give effective results. The time required for the skin to rejuvenate and heal is reduced by using laser therapy in combination with the other techniques. The laser therapy is the costliest of the procedures and most time consuming. This therapy needs precision and accuracy in treating scars due to acne.
Scar revision: This technique involves the removal of acne scars through surgery. This technique has a very good effect of removing the scars which are of ice pick type or the boxcar type of acne scars. There are two generally methods namely excision and subcision. In excision method a cuff is created and closed with the help of sutures. These sutures are then removed after a week. The subcision technique involves removing the scar tissue without the need for any sutures.
Acne or pimples generally occur during puberty and are more common in teenagers. However, acne can also affect adults. The acne is a result of hormonal changes that occur in the body. Proper care and treatment can help to treat acne properly. Acne, if not treated properly will lead to scars which are even more difficult to remove. Acne generally occurs on the facial skin and so is a major cause for embarrassment and discomfort.
Causes of Acne: Acne can occur in any part of the skin. The primary reason for acne is the sebaceous glands that produce oil for the skin. Mostly acne occurs on facial skin since the concentration of sebaceous glands is very high in the facial skin. The sebaceous gland releases the oil produced in them through small pores on the surface of the skin. When these pores get blocked with dirt and dust caused due to not properly washing or cleaning the skin, the oil produced by the sebaceous glands gets trapped inside the glands. Over some time, this trapped oil becomes concentrated and are commonly called as blackheads and whiteheads. As the blockage further continues, it leads to infection and pimples are caused.
Since during puberty and adolescence, the hormonal activity is very high and so the oil production in the sebaceous glands also increases. With such increase in oil production, blockages become more common and lead to pimples in teenagers. Acne is less frequent in adults but may occur frequently if proper care is not taken.
Effects of acne: Acne causes discomfort and embarrassment and results in causing impact in the social aspects of life. Acne or pimples are very sensitive and painful and give an unpleasant look especially on the face. These social and emotional effects of acne can cause depression and social withdrawal further worsening the social life. If acne is not treated properly, it may leave scars on the face causing the emotional trauma to continue for several years. The acne scarring is not easily removable and requires high cost therapy such as laser therapy which is not affordable by many.
Treatment for Acne: Modern therapy for treating acne effectively is available. This therapy also helps to prevent the emotional and social problems which result due to acne. Recent medical studies done by leading dermatologists have proven that acne therapy can help in treating psychological embarrassment, depression and social withdrawal problems of teenagers effectively.
There are generally two types of treatment for acne available. They are Topical treatment and Oral treatment. A proper diagnosis of the acne is necessary in determining the proper treatment. There are different stages in acne starting from mild to severe. Also if treating acne through self medication, it is very essential to know the reasons for acne and how to stop further development of acne and avert acne scars. Early treatment is vital in preventing acne from developing to extreme infection. Most acne treatment last about a few months and the results are slow. A proper understanding of the skin type is also very essential in choosing the correct medication for treating the acne.
