Articles

In the past years, skin resurfacing techniques have become a popular way to treat the signs of aging, sun damage and to rid acne scars. There are several different options to choose from, but if you want to make the right choice you'll need to know what they are all about.

Some of the most common resurfacing techniques include: laser therapy, chemical peels and microdermabrasion. Each one of these procedures has its own set of pros and cons. Here is a general overview of each of them.

Acne Scarring &Laser Therapy

Recently, acne scars have been treated using laser therapy. This procedure "burns off" certain layers of the skin by using a carbon dioxide laser. The amount of visible damage depends on which type of therapy is used: ablative or non ablative.

Ablative laser therapy removes the epidermis. Therefore, it does leave visible signs of treatment and requires more down time. Non-ablative treatments deal with the underlying layers of skin. This makes the damage less visible and recovery time less necessary.

Chemical Peels for Acne Scarring

A popular way of resurfacing acne scars has been with the use of chemicals peels. This procedure requires the use of different chemicals to help remove dead skin. This process helps promote the growth of new, healthier layers of skin.

Retinoic acid peels are great for treating acne scars. This type of peel can also help improve the signs of aging such as wrinkles and age spots. Deeper scarring requires the use of stronger acids.

Downtime will depend on the depth of the peel. Light peels usually do not require anesthesia or a recovery period. However, if you undergo medium and deep chemical peels you will require anesthesia, pain medication, and even a few weeks to recover.

Microdermabrasion for Acne Scars & Acne Scarring

If you prefer a gentler way of treating your skin problems, then microdermabrasion is a good option. If you suffer from minor scars, then you can also undergo microdermabrasion in order to treat them. Keep in mind, however, that this type of treatment will also take more time to produce any noticeable effects.

This procedure does not require medical assistance. But, it should be performed in sterile conditions to minimize the risk of infection. In fact, if you'd like you can have this procedure done in a spa, salon or a doctor's office.

Lately, microdermabrasion systems have become so popular that they are now available for at home treatment. Most microdermabrasion treatments include a portable machine with sponge or brush attachment. These treatments usually include a microdermabrasion cream.

The convenience of at-home treatments is that they can be done more often than traditional microdermabrasion and can also be applied to your entire body.