By : Kirsten Hawkins

Acne affects as much as 80% of teenagers and others in their early twenties, while most get out with only a few minor acne scars - some even without any at all; there is a notable percentage that suffers from acne scars.

There are two types of skin problems caused by acne that can be recognized as acne scars. One is the red pigmentation that appears after acne has healed. These contrary to popular belief, are not scars. Rather they are post-inflammatory lesions that occur as the acne heals and can be present for up to 6-12 months. If however the pigmentation that you see lasts longer than the mentioned period, you may be facing acne scars.

Acne scars come from connective tissue that the body uses to repair damage done to a certain area. Together with antibodies and white blood cells, they work to heal the wound. After the healing process, you are left with a scar.

Acne scars can develop as long as acne is present, so one good form of prevention is actually preventing acne. However, Acne scars can also be prevented even with the presence of acne. This is done by facilitating the healing of the acne. The faster it heals, the shallower the acne scar will be - making it easier to treat or may need no treatment at all.

There are two dermatologically tested ways to facilitate the healing of acne. One is the use of Tretinoin. It’s a form of vitamin A, which speeds up the skin’s healing and renovation process - shortening the inflammation period, thus preventing Acne scars.

The other treatment used by most dermatologists for Acne scar prevention is the use of Aplpha-Hydroxy Acids of AHA’s and Beta-Hydroxy Acids or BHA’s. These help the skins remodelling process. With the right concentration and proper application, it can prevent acne scars.

Without the complicated chemicals and difficult dermatological treatments, you can also help prevent acne scars by treating your skin righteously. Avoid sun exposure. This can cause even more skin damage and may hamper the healing process of your skin. Wear sunscreen that has SPF 15 or higher. Picking at scabs never helped either. Never pick on acne as it heals. It interferes with the healing process and might worsen the resulting acne scar.

Of course, not even the most rigorous person can prevent acne scars. With the stress of everyday life, facial and other skin problems are hard to avoid. There are however, treatments available for acne scars. Here are some of them.

Dermal Fillers
Collagen or other fillers are injected into the acne scar to raise it just a bit so that it will be the same level as your skin. These treatments aren’t permanent though. They mostly last 3-6 months and you’ll need additional injections after that.

Punch Excision
This method is effective for some types of scars. It includes a surgical tool that matches the size of the scar. It can be compared to a cookie dough cutter. This tool cuts the scar out and the remaining wound is then sewed back together. The resulting scar can be unnoticeable. If it is, it’ll be easier for laser resurfacing to treat it. Other types of this treatment include the use of skin grafts.

Laser Resurfacing
Laser resurfacing is a very popular and fast treatment for acne scars. Laser resurfacing works by burning a measured upper layer of the skin and then letting it heal - leaving a newer looking skin. However, care must be taken after the procedure. The correct postoperative procedure determines the success of the operation.