Getting acne is tough. It’s embarrassing and it totally diminishes one’s self-esteem. What is worse than acne? It’s the scars that get left behind. Yes, those scars will serve as a reminder to you that you once had acne.

What are acne scars, anyway?

Technically speaking, acne scars are formed when the skin is damaged by acne. Here’s the 411: when a pimple gets inflamed, it ruptures the skin causing it to bleed. As a preventive measure against bacteria, your body forms a new layer of skin tissues to stop the bleeding and to replace the damaged layer. These tissues are the dreaded scar tissues.

So how does one avoid acne or remove the permanent? A few solutions are presented as follows.

The best offense is defense. Prevention is still better than cure. The same applies here. Zero acne = Zero acne scars. Enough said. So, do what ever preventive measure that you can muster do that you don’t end up with it. A healthy diet and good proper hygiene is a good place to start.

What if you already have pimples?

If you already have pimples or if you feel that you’re acne situation is getting worse, better start consulting with your dermatologist. Your dermatologist will examine your skin and will help determine the exact triggers that maybe causing you to break out. By knowing what causes you to have acne will help you avoid getting them in the first place.

Already have scars? Before you even think of removing your scars, you have to make sure that the scar tissue has already been replaced by healthy tissue. Eliminating your acne scars is dependent on two things:

The severity of the scarring. Some scars have dug in too deeply and may have gone beyond your epidermis. If the scars are really that bad, it may take more time and effort before it can completely heal. And it is best if you just let it heal on its own.

The treatment that you’ve had undergone. There are treatments out there that are way too severe for mild acne, while some maybe too mild.

Acne Scar Treatments

A lot of facial centers and dermatologists offer acne scar removal. They offer different methods depending on the severity of the scarring. Before you start having your treatments, make sure that the doctor educates you completely about the method that you chose. Research for any possible side effects. Ask questions. Remember: There is no such thing as a dumb question.

* Laser Resurfacing

How it works: It uses a carbon dioxide laser to burn the damaged skin away. The doctor will control the depth of penetration. In theory, it removes the damaged outer layer of the skin and lets the healthy layer of skin grow back. It is fairly new technology and you might ask your doctor about its effectiveness in healing scars. Healing period: 2-3 weeks

* Dermabrasion

How it works: This method uses an abrasive equipment (like a spinning diamond or a rotating wire brush) to brush away the damaged outer layers of the skin. The result is a younger, smoother skin. Healing Period: 3 weeks

* Chemical Peels

How it works: It uses acidic solutions to peel away the damaged layers of the skin. Depending on the severity, chemical peels usually range from mild to deep penetration. There are some do-it-yourself chemical peels, but it is more advisable to have it done professionally.

* Punch Grafts

How it works: This is made for deep pitted acne scars. Just as the name suggests, it punches a hole on your skin to remove the scar. Then, they punch another piece of healthier skin and use it to replace the damaged hole in the skin.

Effectiveness

All the treatments listed above have an average success. For some, it may be the miracle that they prayed for. And for others, it might just another treatment that they marked off since it didn’t work. Just like any other medical procedure, educate yourself with the possible result of the treatment. It is your face, after all. And it is very important that you know what you’re getting into.