| You live in a world of customization. You can | | | | improvements in this hypertrophic scar, you could |
| customize your hair color, manicure type, vehicle, | | | | use a $19 silicon or polyurethane patch. You |
| health care plan and most certainly, your acne | | | | usually need to wear these patches daily for 12 |
| scar removal regime. But before you take one | | | | hours and each patch costs roughly a dollar. This |
| step in customizing anything- you plan. When it | | | | brings the costs for your silicon patch based |
| comes to getting rid of acne marks, you can plan | | | | hypertrophic scar removal to about $60-$150US |
| to delete traces of your previous acne affliction in | | | | for two to five months of daily treatment. |
| five time and money saving steps. | | | | Step 4: Match the acne scar removal treatment |
| Step 1: Define your acne scarring situation | | | | to your specific scar type |
| Measuring improvements require that you first | | | | Not all scar removal treatments perform the |
| assess your scarring situation. To find your most | | | | same job. For instance, the silicon patch may |
| ideal acne scar correcting product, you need to | | | | fabulously flatten hypertrophic tissue, but could |
| clearly define the type(s) of cicatrices you wish to | | | | aggravate rolling acne scars. Similarly, while a deep |
| minimize. | | | | chemical peel can reduce the depth of pock |
| Types of acne scarring include: | | | | mocks, the same peel may have no effect on |
| Hyperpigmented spots- round, flat, darkened | | | | raised scarring. Here's a basic guideline for |
| spots that remain after an acne lesion heals. In | | | | matching acne scars with the ideal acne scar |
| some instances, darkened acne spots can fade on | | | | removal treatment. |
| their on in 2-12 months. Pock marks, ice-pick | | | | Hyperpigmented spots- chemical peels, skin |
| scars- these scars are indentations in the skin that | | | | lighteners, intense pulsed light treatments Pock |
| result from loss of skin and fat tissue that | | | | marks, ice-pick scars- dermabrasion treatments, |
| occurred during the formation and healing of | | | | deep chemical peels, advanced laser treatments |
| inflamed acne pustules or cysts. Rolling acne | | | | administered by a trained professional. Rolling acne |
| scarring- enlarged pores and the roughened skin | | | | scarring- chemical peels, skin tightening laser |
| texture that results from extended periods of | | | | treatments Hypertrophic scars- laser treatments, |
| moderate to severe acne. Hypertrophic scars- | | | | silicon patches, scar creams |
| round, raised scar tissue that results from excess | | | | Step 5: Consistent product usage |
| collagen growth during the acne lesion healing | | | | Once you've done steps one through four, all you |
| process. This is generally the least common type | | | | need to do now is use the acne scar removal |
| of acne scarring. | | | | products and/or treatments consistently and as |
| Step 2: Decide what changes you would like to | | | | directed until your see optimal changes in your |
| see in your skin | | | | skin. |
| If you have acne scarring, you most likely want | | | | While having a "plan" for changing your skin may |
| your skin to look as if you never had acne. That's | | | | seem awkward, chances are this simple guideline |
| understandable. To make this scar disappearing | | | | will help remove doubts about freeing yourself of |
| act happen, you first need to precisely determine | | | | acne scars while saving yourself precious time and |
| what changes you want to see with your | | | | money. Moreover, a report in the American |
| scarring. For example, you may want to fade | | | | Journal of Clinical Dermatology reported that |
| dark spots, and smooth away indented pock | | | | having a regime while performing popular acne |
| marks and ice-pick scars. | | | | scar removal treatments like alpha hydroxy peels |
| Step 3: Determine your budget and time | | | | enhanced patient compliance and peel results. Why |
| commitment to improving your skin | | | | not treat yourself to an acne scar reducing plan. |
| You have numerous cosmetic and medicinal | | | | Sources: |
| options for correcting acne scars. However, | | | | Manuskiatti, W; Rungsima W & R Fitzpatrick. |
| before dipping into your wallet, you want to | | | | Effect of Pulse Width of a 595-nm |
| ensure that One: You devised a budget to fully | | | | Flashlamp-Pumped Pulsed Dye Laser on the |
| fund your scar removal method and Two: You | | | | Treatment Response of Keloidal and Hypertrophic |
| have the time it will require to successfully benefit | | | | Sternotomy Scars. Dermatologic Surgery; |
| from your chosen scar removal methods. | | | | February 2007, vol 33, no 2, pp 152-161. |
| To illustrate, lets say that you wanted to soften a | | | | Meyer-Ingold, W & V Achterberg. Scar |
| hypertrophic acne scar. Your scar removal budget | | | | Reduction by Adhesive Patches: Efficacy and |
| is $500US and time commitment is two months. | | | | Potential Mode of Action. Wound Repair and |
| With these figures, you could witness | | | | Regeneration; April 2004, vol 12, no 2, pp A19. |
| improvements in your raised scar by receiving | | | | Tung, R; W Bergfeld, A Vidimos & B Remzi. |
| two-20 minute- flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye | | | | Alpha-Hydroxy Acid-Based Cosmetic Procedures: |
| laser (PDL) treatments within two months. | | | | Guidelines For Patient Management. American |
| Conversely, if your scar removal budget was $50 | | | | Journal of Clinical Dermatology; March 2000, vol 1, |
| and you had about 2-5 months to see | | | | no 2, pp. 81-88. |