Before, traditional laser techniques were used in removing scars from all parts of the body. A guided laser was used to uniformly remove the dead cells and scar tissue, eventually revealing a light-textured and more normal-looking skin.
Another approach to the removal of scars is dermabrasion. Dermabrasion has been around even before the use of guided lasers. Dermabrasion involves the removal of superficial layers of the skin, where the damage from scarring is most visible.
How Does Dermabrasion Work?
Originally, dermabrasion was designed to help burn victims recover from extensive body burns. It was also done to help renew the skin and to minimize infection.
Today, dermabrasion is done by machines with specialized diamond-tipped rotating burrs. The rotating burrs quickly and efficiently remove the unwanted layers of the skin. The new skin, when it grows in place of the removed layers, would be lighter and smoother.
The point of the procedure was to remove the small, irregular scars that had been left by the acne. The procedure was designed to help renew the skin. The natural re-formation of the skin may take months or years.
Usually, the body can repair damaged skin. However, it cannot fully reconstitute the skin before the damage. All it can do is to close the wounds and lesions, but not make it 'pretty' again. Scars are often lighter or darker than the surrounding tissues.
Scars, Scars
The scars left by acne may be the most discomfiting features of 'cured' acne sufferers. Once the lesions, pustules and nodular formations diminish, acne sufferers often have to contend with darkened pockmark-like scars on their faces.
Usually, large areas of the face have darkened, pitted scars that stay for years at a time. Since the affected area is the face, many former acne sufferers suffer from social stigma and undue psychological stress from the scars.
There are instances too, that acne scars are more prominent than normal scars. Notice that scarring from acne differs dramatically from scarring from cuts, etc. This is because the damage had been done inside and not from the outside.
Dermabrasion Has Been Phased Out?
Dermabrasion is no longer recommended by healthcare professionals as a first line of treatment for the removal of unwanted acne scars. With the birth of easier and less painful laser treatments, this approach has been put in the back burner for its unwieldy character.
However, it doesn't mean that it has been phased out completely. When you go to a certified healthcare professional for dermabrasion, the following will be used before the actual procedure:
• Skin anesthetic
• Sedative
This procedure can cost from $1,500 up to $4,500.
The Side Effects of Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion may cause negative effects in people with:
• Ice pick scars
• Fibrotic scars
• Hypertrophic scars
• Keloidal scars
The procedure may also cause irregularities in the skin pigment of people with darker hued skin.
In addition to this, dermabrasion is not recommended to patients whose scars are worse inside. If the scar tissue were wide inside, the scar would be more visible once the topmost layers of the skin are removed.
Monica C. is an online medical researcher on acne treatment and skin care. For more information about www.10acne.com acne treatment, please visit her website www.10acne.com www.10acne.com/ now.
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