Possible Acne Scar Treatment

Did you know that 60 million Americans suffer from acne in the U.S. alone? Out of those 60 million, 20 million have acne bad enough to cause scarring a lot of acne suffers have tried a number of over-the-counter treatments that may reduce the acne but does nothing for the scarring Acne scarring is sometimes permanent and can be weighing on one's self esteem.
Eliminating acne scars can prove to be a trial and error task. So if the over-the-counter solutions don't seem effective enough, you can try chemical peels. Dermatologist and estheticians have successfully been using them as one of their treatment options for removing scars, fine lines, wrinkles, and other blemishes. People can apply their own chemical peels in the privacy of their own homes, and get good results. There are many to choose from depending on your skin issues and concerns. They range from 8%-50% concentrated levels, the higher concentration levels give more in depth results. Fifty percent concentrated levels are never recommended for at home use.
Alpha hydroxyl acid chemical peels give lighter results. They include glycolic, lactic, and tartaric acid peels. They are used to reduce the appearance of acne, acne scarring, treat areas of dryness, and remove dead skin cells. They are not super strong, and require several applications to get the best results. A more effective peel is the beta hydroxyl acid peel. Salicylic acid is an example of a beta peel, and they are used to control oily skin, acne, and remove dead skin cells.
Jessner chemical peels are used to treat acne and acne related issues like pimples, but not scarring. They are a mixture of 14% salicylic acid, resorcinol, and lactic acid, with an ethanol base. Sometimes TCA peels are layered or are used with them to achieve a deeper peel and treat scarring. Retinoic peels are sometimes used after a Jessner peel as well for the same reason, and can be used to treat scars and wrinkles.
TCA or trichloroacetic acid peels are stronger than the other two kinds. They are used to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, remove blemishes, and solve other pigmentation issues. Although TCA peels are more effective than the others, multiple treatments are still required to get the best results. Results are not permanent, and last for about 6 months. The strongest chemical peels available are Phenol peels. They are able to penetrate past the epidermis and inside the dermis within 15 seconds of application. They have long lasting results of up to 20 years. Phenol peels treat stubborn skin issues like deep wrinkles, freckles and blemishes caused by sun damage and acne. People with dark skin tones are not ideal candidates for this treatment because it can lighten the skin and reduce its ability to produce pigment. Skin treated with the phenol chemical peel has to be protected from the sun for life through the use of sunscreen/block of 30 SPF or higher.
How to Apply a Chemical Peel at Home
Things you need

1. 70% rubbing alcohol
2. Gentle non-exfoliate facial cleanser that don't have salicylic or glycolic acid
3. Gauze pads
4. Towel
5. Fan
6. 30 SPF or higher sun block
7. Moisturizer
8. Neutralizer or maker you own with baking soda and water (optional)

Application Steps

1. Always do a patch test the week before


2. apply to a small area to see how your skin will react to the solution.


3. If the patch test shows no adverse effects, then you're ready to apply to the whole affected area.

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Posted in: Acne