Affordable Acne Treatments

When looking for ways to get rid of your acne scars, you’ve probabaly come across a variety of different treatments. It’s difficult to know what the most effective treatment options are? In this article we will look at the various treatment options avalable and discuss whether invasive surgical treatments are better than topical creams and ointments.

When deciding on the best course of treatment, you need to know what type of scars you have.You will then be able to choose the best course of action. The scars look like small holes or open pores, or like shallow pits. Sometimes, they can look like a raised mass of tissue or just small imperfections.

You might want to think about dermabrasion, chemical peels and laser resurfacing for shallow scars and small imperfections. All these treatments work on the principle of removing the top layer of the skin in order to remove the scars and leave a smoother surface. Even though these procedures are very quick, taking between 30 minutes to an hour, they are very expensive. Laser resurfacing is the most expensive option, costing around $3000 per treatment. Chemical peels are the cheaper options, costing around $750 per treatment. You may need to have a few treatments until you get the result you want. The skin is usually red and swollen after the treatment and it can take a few weeks to recover. 

You could also try dermal filler which involves materials such as collagen, fat and polymer implants being injected into the depressed area of the scar to help raise it to the level of the surrounding skin. Unfortunately the results of the filler are only temporary, lasting between three to six months and cost from $300-$1200 per go.

If you have more severe scarring then punch techniques or subcision procedures are recommended. These are done under anesthetic and involve cutting the scar from the skin. These treatments are not as expensive, less than $200 per treatment, but you may need a few treatments to get effective results. Brusing and swelling are common side effects that can last for several weeks.

Getting rid of acne scars is often a difficult process and may require a combination of treatments to get the best results. An example is that punch techniques or subcision for deeper scars might need to be combined with chemical peels or laser resurfacing to smooth the skin.

The advantages of these types of treatment are that they are quick to perform and you can start to see the results after only a few treatments.  However, these treatments are extremely costly and not without risks.

If you’re still not keen about invasive treatments, then there are other treatment options on offer.  The use of topical creams, ointments and gels can help in getting rid of scars by softening, smoothing and reducing fine acne scarring. Milder potency creams can be bought over the counter, but stronger creams can only be obtained by prescription.  Mederma gel, Alpha Hydroxy skin treatment and Bio Oil are a few of the many commercial brands of creams and gels available which help to get rid of acne scars.  

Using acne scar creams are certainly a cheaper option than more invasive treaments, but they do not work effectviely for everyone. This is not a quick fix treatment and will often take time and patience before you see any results. 

Acne scarring, especially on the face, can really blow your self-confidence and self-esteem. What treatment you choose really all depends on the types of scars you have, how they are affecting your life and how quickly and effectively you want them gone. Invasive treatments certainly seem to be the quickest and best options, but they can be extremely costly and there could be side effects and risks. Of course, creams and ointments are a cheaper option, but will take a much longer time to see results, if at all. In the end, it is your choice, but it’s advisable to consult your doctor or dermatologist.

If you want to know more about acne scar treatment or treating acne cysts then please take a look at my Clear Skin Guide website.