People with severe acne will more likely than not have to deal with acne scars as well.

So, if you are one of the millions who are similarly affected, it is understandable that you have been desperately looking for treatment for those ugly scars including the more affordable over the counter acne scar solutions.

Before you decide on which solution to go for, here are some information that will be useful to you.

1. The Cause of Acne Scars

Acne Scars are typically caused by tissue loss, best explained in the following manner:

• When people get severe acne, tissue is dealt with an injury
• Body uses white blood cells and inflammatory molecules to repair damage
• After the “repair”, spot on your skin might be left with a scar

2. The Different Types of Acne Scars

• Depressed fibotic scars - these are pretty large scars with sharp edges and steep sides.
• Ice pick scars - these are little scars with steep sides and rough edge that can be soft or hard to touch. These can also be deep or shallow and are normally found on cheeks.
• Atrophic macules can appear bluish initially but will change to almost exactly the same color with your skin over time. Generally small when developed on the face, such scars can be quite large when it happens on the body.
• Soft superficial or deep scars - these blend with your normal skin and are soft with sloping rolled edges.
• Follicular macular atrophy - you will find these on the chest or the back of an acne sufferer.

3. Suitable Treatment Methods

• Laser treatment - can be very effective to treat complex acne scars.
• Punch graft - works for ice pick scars and other deep scars.
• Dermabrasion - good for removing both deeper and hypertrophic scars.
• Soft tissue augmentation - can correct some atrophic scars.
• Chemical peels - improve small, depressed scars and maybe some large scars.
• Microdermabrasion - effective for acne scars that are not deep

When it comes to non-prescription or over the counter acne scar solutions, you will find several products that make use of chemical peels or microdermabrasion to treat acne scars.

.

.

For many sufferers like yourself, acne scars can prove to be rather demoralizing so much so that they do not like the idea of going to public places, let alone socializing.

It is therefore understandable if you are desperate to find the right treatment to immediately get rid of those scars.

What you should be aware of is that if your scars are deep or severe, you probably will need to seek either a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon for treatment.

On the other hand, there are affordable non-prescription and over the counter acne scar removal solutions for less severe cases.

Here is an explanation of the types of acne scar treatments available today.

A. Surgical Therapy / Subcision
- Uses tri-beveled hypodermic needle
- Separates skin tissue in affected area from the deeper scar tissue
- Pooling of blood in affected area eventually causes deep rolling scar to level off with the rest of the skin area

B. Laser Treatment
- Uses high-energy light to brandish away scars
- Layers of damaged skin removed by carefully moving in small strokes

C. Punch Graft
- Uses small tool to cut out the scar
- Fill the void with skin graft (usually taken from behind the ear)
- Typical treatment for deep acne scarring like “ice pick” scars.

D. Dermabraison
- Uses abrasive instrument similar to electric sander
- Removes top layers of damaged skin
- Leaves the skin red and raw looking, but once it heals the surface appears smoother and healthier.

E. Soft Tissue Augmentation
- Use of injections under skin of affected area
- Collagen (or a substance compatible with body tissue) is injected to elevate irregular skin surfaces of scars such that they are even with the surrounding skin
- Correct some atrophic (loss of tissue) scars

F. Microdermabrasion (a.k.a. “Lunch time Peel”)
- Uses light and tiny particles to “sand” or “polish” the skin of affected area
- Exfoliates and improves skin texture as well as lightens areas of darker spots
- Effective when acne scars are not deep

G. Chemical Peels
- Uses chemicals to cause skin to blister and peel off
- Chemical is applied to the scarred tissue and left for several minutes.
- Treated skin eventually peels off and replaced by new / regenerated healthy skin.
- Effective when acne scars are not severe

When it comes to over the counter acne scar solutions, your options are presently confined to microdermabrasion and chemical peels which you can purchase during your next visit to your local pharmacy or from an online drugstore.

.

.