Dermabrasion Procedures for Treating Acne
In the ongoing battle of acne, people have tried numerous treatments to cure, prevent, and improve their skin. The fact that dermabrasion procedures for treating acne are safe and effective it has made this procedure very popular and it has been used for years.
Dermabrasion or skin planting is a surgical procedure that is carried out by a dermatologist. The procedure is the sanding of the skin by a rotary abrasive instrument to improve contour, skin texture, and appearance. Dermabrasion should not be confused with microdermabrasion, which is, basically, a home remedy, purchased from your local retail store, to the more surgical technique of dermabrasion. Dermabrasion causes a wound in the skin tissue, causing the body’s natural healing activity to begin, producing new skin.
Dermabrasion is performed in a dermatologist office or clinic. Medication is given to the patient to relax them prior to surgery. The dermatologist will then clean the entire area that is going to be treated with an antiseptic before the skin is numbed and frozen by a surgical spray. Then a local anaesthesia is then injected to numb the skin. A high-speed rotary, abrasive instrument is then used to remove the upper layer of the skin to improve the irregularities of the skin’s surface. After this treatment is completed, a soothing ointment and dressing is applied to the area.
For a few days, after dermabrasion procedure for treating acne is completed, the skin will feel a bit sunburned. Medication can be prescribed by your dermatologist to relieve any discomfort or pain. This procedure is very easy to perform, and many patients do not experience painful recovery. It will depend on the sensitivity of your skin, and your skin’s ability to heal itself quickly. The special dressings, and ointments applied to the skin after treatment help spread the skin’s recovery, and healing begins about ten days after treatment.
There can be some complications to this treatment, as each person’s skin heals differently. Some patients can develop increased or decreased pigmentation after treatment. Bleaching agents can be used to correct this, but some of the pigmentation changes can become permanent. Some patients develop a thickening of the skin, very similar to keloids. This can be corrected with several therapies such as, cortisone creams, and injections.
Patients with bleeding disorders, keloidal scarring, and those taking oral retinoids are cautioned to advise the doctor before treatment begins.
Dermabrasion will not eliminate or remove all scars. Deeper scarring requires the use of other procedures to achieve better results. These other procedures can include skin grafting, or suturing. Dermabrasion can then be used again six to eight weeks later to smooth out the new scars.
Some patients benefit from repeated dermabrasion treatments to touch-up areas that the first treatment didn’t get. Other patients are also prescribed injections of collagen, hyaluronic acid, or fatty tissue to elevate depressed areas of scarring.
Your dermatologist can give you the proper recommendations of any further treatment needed in conjunction of your dermabrasion treatment.
