Most of us have been unfortunate enough to have persistent acne problems, with ugly lesions and other marks and scars that linger and never seem to go away. If this is you, start researching now how to get rid of acne scars and the many available acne scar repair options out there.

Macules appear as if scars, but are not actual scars. They are flat and reddish colored marks that are the end stage of inflamed acne lesions. Macules, unlike scars, eventually disappear, although it might take up to 6 months of waiting. Post-Inflammatory Pigmentation is also not scars but refer to a change in skin tone due to the healing of an acne lesion. This phenomenon happens more often with people of dark skin complexion. These changes may last for up to 18 months, especially if paired with too much sun exposure. Ice Pick Scars, the most common of acne scarring, take a thin and sharp structure, appearing most often on the cheeks. These types of scars are deep, reaching the subcutaneous layer for this reason they are difficult to erase with just skin resurfacing treatments. Box Car Scars are roundish grooves in the skin with sharp, vertical rims. These scars, found on the temples and cheeks, can be shallow or profound. Rolling Scars appear rolling due the fact that the scar tissue is tethered to the subcutaneous layer below. Although varying in length, these scars tend to be the longest of those related to acne. Hypertrophic Scars are raised scars that reveal themselves with a pinkish or reddish tone.

10 Acne Scar Treatments

With the great leaps the cosmetic industry is making, there have been huge improvements in acne scar treatment. Check out the following acne scar removal products and treatments for the one right for you:

1. Acne Treatment as Prevention

Clear your skin as a first step! Treating from the get-go reduces the severity of acne and its resultant scars. If you don't have inflamed lesions, you won't need acne scar removal.

2. Acne Scar Removal Cream

Topical creams that contain tretinoin or alpha-hydroxy acids can improve acne and reduce the appearance of staining and scars with gentle exfoliating action and stimulation of collagen production.

3. Natural Acne Scar Removal

As anti-inflammatories, onion extract and mucin reduce coloring and protrusion of scars. The onion slows down the production of collagen, therefore reducing the extent that hypertrophic scars are seen. On the other hand, mucin encourages collagen and elastin production to replace the damaged scar tissue.

4. Chemical Peels

Chemical peels unfortunately are not the most effective way to treat scars, however, they do work wonders on post-inflammatory pigmentation caused by acne.

5. Injections

Injections can elevate depressed areas or soothe inflamed scars. They are most effective on scars that have smooth edges, like rolling scars. Apply tension to the scar shoulder. If your scar improves, then fillers might be your solution. Steroid injections decrease inflammation and depress hypertrophic and/or keloid scars.

6. Non-Ablative Collagenosis

With the use of radiofrequency and laser devices, collagen formation is encouraged in the subcutaneous layers, without damaging the outer layer that is visible.

7. Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion uses fine crystals through a series of sessions to exfoliate the skin and smooth away fine scars and staining.

8. Photorejuvenation

Photorejuvenation uses laser or broadband visible light to stimulate new collagen protein formation.

9. Scar Revision

Scar revision extracts the scar and leaves only a straight incision scar. People typically elect for this scar treatment for areas that are highly visible. This works well for ice pick and boxcar scars. Subcision is used to cut scar tissue that is tethered to the tissue, i.e. rolling scars. For further results, filler substances can be injected into the area cut.

10. Resurfacing: Ablative Laser Treatments and Dermabrasion

The resurfacing lasers remove a superficial layer of skin and stimulate healing of younger and less scarred skin. Furthermore, the laser brings about increased collagen formation. Dermabrasion uses a rotating wire or brush to remove surface layer irregularities. Many experts consider this the best acne scar removal first step treatment for extensive scarring.