When you suffer from acne, it's not just the pimples and zits you've got to worry about. It's also the scarring that's often left behind. Even if you don't pop or pick them, pimples can leave disfiguring scars that become a permanent blemish on your complexion. In some cases, they remain the same in appearance over a lifetime, while for others, they may change over time and become smaller or less prominent.

A pimple is a form of tissue injury caused by debris. As for all foreign matter that enters the body as an intruder, our natural defense mechanisms react and attempt to eliminate this debris. This results in an inflammation of the skin which, once the intruder is dealt with and the pimple heals, can leave a scar composed of excess collagen and pigmentation irregularity. Generally, the worse the acne is, the worse the resulting scarring will be. Individuals with a history of abnormal scarring may also experience more pronounced marks.

Acne scars can be incredibly difficult to eliminate. Topical solutions may help, but in many cases, they prove to be ineffective or may take an eternity to work. Currently, the following methods are two of the most popular:

The Old Way
The traditional method of removing acne scars involve surgery, during which the top layers of the affected skin are removed by sanding. This method, dermabrasion, requires the administration of local or general anesthesia and involves a lengthy recovery period. Because it can remove several layers of skin, dermabrasion is preferred by some physicians to treat deeper scars.

However, advancements in aesthetic medicine have created a far less invasive solution to acne scarring.

The New Way
Without the risks and side effects related to surgery, getting rid of acne scars can now be performed with the remarkable power of laser and pulsed light technology.

Toronto Cosmetic Clinic uses The StarLux® 500, the new Gold Standard in laser and pulsed light technology*. Fitted with the Lux1540™ Handpiece, acne scars are removed by nonablative skin resurfacing that does not require any anesthesia. The scar is exposed to fractional microbeams of laser energy that penetrate the affected skin to stimulate the creation of fresh tissue. In the time following a series of sessions, the scar gradually fades or disappears.

*according to Palomar Medical Technologies Inc.