Composed of three basic layers, skin protects our organs from the environment, helps block pathogens, contains nerve cells pertaining to the sensation of touch and maintains internal body temperature. The outermost layer, known as the epidermis, is covered with pores. These minuscule openings on the surface of the skin are gateways into the dermis beneath.
The dermis is where we find hair follicles, nerves, blood vessels, sweat glands, apocrine glands and sebaceous glands. Sebaceous glands produce an oily substance, known as sebum, that secretes onto the surface of the skin through our pores, protecting our skin from excessive dryness. During puberty, the sebaceous glands reach full maturity and begin to produce more sebum than in childhood.
Once this increase in sebum production occurs, our pores are more likely to become clogged, resulting in acne. Though acne is an accepted element of our teen and adult years, severe cases can lead to both raised and depressed scars, as well as redness and permanent discoloration. Topical treatments available for treating Acne Scaring Fairfax County VA include creams and gels containing glycolic acid, retinol and vitamin C. While these treatments may slightly reduce the appearance of mild scars, they can not completely eliminate severe scarring.
Chronic cases of Acne Scaring Fairfax County VA require more aggressive treatments. Dermatologists offer a number of treatments to combat the appearance of extreme scarring, such as chemical peels, dermabrasion, laser resurfacing and fractional laser therapy.
Chemical peels involve applying glycolic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, or carbolic acid to the surface of the skin. These acids essentially burn away the outer layer of skin, diminishing light scars as new skin appears. Dermabrasion removes the top layer of skin using an abrasive material, like fine wires or diamond surfaces, allowing fresh, unscathed skin to become visible.
In the process of laser resurfacing, a numbing agent is administered to the areas of the skin to be treated, followed by removal of the top layer of the damaged skin by a medical grade laser. As the scarred surface is removed, the layer being revealed is firmed, producing clear skin.
For deeper scarring, fractional laser therapy may be recommended. This treatment is more invasive than the aforementioned methods, but requires less time for healing. Levels of safety and recovery times for these treatments are comparable to those associated with laser hair removal and wrinkle reduction.
At Tamjidi Skin Institute, our goal is to keep your skin looking its best. We offer complete skin care solutions for our clients in Fairfax County, VA, Chevy Chase, MD, and the nearby areas.
