Penny Carow is 21 and pretty. She has short, cropped hair and deep blue eyes. Though she is attractive, she is conscious about her skin. A couple of months ago she had a smattering of acne on her face and ever since, the scars have marred her skin. Penny is wondering if there is any treatment that can help her get back her smooth skin. Well, there are six types of treatments that Penny or anyone who wants scar-free skin can avail off.

Dermabrasion: Dermabrasion, sometimes called surgical skin planing, is often used to treat a variety of skin conditions including acne scars. The process includes anesthetizing the treatment area then an abrasive instrument is used to remove the damaged outer layers of skin. For the first few days following the procedure, the treated area may be discolored red and very sensitive. It is not unusual to feel a burning sensation in the treated area, and the discomfort can usually be treated with over the counter pain medication.

Chemical Peels: Chemical peels can enhance your complexion, appearance and self confidence by removing the damaged outer layers, leaving a smooth and improved skin texture. This process is best used on scars which are not very deep and can soften or even remove acne scarring. Side effects of chemical peels may include redness, stinging or other irritation and infrequently infection or additional scarring.

Collagen Injections: Used primarily as wrinkle filler, collagen injections can also be used to reduce the visibility of acne scars. With a fine needle, the dermatologist will inject the collagen just underneath skin. The injected material pushes the depression created by the acne scar outward creating a smoother look.

Autologous Fat Transfer: This is similar to collagen injections. The only difference in autologous fat transfer is that the material is harvested from the patient’s skin and processed into a liquid.

Punch Grafts: The procedure essentially transplants skin grafts from behind the ear and places the grafts over areas of excised acne scarred areas.

Laser Resurfacing: As the name suggests, this procedure is performed by passing a laser over the affected area, where it removes the damaged skin one layer at a time. This procedure encourages the creation of additional natural collagen, which results in the reduction of the acne scars. Side effects from this procedure may include scarring, infection and the reduction or increase in skin pigment.