Acne scars are reminder of how bad your skin used to be, but treating acne scars can erase that memory.  They stick with you and will never let you forget about your acne in your younger days. That is, unless you do something about it!

There are many different methods for treating acne scars. Some are home remedies, some are topical creams, but for the best results a trip to the dermatologist is necessary. Permanent methods for treating acne scars is usually done with chemical peels or laser surgery. Both are great methods and have different applications for different severities of acne and scarring. Only you and your doctor can decide which is the best for your case, but doing research ahead of time will help you make your decision.

Before you can consider any remedy for treating acne scars, your current acne has to be under control. You can use any sort of acne remedies, but it has to gone for good. If you are still having frequent breakouts the scars are going to come right back and be very painful if they return soon after your surgery. Acne scar removal leaves your skin very sensitive and tender for the first few weeks, so any extra irritation will be very painful!

Lets take a look at chemical peels and laser surgery for treating acne scars.

Chemical peels work by "burning" top scarred layers of skin. The damaged areas peel off and new skin is regenerated. This works best for mild acne scarring. Severe scars are far deeper in the skin and many return trips to the dermatologist would be necessary. Chemical peels are much more affordable than laser surgery.

As I said above, peels work best for treating acne scars that are mild, but this does not mean that it can be taken care of in a single visit. Return visits may be necessary to permanently remove your scars. After the procedure the area will be very tender and sensitive, and many people report having severe breakouts a few days later.

The technology that powers laser scar removal has grown incredibly fast over the last decade. It was originally considered risky and only for the most extreme cases. With the technological advances it has become very safe, and usually performed right in the dermatologists office. As the practice has grown, the price has fallen - so treatment is much more cost effective now than it was just a few years ago.

There are different types of laser acne scar removal and each have a purpose for different types of acne scarring. They all work by removing the damaged scar tissue and stimulating the collagen in the tissue to regenerate new skin. The different types of lasers achieve this with different techniques.

The recovery period for laser treatment is pretty quick. Redness and sensitivity are expected after the surgery. You will also have to avoid sun and not wear makeup for a while. Depending on the severity of scarring, multiple visits may be necessary for treating acne scars.

The decision of which treatment is best for you, is between you and your doctor.  There are tons of sites all around the web dedicated to each procedure.  Having a good idea of what is right for you will help you make your decision with the doctor.