Scrubbing or drying too vigorously can cause the pimples to break under the skin and make the acne worse. Try to avoid using gels and oils in the hair, or foundations and moisturizers on the face that can clog the skin. Many moisturizers now contain alphahydroxy acids, or natural fruit sugar acids, that gently exfoliate the top dead layer leading to a more youthful, fresher complexion. Alphahydroxy acid peels provide yet more dramatic results and are available from medical specialists. These skin problems develop when age and sun exposure damage the collagen, a protein in the middle layer of the skin.
Chemical peels employ an acid solution to damage the top layer of skin.
Derm-abrasion relies on a mechanical device to scrape away the top skin layer. Risk of scarring is greatly reduced in laser skin resurfacing because the energy is delivered in precise pulses. Each pulse treats a small area, reliably removing the top layer of skin without transmitting enough heat down to damage the next layer. A CO2 laser is used to deliver pulses of infrared light that are invisible to the human eye. Laser skin resurfacing, like all wrinkle treatments that work by injuring the skin, causes scabbing or crusting, which heals in one to two weeks.