Acne and the scars it can leave behind, depending on the severity, can be something that impairs a person’s self-confidence and image.  While women tend to cover some of the scarring with cosmetic products, male patients generally do not seek after this option.  West Houston Dermatology Laser & Skincare Center offers multiple options for patients who wish to minimize (an in some cases, eliminate) acne scarring.  The options most frequently used include chemical peels and laser skin resurfacing.  Both are very effective in helping erase signs of past acne scars, but depending on the level of treatment required, there can be some down time following treatment.  An autologous cell treatment called Leviv that was approved by the US FDA for treating deep nasolabial folds can be used off-label for treating acne scars.  This means that the product is used for something other than what it was originally indicated for, and this is a practice that routinely occurs with pharmaceuticals.  Leviv requires harvesting cells from the patient, sending those cells to be processed, and then injecting them into certain areas of the face.  In this approach, Leviv is not used so much as a filler like other dermal fillers, but as cell therapy.  The patient’s own fibroblasts work to enhance collagen production and minimize the appearance of acne scarring.  Presently, there has been one study with Leviv for the treatment of acne scarring, and the results show that Leviv had statistically significant results compared to a placebo.  While this is appears promising at first glance, much work and analysis needs to be completed before Leviv is approved by the FDA for treating acne scars.  The possibility of using the potential of the patient’s own cells to minimize acne scarring is exciting, so stay tuned to West Houston Dermatology’s blog for reports on cutting edge medical and cosmetic dermatology treatments.