For those who suffer from moderate to severe acne, the daily tribulations of the condition are bad enough. Unfortunately, sometimes it can get worse. Once the condition remedies itself over time, scars may leave a lasting impression behind. And, no matter how hard a person tries, these scars sometimes are completely unavoidable.

But, is there anything an acne sufferer can do to avoid scars or at least deal with them once they've presented themselves?

The answer is sometimes yes. Unfortunately, sometimes there is nothing that can be done to remove scars once they've been created. And, in some cases, scars may present themselves no matter what a person tries to do to avoid them.

With that said, the best way to handle acne scars is to avoid them in the first place. Since the condition of acne has no 100 percent guaranteed cure that will work for all people all of the time, this one can be difficult to manage though. Avoiding acne means finding a remedy that will work. Those that are available include prescription medications, over the counter drugs, a solid face cleansing routine and just, simply time. Anyone one of these might work for some people and not a single one will work for others.

If everything possible has been done to avoid breakouts and scars and they still happen, there are some alternatives available to treat them after the fact. Remember, too, that scars may be red and very noticeable today, but in time they will fade and oftentimes become virtually unnoticeable.

For those scars that don't fade away enough, there are these options:

* Laser treatments. These generally are left up to licensed and trained dermatologists. In this procedure, the top layer of the skin is removed. This will reveal unscarred, smoother skin. It can take a while to heal from and won't be effective on all types of scars.

* Dermabrasion: Another way to remove the top layer of skin, this involves the implementation of a rotating instrument to do the job. This procedure involves a fairly long heal time - it can take up to three weeks for the effects to minimize.

* Surgery. There are some plastic surgical procedures that can minimize or "erase" the scars left behind by acne. The extent of success will depend on the type of scars involved and the severity of the case.

* Chemical peels. Perhaps the most commonly offered treatment; this can be done in a salon and doesn't always require a trained medical professional. However, it's advised that the person handling the peel be trained to do so. This procedure also involves the removal of the top layer of skin, but instead of an instrument being used, chemicals are.

Acne can be a very difficult condition to treat and for those who suffer from its worst effects, the memory can last a lifetime. Thanks to some treatment advancements, however, there are ways to deal with the scars the condition may leave behind.