Acne Scars - Treatment and Prevention

Acne scars are not easy to deal with. It usually leaves a permanent mark on the skin, especially the face. People with acne scars usually develop low self-esteem and even depression.

The root of acne scars starts with pimples and acne. When acne are deep-seated in our dermis, the inner layer of the skin, our body struggles to remove this foreign debris with this inflammatory response, a wound in our skin is the result, and we end up with a scar. Acne scarring, like any other scarring, are the result of a wound in the skin, which then heals, leaving too much collagen behind.

Types

Acne scars can be depressed or raised. Depressed acne scars are soft, saucer-like depressions or pits on their skin. The underlying support of the skin is lost and develops a wavy texture, causing a depression on the skin. On the other hand, raised acne scars are elevated often resembles keloid. These scars may become larger and more noticeable. These scars may be accompanied with itchiness, pain and tenderness.

Treatment (Depressed Acne Scars)

Procedures made by dermatologists to decrease the appearance of scars are the following:

1. Acne Scar Surgery

• Punch excision –removes the entire scar.
• Punch elevation –raising the remaining tissue to be in level with the rest of your skin.
• Punch graft –fills the opening of the skin.
• Subcutaneous incision –separates the scar tissue from the skin

2. Laser Skin Resurfacing

3. Fillers - Collagen, hyaluronic acid, PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate), your own fat, or another filler to plump up the scars may be injected to fill the depressed scar.

4. Chemical Peels - A high-potency acid will be applied to the skin to remove the top layer of skin

5. Microdermabrasion -This procedure uses a machine to remove the top surface layer of skin.

6. Dermabrasion -In this procedure, your dermatologist will move a handheld device back and forth or in a circular motion over the skin. An extremely sharp rotating blade will gradually remove the skin, which can remove the acne scars.

Treatment (Raised Acne Scars)

For raised acne scars, the following procedures are done:

1. Injections. -It help shrink raised scars. Corticosteroids and/or Interferon are injected to the scar

2. Acne Scar Surgery

3. Lasers and Other Light Therapies -Treatment with a PDL can help reduce the itch and pain, diminish the color, and flatten a raised scar.

4. Cryotherapy -This treatment freezes the scar tissue causing it to die and gradually fall off

5. Gels, Creams, and Tapes

Prevention

There will be no acne scars if your skin is acne free in the first place. So the best way to prevent acne scars is to prevent more acne from developing in your skin. Below is an acne treatment that we highly recommend to treat acne, reduce inflammation, and prevent acne scars from occuring.