It could be that one of the most difficult aspects of acne is the physical scarring it can leave behind. It is well known that the mildest form of acne can scar, but the more severe inflammatory types can leave behind extremely visible scars that need treatment to make them less visible.
There are actions you can take to prevent these scars from manifesting themselves, properly cleansing your skin for instance, or trying very hard not to pop zits. Refraining from the first and doing the second can cause scarring, but this doesn’t mean scars won’t develop anyway. Especially in more severe types of acne where the lesions are present for longer periods of time than in milder forms. In cystic acne, the nodules or cysts can hang around for many weeks and can leave behind striking scars.
Different types of acne scarring require different acne scar treatment. Acne scars are classified in the following way.
Ice-pick Scars: These consist of deep pits on the skin and usually occur on the cheek. They are quite often small, with a jagged edge and steep sides, looking like wounds from an ice pick. Ice-pick scars can be shallow or deep and could be hard or soft to the touch. The soft scars can be improved by stretching the skin whereas hard ice-pick scars can’t be.
Boxcar Scars: These are angular scars, often occur on the temple and cheeks and can be superficial or deep. They are also very similar to Chickenpox scars.
Rolling Scars: This type of scarring gives the skin an appearance similar to ocean waves.
Hypertrophic Scars: Thickened scars often associated with some of the more severe types of acne.
In order to get rid of acne scars you may need to seek treatment through a physician. There are a number of combination treatments available that show excellent results for many people. The appropriate type of acne scar treatment will depend on the type of scarring that exists and the type of skin affected. Generally, the majority of success with acne scar treatment has been for facial problems. Those on the back and chest do not respond as well to treatment as those on the face.
Clearly the most effective way to deal with acne scarring is to prevent acne in the first place. Taking steps to fight and prevent this condition will minimize the chance of scars occurring. If you already have acne, treating it as quickly as possible after it appears can help prevent acne scars and the anguish that goes with them.
Here are some effective acne scar treatments
Collagen injection: Collagen can be injected under the skin to stretch and fill out some kinds of both superficial and deep soft scars. Generally collagen treatment is not effective with ice-pick scars or keloids (large raised scars that spread beyond the size of the original wound). Also, collagen derived from non-human sources can’t be used in people that have autoimmune diseases. Cosmetic benefit from collagen injection usually lasts up to 6 months after which injections to maintain the cosmetic benefit can be done at extra cost.
Autologous (from your own body) fat transfer: Fat is taken from another part of your body and and injected into your skin after certain preparation. The fat is injected underneath the surface of the skin to raise the scars. This method of fat transfer is usually used to correct deep contour defects caused by scarring from nodulocystic acne (inflamed nodules and large, pus-filled lesions that resemble boils or cysts). Because the fat is reabsorbed into the skin over a period of 6 to 18 months, the process usually needs to be repeated.
Dermabrasion: This is thought by many to be the most effective treatment for acne scars. Using a local anesthetic, a high-speed brush is used to remove surface skin and change the contour of the scars. Superficial scars can be removed completely whilst deeper scars may be reduced in depth. Dermabrasion does not work for all kinds of scars, it may make ice-pick scars more noticeable if the scars are wider under the skin than at the surface. Also, in people with darker skins it may cause pigmentation changes that will require additional treatment.
Microdermabrasion: This is a fairly new technique and is a form of surface dermabrasion. The treatment uses aluminum oxide crystals passing through a vacuum tube to remove surface skin, instead of the high-speed brush. Only the very surface cells of the skin are removed and, consequently, no additional wound is created. Multiple treatments are usually required and scars may not be significantly improved.
Laser Treatment: Various types of laser can be used to change the contours of scar tissue and reduce the skin redness surrounding healed acne lesions. The type of laser used is determined by the required results. Tissue may actually be removed by more powerful instruments and in some cases, a single treatment is all that is required to achieve permanent results. There may be, however, post-treatment redness for several months afterwards due to the skin absorbing powerful bursts of energy from the laser.
Surgery: Certain ice-pick scars may be removed by the excision of individual scars. Each scar is cut down to the layer of subcutaneous fat and the resulting hole in the skin can be repaired with sutures or a small skin graft. Another technique is subcision where a surgical probe is used on a depressed scar to elevate the scar tissue from the unscarred skin.
Quite often, skin grafting may be required when dermabrasion reveals large, extensive tunnels (also known as sinus tracts) which are caused by an inflammatory reaction.
Keloid Treatment. Removal by surgery is seldom used to treat keloids. Skin with a tendency to form keloids from acne damage may also form keloids in response to the surgery. Occasionally keloids are treated by steroid injections into the skin around the them. Keloids in a highly susceptible person are usually best left alone.
You should always seek the help of a physician before you attempt to treat your acne or acne scars. Some scar treatments require medical attention and a doctor will be able to help you find a suitable treatment for them.
Understanding the type skin you have, the type of acne afflicting you and the type of scarring associated with it is also important in acne scar treatment. If you treat your particular type of acne right from the onset you can usually prevent the formation of permanent scars. Surgical acne scar treatment should be discussed with a dermatologist.
Related posts:
- Sudden Change Scar Zone A, Acne Treatment + Acne Scar Diminishing Cream Sudden Change Scar Zone A, Acne Treatment + Acne Scar...
- Share Your Acne Treatments Experiences Your Acne Treatments Experiences The acne treatments that listed in...
- Acne Scar Removing Creams With all the new products on the market, it's hard...
- Acne Treatment To find the best acne treatment, it is important to...
- Neaclear Liquid Oxygen Acne Scar Remedy Neaclear Liquid Oxygen Acne Scar Remedy 1-Ounce Package nourishes the...