Acne Scar Treatments

Why Acne Scars Occur

The worst part of having acne is dealing with acne scars. While the problem of acne, pimples and blemishes may be temporary, the scars it leaves behind are not. This scarring can occur on the face, back, chest and arms. There are different Acne Scars, but all of them are responsive to treatment to varying degrees. Me Clinic provides many solutions that aid in the effective treatment of acne scars.

Acne scars are caused by the inflammation of acne blemishes. These are small, inflamed bumps on the surface of the skin caused by the swelling of the acne pore. Smaller blemishes create scar depressions that are shallow and thus heal rapidly. In the instance of larger blemishes, surrounding tissue is affected resulting in deeper scars. Acne scarring is a destructive skin condition that not only affects a person’s appearance, it often causes emotional and psychological distress leading to low self-esteem issues.

Signs of an Acne Scar

Recognising an acne scar is easier than you may think as most acne scars appear in the spot where a pimple was. There a different types of acne scarring.

With keloids or hypertrophic scars, the appearance of acne scars is in the shape of reddish raised bumps in the skin. They are also known as papules and are often the same size as the acne blemishes that caused them. These are usually found on the back and other non-facial areas of the body.

As for atrophic scars, these can appear as larger or smaller depressions in the skin.

Symptoms and Causes

Genetics is a risk factor for acne scarring. Not all acne scarring is traced back to genetics, however, it does influence a person’s predisposition to scarring. If you come from a family with a history of scarring, discoloration, or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, it will be very helpful in the long run to consult with a practitioner for acne treatments that will aid or stifle the formation of acne scarring.

The main cause of acne scarring is the inflammation of the skin. Symptoms of inflammation are skin conditions like rosacea. Other factors like skin tone and skin type can play a part in the occurrence of acne scarring. Scarring also takes place as you age and experience loss of collagen. During the healing process after a breakout, your skin produces new collagen as it repairs itself. When there is too little or too much collagen production, scarring occurs. Acne treatment mustn’t be delayed to reduce the risk of scarring.

Mild vs. Severe Scarring

There are several types of acne scarring patients have experienced. Read on to find out more about the types of scars and why they happen.

Atrophic scars – When skin generation and healing take place incorrectly, atrophic scars can occur. They may also form as a result of mole removal or other types of surgery. Also known as icepick scars, these atrophic scars appear like deep pores on the skin. One of our practitioners will be able to quickly determine the issue with a simple punch excision. Deeper scars have a greater depression in the skin. Scars that resemble chickenpox scars are known as boxcar scars. Another type of atrophic scar is a rolling scar. You can identify by their lack of distinct edges in the surrounding skin.
Hypertrophic scars and Keloid Scar – Both of these scar types are examples of raised scars, typical of a healed injury. The body produces collagen during healing and when excess fibrinogen takes place, scars are formed. They are not only a cosmetic problem, they can be painful and restrict movements.

Other ways a keloid or hypertrophic scar is formed is from burns, insect bites, chickenpox or from tattoos. Scar tissue undergoes discolouration.

Preventing Acne Scarring

How does one prevent acne scarring in the first place? Me Clinic recommends several techniques you can practice at home to reduce the risk of acne scarring.

Quick Acne Treatment. If you develop acne, the best course of action is to keep it under control and begin treatment. Over-the-counter acne treatments can be used and if they aren’t effective, it is best to get a proper diagnosis. Acting quickly helps keep the breakouts to a minimum while preventing acne from getting worse.
Reduce Inflammation. When it comes to acne and blemishes, larger acne blemishes are more susceptible to leaving scars than pimples or blackheads that aren’t inflamed. Do your best to calm inflammation.
Avoid further irritation. Choose a gentle cleanser and avoid skincare products that will agitate your skin.
Do not pop your pimples. Resist the urge to squeeze a pimple. Popping a zit can result in spreading the infection to other tissue and increasing inflammation.
Avoid picking at scabs. We’ve all been there. The temptation to pick a scab is too great and before you know it, a scar is formed. The scab is there to protect the wound as it heals.
By taking it off prematurely, you will only delay the healing process and increase the chances of scarring.
A visit to a qualified skin therapist will determine if your skin type is prone to scarring. Apart from being able to treat acne scars, a dermal aesthetician can discuss acne treatment options to treat breakouts, acne lesions, and so much more.

Managing Acne

While it’s not entirely possible to prevent acne, there are a few handy tips you can follow to reduce the occurrence and severity of breakouts. We recommend the following for managing acne at home:

Maintaining a good skincare regime. This means washing your face twice daily with a medical cleanser and keeping your hair clean.
Avoid intense scrubbing on your face. A facial scrub can cause small tears in the skin which may lead to acne if infected by bacteria. Instead, use cleansers with glycolic acid, which is excellent for removing dead skin cells and allowing for skin rejuvenation in the treatment of acne.
Protect your skin from sun exposure. Apply a non greasy daily sunscreen .
Apply non-comedogenic cream. Using the right topical creams is particularly effective in preventing acne formation. They contain active ingredients like vitamin A and glycolic acid that aid in the treatment of acne and non-comedogenic means they won’t clog or block the pores on your skin.
Enrich your skin. The skin is an organ that covers your entire body. Protect it with the use of mineral-rich moisturizers that enable skin rejuvenation. Creams that contain retinoids (for renewed cell growth),
Avoid the use of corticosteroids which may contribute to what is known as steroid acne.

Finding the best treatment

Which treatments can be used effectively on Acne Scars?

How do I find out more about Acne Scar treatments?

Please contact the team at Me Clinic. With over 35 years of Cosmetic Medicine experience are confident in providing the best quality treatments specific to your needs. We want you to be fully informed about the treatment options available at our clinic, including the downtime required or possible side effects.

A no-obligation consultation with one of our Cosmetic Physicians or Aestheticians is essential so your skin condition can be examined and skin texture assessed for the most suitable Acne treatments. Contact us today to begin your journey today.