Acne Scar Management: Causes and Treatments

Every year, acne affects more than 50 million people in America alone. Although the number of people who have acne is alarming, it does not get as much attention as other chronic diseases because people see it as a cosmetic problem. 

For most people, acne begins around puberty and grow out of it by the time they are n their mid-20s. However, some people may continue to get acne until they are in their 30s, 40s or beyond. In fact, some people may also get acne for the first time as an adult.

What causes acne?


Picture this - There are about 2,500 to 6,000 sebaceous glands per square of the skin. These glands secrete an oily matter called sebum. When sebum, dead skin cells and bacteria are stuck in the pores or hair follicles, inflammation may occur, leading to acne.

Sometimes when there is a breakage in the wall of the pore, deeper lesions may occur, resulting in more serious inflammation of the skin. 

These blockages and inflammation of the pores result in acneic skin, ranging from blackheads and whiteheads, to pimples, pustules and cystic acne. 

How about acne scars?


Scarring of the skin is often a result of poor management of acne vulgaris. The general lack of knowledge about how to care for acneic skin as a teenager can have disastrous consequences, often leading to permanent scarring of the skin. 

The body reacts to these lesions by forming new collagen fibers in an attempt to repair the damage caused by the inflammation. Unfortunately, the newly formed skin is often not as smooth or flawless as before.

Treatments for acne scars


The following treatments are suitable for mild acne scars.

CHEMICAL PEELS remove superficial layer of old skin by applying a thin layer of strong acid on the skin. The new skin that replaces the old skin is usually softer and smoother. However, with newer, more advanced technology, chemical peels are rarely used for the sole purpose of acne treatment.

Cost: $
Effectiveness: 1/5
Downtime: 2/5

MICRODERMABRASION is a therapist treatment that involves using a machine with a pen-like device that has an end with tiny rough particles to gently abrade the uppermost layer of the skin. 
Cost: $
Effectiveness: 1/5
Downtime: 1/5

The following treatments are suitable for moderate acne scars.

LASER SKIN RESURFACING is a technique that directs short, concentrated pulsating beams of light on the skin to precisely remove superficial layer of the skin. Such ablative laser treatments are usually carbon dioxide (CO2) or Erbium. 

If you have active acne or if you have dark skin, you may not be a suitable candidate for skin resurfacing treatment.  

Cost: $$$
Effectiveness: 3.5/5
Downtime: 4.5/5

PICO LASER may yield better results with less downtime as compared to skin resurfacing treatments. Pico laser delivers short laser pulses that are 10 times shorter in duration than a traditional Q-switched laser. This means that more laser pulses can be delivered with each pulse staying on the skin for a shorter period of time, causing less damage to the skin tissue.

The aim of Pico laser treatment is to stimulate collagen and elastin production with increased precision, causing less damage to the surrounding healthy skin.

Cost: $$$$
Effectiveness: 3.5/5
Downtime: 3/5

The following treatments are suitable for severe acne scars.

PUNCH EXCISION involves creating a punch-like hole into the skin to specifically remove a deep acne scar and then stitching the wound. When the wound heals, the appearance of the deep pitted scars will be less visible.

Cost: $$
Effectiveness: 4/5
Downtime: 5/5

MICRONEEDLING is a procedure that uses micro-needles to create tiny puncture wounds in a controlled manner. INFINI is an excellent microneedling treatment that administers tiny amount of radiofrequency energy into the dermis with an adjustable depth of 0.5mm to 3.5mm to stimulate collagen production and elastic fibers to reduce scar tissue.

People with deeper, more severe scars will benefit from INFINI scar treatment because it can reach the fibrous scar tissue that is often found in the deeper layers of the skin. INFINI uses flow needled technology to deliver radiofrequency waves to stimulate collagen production to plump up the skin during the recovery process.

Cost: $$$$
Effectiveness: 4.5/5
Downtime: 4.5/5

SUBCISION is a low-cost, simple solution in which a special needle is used to break down the fibrous bands of tissue that is pulling down the skin, giving rise to uneven appearance and indentation of the skin. 

Once the fibrous bands are broken down, the skin will heal and newer collagen will be produced, plumping the skin to improve the overall appearance of the skin.

Cost: $$
Effectiveness: 4.5/5
Downtime: 4.5/5

DERMAL FILLERS can drastically and immediately improve the skin’s appearance. The doctor injects a suitable soft filler directly into the acne scar to plump up the skin. 

Hyaluronic acid fillers such as Restylane and Belotero fillers are used to fill the depression on the skin. However, doctors can also use another type of fillers called Rejuran or Rejuran S to fill deep pitted scars. Rejuran Healer contains polynucleotides which are DNA compounds to repair damaged cells and stimulate collagen production. Rejuran S is a more concentrated version of Rejuran Healer, which makes it ideal for treating acne scars.

Cost: $$$$
Effectiveness: 4.5/5
Downtime: 3/5

Most people have different types of scars and it may require different treatments to provide a more effective and holistic treatment. Speak to your doctor today to understand what scars you have and work out a treatment plan that is suits you in terms of your budget and expectation. 

Comments

  1. Skin Hair And You19 December 2022 at 20:10

    Great posting.
    Nothing makes someone look more worn out than black circles under the eyes. Sleep deprivation and hyperpigmentation can easily impair the delicate skin around the eyes. In general, skin discoloration can lead to dark circles and under-eye bags, which can age a person. Numerous sorts of dark circles can be effectively treated by The Skin Hair and You. The method often starts with a careful investigation of the black circle's underlying cause, followed by a comprehensive and individualized plan for treating and eradicating it. The procedure not only makes you look younger and more alert, but it is also quite safe and without complications.
    Visit our website Under Eye Dark Circles Treatment in East Delhi

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why Some People Never Seem to Age

Image
“Aging is not an option, not for anyone. It is how gracefully we handle the process and how lucky we are, as the process handles us,” said Cindy Mcdonald. Some lucky people don't seem to age a day, whereas most of us either look our age or look older than we actually are. The ravages of time definitely did not do any damage to superstars like Halle Berry. Googling a photo of Halle Berry shows you that time doesn't seem to have any effect on her. So do Jennifer Aniston, Liv Tyler, and Elijah Wood, who seem to go against the expectations of how people should grow old. Although it is true that some people are luckier as compared to the rest of us with respect to aging, most people who don’t look their age have gone the extra mile to delay signs of aging. With advances in anti-aging medicine, doctors are able to slow down the aging process with remarkable results, and minimal downtime.  What Happens When We Age? In addition to intrinsic aging, many factors are at p
Read more

How To Get Rid of Eye Bags Without Surgery

Image
People often say that the eyes are the windows to the soul. Our eyes don’t lie. They show the truth, no matter what situation we are in. The eyes are often one of the first facial features we look at when we meet people for the first time. It can be particularly embarrassing for people who don't look after their eyes, especially if dark eye circles and eye bags become visible to others.  The skin around the eyes are extremely thin. With very little collagen and elastin fibers around the eyes, aging often occurs around the eyes first. First signs of aging typically occurs in the mid 20’s. This happens when the skin around the eyes becomes so loose that it hangs and creates folds around the eyes. Sun exposure remains one of the leading causes of aging around the eyes. Exposure to the ultraviolet rays (UVA and UVB) can cause serious damage to the skin. UVB rays are known to break down the healthy DNA in your body. On the other hand, UVA rays penetrate deeply
Read more

Doctor's Guide to Types of Scars and Effective Treatment Methods

Our skin weights about 8 pounds, covering a surface area of about 22 square feet. Most of us take our skin for granted but very few people know its importance in keeping us alive. Our skin is waterproof, insulating us from extreme weather conditions, and keeping out pollutants and harmful chemicals out of our body.  The skin is also very vulnerable because it covers our whole body, shielding us from the harsh conditions. A small injury or trauma can make a big difference in how it looks, leaving unsightly scars that can be etched on the skin for life. Throughout our lives, our skin is subject to injuries, trauma, and acne. Most people are affected by acne scarring because acne scars on the face can be unsightly.   The truth is that these scars will never completely go away. However, there are various treatment options that can help reduce its appearance.  Different types of scars There are several different types of scars including:  HYPERTROPHIC SCARS  are rai
Read more