Even mild occurrences of acne can be upsetting and have a negative impact on your self-esteem, while severe or chronic cases can leave permanent scars. The good news is that you don’t have to endure the scars long after adolescence, regular PMS, or even stress-related outbreaks.
To cure acne scars, dermatologists have a variety of methods at their disposal. With the appropriate plan of care, treatments, and products, you can successfully lessen their appearance over time.
The initial step is to control your acne, after which you should discuss acne scar treatment options with your doctor. Since new acne might result in further scarring, you must permanently eliminate new and recurring breakouts. It’s also important to discern between genuine scarring from acne and superficial acne markings like brown and red spots.
Getting Rid of Acne Scars
For acne scars, there are safe, efficient, and less intrusive treatment alternatives. The most prevalent in-office procedures include surgery, fillers, chemical peels, lasers, and microdermabrasion.
When selecting the optimal alternative, there are other more considerations to take into account:
- Variety of scars
- Scar size and location
- Age, Age, Scarring Severity, Chance of Recurrence of Acne
- General well-being persistent skin conditions
- Earlier therapies
- Cost and disruption
To make sure you’re pleased with the results, you should work on a treatment plan with your dermatologist. Your dermatologist will look at your scars and might even suggest a mix of treatments for various forms of scarring.
Acne Scar Types and Early Treatment
Although acne often affects adolescents the most, it is the most prevalent skin ailment in the country. Between 40 and 50 million individuals, including infants, kids, and perimenopausal women, suffer with acne. Small depressions or indentations in the skin called acne scars are the end result of moderate to severe acne.
Additionally, there are several sorts of scars, therefore it’s crucial to know which kind you have so that you can select the most appropriate treatment.
Boxcar: Sharp edges and wide, U-shaped scars
Ice pick: Small, V-shaped scars that can pierce the skin deeply.
Rolling: Wide depressions with rounded edges and an erratic, rolling appearance
Raised scars or hypertrophic scars: They are typical on the chest and back, look elevated, and are brought on by excessive collagen production after recovery.
Depending on how bad your acne is, you could require a mix of treatments to get clearer skin. The following are a few of the commonest treatments:
- Antibiotics
- Gel and cream for the skin
- Oral contraceptive pills
- Therapies based on procedures
- Various drugs
Home Remedies for Treating Acne Scars
When acne penetrates the skin deeply and harms the tissues there, scarring results. Scars can come in many different forms, and certain treatments work better on specific types of scars than others.
Your dermatologist can verify the scarring is caused by acne and can advise you on the best way to lessen or eradicate acne scars. Depending on the extent of your acne scars and the outcomes you want, several topical treatments might be effective.
Options for topical treatments at home include:
Alpha hydroxy acids: Help eliminate dead skin and discolouration from the top layer of the skin, prevent clogged pores, soothe rough skin, and lessen acne scarring.
Lactic acid: Lightens acne scars and improves the skin’s texture, look, and pigmentation.
Retinoids: Enhance skin texture, hasten cell regeneration, lessen skin discolouration, and hide scars.
Salicylic acid: Exfoliates the skin, clears clogged pores, and lessens swelling and redness.
Sunscreen: Sunlight exposure can worsen skin conditions and discolor scars. SPF 30 or higher, UVA/UVB protection, and water resistance are all desirable characteristics in a sunscreen.
Methods Used In Office to Treat Acne Scars
It is best to see a doctor if you have more serious acne scarring. Hopefully, you’ve been visiting a doctor for your acne problems already. Discuss the best alternatives for your skin with your doctor to learn how to treat and erase acne scars.
Resurfacing techniques can repair acne scars that are almost flat or help lessen the appearance of acne scarring that is extensive. They can also help with depressed acne scars, however they are less successful with deep scars. Deep scars are typically best treated with surgery. You might require many injections spaced a few weeks apart.
Chemical peels: To lessen deeper scars, your doctor will use a strong acid to remove the top layer of skin. All sorts of acne scars, particularly deeper scars, can be treated with this.
Fillers: Just as the name suggests, fillers are utilized to cover acne scars and balance out skin tone. In order to fill in and smooth out scars, particularly depressed acne scars, it is injected under the skin. A commercial filler, your own fat, or collagen are among the elements. Although this procedure typically lasts six to 18 months, certain fillers are permanent. For the treatment of elevated acne scars, several medicines have been licensed for injection. To assist soften and flatten elevated scars, injections are directed towards them.
Laser therapy: For elevated scars, lasers and other forms of light therapy are effective options. The top layer of skin is removed during this surgery, so you must cover the treated region until it heals. This treatment technique is effective for all types of acne scars and heals more quickly than other resurfacing procedures. However, you must be acne-free, and lighter skin tones perform best.
Microdermabrasion: This procedure thoroughly exfoliates the skin’s top layer. Microdermabrasion is a quick and efficient approach to renew the skin by removing damaged or dead skin cells. Little downtime and little discomfort or redness are experienced.
Microneedling: Your doctor will use a handheld “pen” or small roller that is covered in tiny needles to microneedle the scars. Small wounds are caused by these tiny needles. Collagen is created by the skin as it recovers, helping to smooth and fill the skin. Although it may require multiple sessions before you see benefits, microneedling can help lessen the depth and look of acne scars. Works effectively on deep, depressed acne scars; elevated acne scars are not advised.
Skin tightening: Using radiofrequency technology, skin tightening is a more recent procedure that is more cheap and suitable for people of all skin tones. Depressed acne scars become less obvious when the skin tightens. Recurring appointments and some at-home care are necessary with this choice.
In-office surgery: You might desire to have your acne scar removed surgically in specific circumstances. A raised scar or one that is in a prominent place can be removed by your doctor, leaving you with a little scar that will eventually fade. A subcision involves raising the scar to make it more visible and less obvious. For deep, depressed, or elevated scars, surgery is a possibility. For the greatest outcomes, your doctor might suggest a subsequent procedure.
Things to Consider
Many people have no problem coping with acne scars. However, if you feel self-conscious or like yours are interfering with your everyday life, you may be a good candidate for further acne scar treatments. Acne scars don’t have to be a part of your life. Acne scars can be treated, sometimes even permanently, to lessen their appearance. Over time, many scars disappear. If you have cystic acne in particular, you need to take control of your breakouts and consult a dermatologist as soon as possible.
And keep in mind that the greatest acne therapy is avoidance. If you have fewer breakouts, scarring is less likely to occur. Follow a consistent skin care regimen that includes washing the face and applying mild products on skin that is prone to acne. Always keep your hands away from your face and practice good hand hygiene. Picking, popping, or squeezing your pimples only serves to aggravate them.
