Acne Scar Treatment in Bangalore

The acne scar is a condition involving the full thickness of the skin – epidermis, and dermis. The acne develops as a blackhead or blockage of the oil gland duct. The secretions of the gland back up in the duct. This forms a medium for irritation and the bacterial overgrowth which triggers inflammation. The inflammatory cells destroy the gland and the supporting structures which are the collagen, and hyaluronic acid in the dermis, leading to depressed scars. The treatment for the scars, therefore, have to target the dermis, as the primary pathology lies there. If the patient is prone to the formation of pigmentation, then the epidermis starts to look red or dark. If the patient is prone to the formation of keloids or elevated scars, the acne scars result in elevated scars.

The best method to prevent acne scars is to treat acne early and well. To learn more about acne treatment, go to – Acne treatment. Other factors that increase chances of scarring include squeezing or picking at acne which may push the inflammation deeper making it more likely to pigment or scar. People who pick repeatedly at the acne also develop severe pigmentation called Acne Excoriee. Some people also have a genetic history of scarring, so mild acne leaves scarring as well. Whatever the level of acne, once scars appear, it needs to be treated aggressively, as acne scars can become permanent.

Pigmented acne scars are usually seen in patients who pick at their acne, or in darker skin types. The first line of treatment is to start oral medicines after the diagnosis of the cause of acne. The patient needs to use a gentle exfoliating wash, and a hydrating moisturizer as the pigmentation will increase with the dryness of the skin. A broad spectrum acne sunscreen which is noncomedogenic and gel-based is advised for regular use. Topical skin lightening creams are advised at night with oral vitamin C and zinc supplement.

The treatments for pigmented acne scars include Chemical peels such as Glycolic peel, Retinol Peel and TCA peel as well as Microdermabrasion. As these pigmented scars may occur on the face, trunk as well as shoulders, these peels can be used in these areas as well. Multiple sessions of treatment are needed for good improvement. A fast track treatment of acne scars includes the use of Q YAG laser carbon treatments, which can show improvement in the appearance of the scars even after the first session. Read more about these treatments here: chemical peels, Microdermabrasion, and Q YAG laser toning.

 

As discussed in the section above, the acne scars are of three different types:
Icepick- These scars look like large open pores, and are deep and cone-shaped. These are well treated by TCA CROSS treatments (link to TCA CROSS) and Fractional CO2 treatment (Link to Fractional CO2 Treatment) and Fractional Microneedle Radiofrequency treatment ( link for FMNRF) or a combination of all these three.

Rolling scars – These scars are shallow and have rounded borders, and disappear on stretching the skin. They are tethered to the underlying dermis by fibrous strands which need to be released by a treatment called Subcision (link to Subcision). These scars then do well with Microneedling treatment like PCI (Percutaneous Collagen Induction using Dermapen or Dermaroller). Fractional Co2, TIXEL (link to TIXEL) and MNRF treatments also help to significantly reduce these scars.

Boxcar scars – These are one of the most difficult scars to treat. These scars have vertical edges, which make them appear prominent even after the depth of the scars has been reduced. They are treated with fractional Co2 laser and a combination of dermatosurgery treatments such as punch excision and punch elevation.

 

Elevated scars if small, can be treated with Radiofrequency ablation treatments (link to Radiofrequency ablation). If they are large and hard, microinjections of steroids can be injected into the elevations in combination with cryotherapy (link to cryotherapy) for better improvement.

Carbon Q YAG treatments can show good improvement in the appearance of an ice pick and pigmented scars with a single session. TIXEL treatments, in combination with retinol peels also show a significant improvement after a single session. However, the best improvement can be seen after using dermal fillers which shows almost 90 % improvement in the depressed scars after a single treatment. (Before after photo) (Dermal filler for acne scars video)

Acne scars are of different types, and each scar needs to be treated differently. Often a dermatologist needs to use more than one type of laser or technology for optimum results. The treatment plan will address the different scar types and will take into consideration such factors as downtime, cost of treatment, duration of treatments, and the patient’s social and official engagement.

As discussed in the section above, the acne scars are of three different types:
Icepick- These scars look like large open pores, and are deep and cone-shaped. These are well treated by TCA CROSS treatments (link to TCA CROSS) and Fractional CO2 treatment (Link to Fractional CO2 Treatment) and Fractional Microneedle Radiofrequency treatment ( link for FMNRF) or a combination of all these three.

Rolling scars – These scars are shallow and have rounded borders, and disappear on stretching the skin. They are tethered to the underlying dermis by fibrous strands which need to be released by a treatment called Subcision (link to Subcision). These scars then do well with Microneedling treatment like PCI (Percutaneous Collagen Induction using Dermapen or Dermaroller). Fractional Co2, TIXEL (link to TIXEL) and MNRF treatments also help to significantly reduce these scars.

Boxcar scars – These are one of the most difficult scars to treat. These scars have vertical edges, which make them appear prominent even after the depth of the scars has been reduced. They are treated with fractional Co2 laser and a combination of dermatosurgery treatments such as punch excision and punch elevation.

Even after treatment, acne scars are tough to heal. There is no 100% certainty of their complete removal. However, most treatments reduce the size of acne scars and make them less noticeable.
 

Surface scars may be completely removed, while deeper acne scars may become less apparent. Consult a dermatologist to determine the best treatment option.            

No single treatment works best for stubborn acne scars. One or a combination of treatments might work. It includes treatments like chemical peels, laser resurfacing, microdermabrasion, laser resurfacing, etc. 

Not-too-deep acne scars can be improved with lasers, dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels. These procedures enhance the production of new cells by removing skin layers.