Acne has a widespread presence across the globe, usually among teenagers and young adults. It is the result of the plugging of hair follicles opening with cell debris, impurities, excess sebum, and sometimes bacteria. It can be mild to severe.
When severe acne breakout heals, the sufferers experience scarring to a certain extent. Both acne and acne scars have an impact on skin health, appearance, and self-confidence. But the good news is that the skin can be cleared with a variety of treatments recommended by acne scar doctors in Bangalore along with proper skincare.
In this post, we will be understanding acne scars in detail, and learning about its causes, types, treatment options, and prevention.
What are Acne Scars?
Acne scars are the bothersome, permanent marks on the skin that once had acne blemishes. Mostly, they are noticed on the face, chest, or backside and sometimes they can be painful and itchy.
What Causes Acne Scars?
Acne scar formation takes place due to any of the following reasons:
- Severe acne formation- When acne develops deep into the skin, for instance, cysts and nodules, and are inflammatory, they result in acne scars. Inflammation associated with these acne blemishes leads to rupture of the wall of the pores which leaves behind scars.
- Picking at acne- Actions like picking or squeezing active acne or pimples can increase the inflammation of the skin and the resulting damage causes scarring.
- The body’s natural healing response- Whenever there is an injury to the skin, the body naturally responds by stimulating collagen production. However, healing of the skin affected with acne may not be normal in all cases. There could be either collagen production in excess, resulting in raised acne scars, or low collagen production causing depressed acne scars.
- Genetics and complexion- Those with dark skin and/or a family history of acne scars are highly susceptible to experiencing scarring as their acne clears.
Types of Acne Scars
There are different kinds of acne scars, varying in their formation and appearance. An individual can have more than one type of acne scar at a particular instance. The main two categories of acne scars are:
1. Atrophic or sunken acne scars
These acne scars are the result of less collagen growth and have three subtypes-
- Ice Pick acne scars- These resemble icepick tools, having a wide hole at the top and narrower bottom. Usually, they show up on naturally thinner skin like that of the upper cheeks and forehead.
- Rolling acne scars- These are wide skin depressions with irregular, rounded edges. Their appearance makes the skin look uneven or wavy. Usually, they show up on the skin around the jaw or lower cheeks.
- Boxcar acne scars- These are U-shaped, wide, deep, or shallow acne scars with sharp edges often noticed on lower cheeks and jawline.
2. Hypertrophic or raised acne scars
These acne scars are a result of extra collagen growth and have two subtypes-
- Hypertrophic acne scars- These acne scars are flat, standing above the skin wounded with acne. They might appear on the shoulders, chest, face, or back.
- Keloid acne scars- These acne scars are raised bumps on the skin, covering some of the skin surrounding the area where acne once existed.
Effective Treatments for Acne Scars
Although acne scars' appearance may over time fade out and can be reduced with home remedies, over-the-counter products, and medications, the best approach is to discuss the concern with a dermatologist and go as per a customized treatment plan created by a dermatologist.
Here are the top dermatologist-recommended acne scar treatments in Bangalore:
- Topical treatments- These include prescription creams and lotions based on alpha and beta hydroxy acids and retinoids.
- Chemical peels- In a dermatologist's office, chemical peels or acid solutions like salicylic acid, trichloroacetic acid, or phenol are available. When applied over the scarred skin, these acids cause controlled skin injury and at the same time peel off the treated skin layers to allow collagen production and new skin growth, thereby reducing acne scar appearance. For different acne scar types, different strength of chemical peels is used.
- Laser therapy- Lasers work similar to chemical peels to reduce acne scars but have only a difference of heat causing controlled injury to the scarred skin. Different acne scar types are treated with different laser types. For instance, severe indented acne scars are treated with ablative lasers while less severe ones are treated with non-ablative lasers. Pulsed-dye lasers and potassium titanyl phosphate lasers are preferred to treat red, raised acne scars.
- Microdermabrasion- This treatment is recommended for shallow acne scars as the procedure involves the use of tiny abrasive crystals or diamond-tipped handpieces to exfoliate the skin.
A dermatologist can best suggest an acne scar treatment for a person after considering the following factors:
- The acne scar type and severity
- The unique skin type
- The treatment costing
- The side effects and effectiveness of the treatment
- The treatment duration and recovery timeline (as convenient to the patient).
Latest Advances in Acne Scar Treatment
New acne scar treatments that are proving to be effective in treating acne scars include:
- Radiofrequency Microneedling (for all subtypes of pitted acne scars)
- Fraxel laser treatment (for deep-seated acne scars)
- Fractional ablative CO2 laser treatment (for all types of acne scars)
- Plat-elet-rich pla-sma therapy (to boost acne scar healing)
- Subcutaneous excision surgery (for depressed acne scars).
Besides, with prompt use of advanced acne therapies and effective acne management, acne scarring can be prevented or minimized.
Home Remedies and Prevention Tips for Acne Scars
There is no strong evidence revealing the best natural home remedies for acne scars. However, some effective natural acne scar treatments are black seed oil, coconut oil, aloe vera, rosehip seed oil, and honey.
Here are some tips provided by a dermatologist on acne scar prevention:
- Timely and appropriate treatment to manage acne breakouts.
- Avoid picking, squeezing, or popping acne.
- Always sun-protect the skin with sunscreen and sun-protective clothing as acne scars are more likely to form on dark skin.
- Do not have a bad lifestyle which includes smoking, eating an unhealthy diet, having a poor sleep schedule, drinking inadequate amounts of water, keeping the skin dry, and taking stress.
- Gently cleanse the acne-prone skin.
- Avoid using hypoallergenic or comedogenic products.
Conclusion
Acne scars can lower your confidence but they can be made less noticeable. Dermatologist, Dr. Rasya Dixit can provide you with a suitable treatment. But, better is that you prevent acne scars as well as acne with a dermatologist-recommended skincare routine, healthy diet, proper skin hydration, and stress management.
Also Read: Get Rid of Acne Scars: Know About Types, Causes, And Treatments
