Acne breakouts may resolve or disappear to leave behind darker skin than usual. These dark spots or patches can be noticed in many people, particularly those having dark skin tones. Although they are harmless they can be irksome and make people want to get rid of them to allow them to flaunt their healthy, clear skin. They may fade over time if an individual experiencing them is aware of their causes and treats them accordingly without delay. Luckily, there are many clinical treatments available to get rid of acne pigmentation, shares acne doctor in Bangalore Dr. Rasya Dixit, dermatologist at Dr. Dixit Cosmetic Dermatology Clinic.
In this blog, you can learn about acne pigmentation, its causes, and its clinical treatments.
What is acne pigmentation?
Acne pigmentation is a cosmetic skin concern that shows up on the skin like a flat area of dark discoloration just after the healing of acne. The pigmentation can be red, brown, purple, or black. It varies based on the depth of pigmentation and the natural tone of the skin where acne breakout takes place. Individuals of any skin type can experience acne pigmentation.
How does acne pigmentation occur?
Just like any other hyperpigmentation issue, acne pigmentation develops when there is extra melanin production in the skin. It is a kind of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation that causes discoloration of the skin even after the wounded skin due to inflammatory acne breakout has completely healed.
When inflammatory acne develops in the skin, it causes the skin cells to produce more melanin, in certain cases. The melanin leaks from the top skin layer (epidermis) to the deep skin layer (the dermis), where pigmentation usually is not present. This means that acne causes inflammation and more melanin pigment production which goes deeper into the skin.
Most commonly, acne pigmentation is the result of:
- Melasma
- Sun damage
- Side effects of certain medications
- Side effects of cosmetic medical procedures like dermabrasion, laser treatments, and chemical peels
- Certain medical conditions that promote skin inflammation and melanin synthesis.
You can also get in touch with a dermatologist near me to rule out the cause of acne pigmentation and to get the best acne scar treatment in Bangalore that can help achieve healthy and confident skin.
Is acne pigmentation the same thing as scarring?
Acne scars and pigmentation are two different cosmetic skin concerns that require very different treatment approaches. After the skin with acne breakout clears, it is possible to have scars and pigmented skin left behind from a breakout. Acne scars can be raised or depressed skin lesions resulting from extra or little collagen production. In contrast, acne pigmentation is caused by extra melanin deposition in the skin where acne breakout is.
What can I do to prevent or reduce acne pigmentation?
There are some tips that you can follow, including:
- Treat the underlying active acne, usually as per advice or treatment recommendations provided by a dermatologist with expertise in managing acne breakouts. There are many treatments available to manage and treat acne such as prescription creams, tablets, and lasers.
- Do not pick acne as it can lead to deeper inflammation of the skin and significant pigmentation.
- Apply ret-ino-id and azelaic acid-based skin products on the acne lesions to clear acne from the skin while reducing melanin production. Ret-inoid-s encourage exfoliation of the skin while azelaic acid works to reduce skin inflammation, both reducing melanin production.
- Daily wear sunscreen of high SPF and sun protective clothing to keep the skin sun protected. Frequent or over sunlight exposure stimulates pigmentation of the skin which can cause acne to leave behind marks.
- Incorporate Vitamin C-based skincare products in your skincare routine. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps reduce the appearance of skin discoloration, dark spots, and uneven skin tone.
- Regularly moisturise the skin to keep the skin well hydrated and nourished so that the acne pigmentation appearance fades out.
- Pamper pigmented skin with a sheet mask. A sheet mask can allow essential, natural skin ingredients to penetrate deep into the skin and leave it healthy, hydrated, and radiant.
How is acne pigmentation treated in a clinic?
Firstly, dermatologists recommend people having acne pigmentation apply sunscreen and moisturiser daily, which is best for their skin type, and then go with the prescribed skin care at home. They even suggest the use of azelaic acid peels, glycolic acid peels, and black acetic acid peels along with Nomelan peels. These are all the acid solutions of varying strengths called chemical peels. Chemical peels work by gently exfoliating the skin and reducing the appearance of pigmented skin while encouraging the growth of new skin cells.
Sometimes, acne pigmentation is very deep-seated, much beyond the reach of these chemical peels. Then in such cases, dermatologist in Bangalore, Dr. Rasya Dixit recommends either Fractional CO2 laser skin resurfacing or Carbon laser toning. The lasers generally work by producing excess heat and thermally breaking down the pigment molecules called melanin, found in excess in the pigmented area. Both ablative and non-ablative laser treatments provide quick, impressive improvement in the appearance of pigmented skin.
Fractional CO2 laser therapy helps resurface the skin by causing controlled heat injury to the skin. The heat from the laser removes the top, damaged skin layers to reveal the fresh and glowing skin underneath. The body responds to the skin injury by stimulating its natural healing response where collagen synthesis takes place, leaving the skin healthier, firmer, and youthful.
Carbon laser toning involves the use of a non-ablative laser: Q-switched Nd: YAG. The beam of light from the Q-switched Nd: YAG laser is applied to the pigmented skin that is covered with activated carbon lotion. The liquid carbon dries to absorb all the skin impurities, excess oil, and dead skin cells and the laser light works to get rid of the carbon particles along with its stuck substances.
For more details on these acne pigmentation removal treatment and acne spots removal treatment cost in Bangalore, get in touch with a dermatologist today!
Where to get the best clinic treatment for acne pigmentation?
Acne pigmentation is treatable with a variety of home remedies, clinic treatments and proper skincare. In any case, it is important to consult an experienced dermatologist who is an expert in managing acne and its pigmentation. Dr. Dixit Cosmetic Dermatology Clinic offers the best and most advanced, affordable acne pigmentation treatments from top-notch dermatologists. If you want to know your eligibility for any acne spots and pigmentation treatment in Bangalore and know more about your personalised treatment plan, consult our expert team today!
You can also this video for more details-
