Perhaps one of the most lasting effects of teenage acne is acne scarring. These scars can persist for years, never disappearing in quite a few cases. Even mild acne can scar, but most of the time is it severe acne that leave very visible scars. Popping pimples can lead to acne scars as well. There are a few things you can do to try and minimize scarring, but sometimes the scars happen and there is nothing you can do about it. This is especially true with severe forms of acne, such as cystic acne, where the acne lesions persist for weeks or sometimes months and leave behind very noticeable acne scars.

Types of Acne Scars

There are a few different classifications for acne scars, and may require differing treatment plans:

Ice pick scars are characterized by deep pits in the skin, and are the classic ance scar most people would think of first.

Boxcar scars are more angular, usually occur on the temples and cheeks, and vary in deptch from superficial to very deep. These scars often resemble chickenpox scarring.

Hypertrophic scars are thickened scars usually associated with the more severe types of acne. They are caused by repeated acne infections in the same spot, leading to a thickening of the scar tissue there.

There are other classifications for acne scars as well, but these are the more common types. See your dermatologist for more information on the types of scarring you may have.

Treating Your Acne Scars

Most successful acne scar treatment involves seeing a physician as the first step. The procedures to remove acne scars are usually surgical or at least require the assistance of a physician. There are several options available. Some of the more common are discussed below.

1. Punch Excision

This acne scar treatment basically uses a precise made-to-fit tool that exactly matches the shape of the scar to “punch out” the scar tissue. The wound is then sewn together and allowed to heal normally. This method can completely eliminate the scar if the new wound heals cleanly; even if it doesn’t, the much smaller scar lends itself to easier laser resurfacing.

2. Laser Resurfacing

This procedure is both fast and popular. Usually an outpatient procedure, laser resurfacing involves actually burning away a very precisely calculated amount of skin at the site of the scar. The new skin that grows in will be smoother and reduces or eliminates the appearance of scars.

3. Dermal Fillers

This treatment is not a surgery, but involves the injection of a dermal filler like collagen directly into the site of a scar. This is best used on deep pit-type scars, as it works my raising the skin surface, filling out the pockmark.



Thanks to Abhishek Agarwal for contributing this article to our Acne blog:

Acne Treatment During Pregnancy

Did you know that acne scars are much more common than physicians once perceived, because many individuals have only mild acne scars, while others display more massive acne scars in comparison to others.

To minimize the risk of permanent acne scars, the very best approach is that of prevention and treating the acne as soon as possible, since it is probable that even mild acne causes scarring.

Acnezine is the best acne scar treatment, and will aid in the prevention of acne leaving different types of acne scars.

There are two different types of tissue responses to the inflammation of acne that produces acne scars; these are increased tissue formation, and loss of tissue.

- Increased Tissue Formation Acne

Increased tissue formation scars are hypertrophy scars or keloids. Hypertrophy translates into overgrowth or enlargement. Excessive amounts of the cell substance collagen is associated with both keloid and hypertrophy scars.

Skin cells response to injury is the overproduction of collagen. Excess collagen then begins piling up in fibrous masses. These results in the characteristic irregularly shaped scars that are smooth and firm.

Keloids are generally a genetic form of keloids after tissue injury that tends to run in families. For instance, African Americans often have the predisposition for keloid formations of injured tissues scarring.

While other family genetics may tend toward developing thick or hypertrophic acne scars.

Acnezine, is a natural acne treatment medication that offers great results in the reduction of this type of acne.

- Loss of Tissues Acne

Loss of tissues acne scars result from a loss of the surrounding tissue, this type of scarring is more common than that of increased tissue formation scarring.

There are several types of acne scars:

- Ice-Pick Acne Scars

Ice-pick acne scars are so named for appearing much like that of an ice pick wound. Most often, they are deep or superficial, although normally small in diameter with very steep sides.

Some are soft, while others may be hard to the touch. Soft acne scars are on the surface while the hard acne scars are much deeper.

Keep in mind that a hard acne scar normally has a wider base that what is viewable at the skins surface.

- Depressed Fibrotic Acne Scars

Depressed fibrotic acne scars normally display steep sides and sharp margins in generally large scars. This type of scarring is often reminiscent to the deep scars left by chicken pox, in appearance.

- Deep Soft and Superficial Acne Scars

Deep soft and superficial acne scars normally display sloping edges that merge into normal skin, while these types of scarring are variable in their size.

- Follicular Macular Atrophy

Follicular macular atrophy most often shows up on the back or chest of someone with acne. These often rise up slightly above the skins surface, while they appear as small soft white lesions. This is more often than not, diagnosed as perifollicular elastolysis.

These lesions look a bit like undeveloped whiteheads and may stay for months and sometimes years.



Thanks to Carnail Adkins for contributing this article to our Acne blog:

Acne Scar Laser Treatment

Acne scarring is an acute problem especially for those who have experienced ugly flare ups of acne in the past. Nearly 80% of all people are affected by acne when they are in their teens and twenties. Though many are left unscathed by acne attacks, some may have life-long scars which can be a constant source of embarrassment. There are many treatment options for treating acne scars ranging from topical skin creams to surgical intervention. Of course the importance of preventive measures can not be undermined especially if you want to avoid a life-long problem.

Preventions is the best way to avoid any future problem with acne. To prevent acne breakouts, it is important to know what causes acne in the first place. One of the easiest ways to prevent acne is to wash your face daily with a mild antibacterial soap and avoid using heavy lotions and creams in areas which are prone to acne.

To hit the right treatment option for acne scars you must know the different classifications of acne scars. You will then know which treatment will suit which type of scars. For instance the ice pick acne scars are sharp and narrow where the skin appears to have been sliced or punctured. Acne scar resurfacing options can not work with such deep scars. Boxcar acne scars on the other hand are round or oval in shape and if they have not penetrated too deeply they can respond to some treatments. Conventional acne scar treatments can not work on rolling scars which are spots just beneath the surface of the skin. These need breaking up the fibrous tissue under the skin.

While there are plenty of acne scar treatment methods , more often, these methods are combined to get the desired results. Dermal fillers is a treatment option where some substances are injected into the scar areas to give the skin a smoother and even look. Fat, bovine and human collagens are some of the substances used in dermal fillers which can not offer a permanent solution and have to be repeated to maintain the results obtained. Deeper acne scars like ice pick and boxcar scars, are usually treated with punch excision. This is a method where the entire scar area is removed and the skin round it is sutured. This method also leaves a scar, which is less noticeable.

Punch excision is used for skin grafting as well. Here in place of suturing the skin together a skin graft is used. Skin from behind the ear is usually the chosen skin. If the color and texture of skin grafting is noticeable after the procedure is complete, it can be rectified using skin resurfacing. Punch elevation is the procedure used for deep boxcar acne scars. Here the scar is removed using a particular tool and then elevating the skin to the level of the normal skin layer and then suturing the skin together. Here there is less risk of color and texture mismatching. It also reduces the visible scars left from punch incision. The method used for breaking the fibrous bands caused under the skin by rolling scars is subcutaneous incision. One of the most popular choices for any skin conditioning or repairing is laser resurfacing. It works by burning the top layer of the skin which is replaced soon by new and healthy skin as it heals with time.

Though there are plenty of ways for treating acne scars prevention is the best way to avoid this problem of scar removal. In case you feel that you need treatment for your acne scars, you must first consult your physician, who will refer you to a dermatologist who will help you with your acne scar treatment. While you are going to choose the best method for your acne scar treatment you must also pay equal attention to its efficacy and the cost involved. Sometimes you might have to choose a combination of therapies like combining punch elevation with laser resurfacing.

These complementary methods could result in minimal scarring caused by surgical intervention. It is important to get professional advice from doctors who are adequately qualified with the right credential. Also important to note is that there are plenty of over the counter products which promise complete acne scar removal. Though these may reduce the ugliness of the scars temporarily, your doctor is the best judge to offer remedial actions when it comes to a permanent solution.



Thanks to Marlon Dirk for contributing this article to our Acne blog:

New Acne Medication

Acne scars are scars that are left behind after a person has had acne. There are two types of acne scars. Pitted scars happen when the underlying skin tissue has been damaged. Pigmented scars (either red or brown) are marks left behind after the acne has cleared up.

It is best to use an acne scar treatment as soon as possible after the scars appear.

After an acne lesion has healed, it can leave a red or hyperpigmented mark on the skin. This is actually not a scar, but rather a post-inflammatory change. The redness or hyperpigmentation is seen as the skin goes through its healing and remodeling process, which takes approximately 6-12 months. If no more acne lesions develop in that area, the skin can heal normally. Any color change or skin defect still present after 1 year is considered to be a permanent defect or scar.

Causes of Acne Scars

In the simplest terms, scars form at the site of an injury to tissue. They are the visible reminders of injury and tissue repair. In the case of acne, the injury is caused by the body’s inflammatory response to sebum, bacteria and dead cells in the plugged sebaceous follicle. Two types of true scars exist, as discussed later: (1) depressed areas such as ice-pick scars, and (2) raised thickened tissue such as keloids.

Acne Scar Treatment

So you’ve followed our tips on combating acne and your skin is blemish free, but now you’re left with red or brown spots or your skin appears to be pitted. There are two ways to deal with acne scars. The easier option is prevention. Most acne scars are caused by the type of acne known as cysts. These are painful, red bumps underneath the skin. If you pop this type of blemish it is more than likely that you will develop a scar. Even though it may be uncomfortable, you need to use the right treatments and let your skin heal.

If you have done your best to treat your acne and you still end up with scars, it is not the end of the world. Pigmented scars are red or brown marks left behind after an acne blemish has disappeared. Pitted scarring is a result of damage to underlying skin tissue. There are ways to plump up and repair that tissue. Pigmented scarring is the most common and while it is not permanent, it can take weeks or months for it to clear. This news may make you want to run and hide under a rock, but don’t worry there is hope for your damaged skin.

Surgical Treatment

Subcision is a process used to treat deep rolling scars left behind by acne or other skin diseases. Essentially the process involves separating the skin tissue in the affected area from the deeper scar tissue. This allows the blood to pool under the affected area, eventually causing the deep rolling scar to level off with the rest of the skin area. Once the skin has leveled, treatments such as laser resurfacing, microdermabrasion or chemical peels can be used to smooth out the scarred tissue.



Thanks to Peter sams for contributing this article to our Acne blog:

Home Remedies For Acne Scars