Acne Scars

ACNE SCARS

Acne scars seem like double punishment: first you had the wonderful experience of having acne and now you are blessed with the scars as a reminder. On top of that, it can be difficult to disguise some acne scarring with makeup. If you are uncomfortable with the appearance of your skin, learn more about acne scars and treatment below.

TYPES OF ACNE SCARS

It helps to understand the different types of acne in order to figure out the best treatment for your acne scars. So first of all, exactly what is acne? Acne occurs when your pores get clogged and oil is trapped in the glands under the skin. This oil allows bacteria to grow which creates the pus filled bumps we call pimples.

The mildest form of acne is non-inflammatory and results in blackheads or whiteheads. This type of acne does not usually cause much scarring—unless you have been trying to extract the blackhead or pop the whitehead, damaging the skin in the process. The most serious acne scars are caused by inflammatory acne such as papules, pustules or the most severe, nodules, which are painful, pus-filled cysts under the surface of the skin.

The acne scar type will depend on the damage done to the skin and how the skin heals afterward. You might find that you have more than one type of acne scarring:

  • Ice pick – visible deep hole in the skin, usually the result of cystic acne
  • Boxcar – depressed, round scar
  • Rolling – bumpy or wavy skin surface
  • Hypertrophic – raised, thickened lump
  • Skin discolouration – reddish or brownish marks

TREATMENT OF ACNE SCARS

The best approach to acne scars is prevention: seek treatment for your acne as soon as it appears in order to prevent it from getting worse and potentially leaving scars. The acne has to be under control before your scars can be treated, so early intervention is really the best acne treatment around.

Most of the time, skin discolouration eventually fades and doesn’t require treatment. Acne scars that actually change the volume or texture of the skin unfortunately will not fade with time, but there are treatments for acne scars available such as the Fraxel Laser  and dermal fillers.

If you would like to learn more about the treatment of acne scars, please contact us. We would be happy to help you or book a consultation with one of our doctors.

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