Your body is an incredibly efficient healing machine, and when it’s injured, it does all it can to protect itself.  Acne is an infection, and just like getting a cut, your body responds by sending white blood cells and other molecules that help fight the infection to the wounded site.  After the healing process is complete, a scar forms at the site of the repair leaving the skin not as smooth as it was before the acne.

Let’s discuss some various types of scars and some methods that doctors use to help you looking healthy again.

Types of Acne Scars:

The first thing you should know about acne scars is that everyone has a different tendency to scar.  The same type of acne on one person may only result in minimal to no acne scarring, while the other person may experience more severe acne scarring.  Bottom line, everyone is different.

Acne scars come in two types – scars that are caused by the loss of tissue and scars that are caused by increased tissue formation.

Depressed Scars – These acne scars distinguish themselves by their loss of tissue.  Some depressed acne scars result in a rupture that can cause a loss of collagen giving rise to a deep recess or depression.  The skin above the acne scar is left unsupported due to the lack of tissue below it and a saucer shaped or jagged “Ice Pick” acne scar is formed.  Ice Pick scars are more common on the face.

Keloids – In some people, the acne scar forms in a reverse fashion.  With the loss of collagen, the body triggers fibroblasts that produce excessive collagen, producing scar tissues called keloids.  Keloids are more commonly found on male torsos. Another type of increased tissue formation scar is called hypertrophic or overgrowth acne scar.

Acne Scar Treatments:

The good news is that most acne scars can be treated by your dermatologist using various acne treatments.  Consult your dermatologist to discuss costs and the results you’re looking for from the treatment.  You need to be aware of the varying success rates for treating your type of acne scarring.

The most common treatments for acne scarring are – collagen treatment, laser treatment, dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, skin surgery, and skin grafting.  Keloids may be left untreated if it is felt that further acne treatment will only form additional keloids.  Keloids can sometimes be treated with steroid injections.  Speak with your dermatologist to see what may work for you.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your dermatologist for your medical concerns.

The least enjoyable part of the whole acne experience is the possibility of acne scars.  These acne scars can remain long after the acne has been cleared from your skin.  If you’re looking for ways to avoid getting acne scars, then here are a few tips:

Prevention is Better Than Cure

If you are just starting to get acne, you may want to consult your dermatologist during this early stage to try and prevent your acne from getting worse and causing those unwanted acne scars.  Getting rid of your acne quickly will greatly reduce your chances of getting acne scarring.  A qualified dermatologist will help you determine your skin type and discuss with you the various “triggers” that often exacerbate acne.

What if I already have scars?

If you acne has already progressed beyond the initial stages of whiteheads and blackheads, you’ll need to concentrate on getting rid of the pimples and preventing acne scars.  Before you can get rid of the acne scars, you’ll need to know a few things:

What are Acne Scars?

Acne scars are usually formed when pimples either get very inflamed or do not fully heal.  Acne scars are formed when at least one of the layers of healthy skin is injured.  Within the damaged skin, your body forms new tissue fibers within the wound.  This process stops the acne bleeding, but leaves excess tissue that appears as an acne scar.

In order to get rid of acne scars, the acne scar tissue must be replaced by healthy tissue via some process or method.  The ability to completely clear-up your acne scars depends on two things:  1) The severity of the scarring, and 2) the treatment method you follow.  The more severe the acne scarring, the longer the healing process.

Treatment Methods for Acne Scars

While there are various methods on the market to assist you in healing acne scars, very few of them actually work.  As always, consult your own dermatologist to discuss which method is right for you.  Some methods have side effects that you should be aware of before starting the acne scar healing process.

Some of the more common acne scarring reduction programs are listed below:

Laser Resurfacing – Uses a carbon dioxide laser to burn away damaged skin, layer by layer.  As the outer layers of damaged skin are slowly removed, new skin cells can begin to grow and the healing process begins.  After a few weeks, a younger more healthier looking skin appears.  This is still a fairly new process, so it’s full effectiveness is still being accessed.

Dermabrasion – This process uses a spinning diamond instrument or wire brush to gradually wear down the outer layers of your skin, similar to laser resurfacing.  Over time, younger, smoother skin will replace the old skin that was removed by the abrasion.  The healing process can take up to 3 weeks.

Chemical Peels for Acne Scars – This approach applies acidic solutions to the skin to peel away the damaged layers.  The new skin that eventually forms is usually smoother.  These chemical peels range from very mild to deep penetration.  While some chemical peels can be applied at home, it is recommended to have your dermatologist perform the procedure for you.

Punch Grafts – This is most suited for those with deep or pitted acne scars.  This method involves punching a hole in your skin to remove the scar, then removing a small piece of undamaged healthy skin (usually from the area behind the ear) to replace the damaged skin.

Do These Acne Scar Treatments Work?

The acne scar treatments listed above seem to have a moderate success rate.  Ask your dermatologist which method is best for your skin type.  Each person is different.  What works for one may not be practical for another.  Be certain to address all the pros-and-cons with your dermatologist and before you know it, you’ll have healthier and better looking acne free skin.