Discover how to stop any new acne
scarring, and how to treat existing acne
scars
Preventing and
eliminating acne scars is yet another
great concern shared by acne sufferers all in addition
to the day-to-day agony inflicted by acne itself. It
appears that many acne sufferers are more troubled by
the consequences of their blemishes, e.g. acne scars and
lesions than from their acne. The main logic behind this
phenomenon is that acne is in most cases and is
perceived to be a temporary event whereas most acne
scars are thought to be permanent.
Although there are
effective acne scar treatments available today, there
are types of acne that can cause deep scarring which
cannot be completely eliminated. That is one of the main
reason why it is so important to prevent acne scarring
in the first place to avoid permanent scars, the costs
and the emotional stress involved in treating and living
with acne scars.
In this report I will
discuss types of acne scars, how to treat and most
importantly how to prevent acne scars by fixing the
internal cause of your acne.
Acne Scars: Causes, Types and Prognosis
It has been studied
that most acne scars result from severe acne, usually
cysts and nodules, which occur in deeper layer of the
dermis. Scars can also be caused by a skin injury as a
result of picking the skin, by overgrowth of skin
tissue, by cystic acne that penetrates deep into the
dermis or as a result of an infection.
Some studies have also
shown that some acne sufferers are more prone for
scarring than others regardless of what type of acne
they had. Acne scars are often the end result of a
skewed wound healing process: when a response to
inflammation, improper collagen deposit, rebuilding
elastin, the formation of new capillaries and anabolic
and catabolic phases are all part of the healing
equation.
Be that as it may, acne
scars, should be treated as early as possible to prevent
permanent damage to the tissue.
Basically there are two
types of acne scars. The first type is an increased skin
tissue formation and the second type is when there is a
loss of skin tissue.
Acne scars with
increased skin tissue:
The most common acne
scars characterized by increased skin tissue are Keloids
scars. Keloids are firm, irregular shaped scars that are
usually smooth and are formed when the cells produce too
much collagen as part of the healing process. . It is
known that people with dark complexions are more prone
to develop keloids.
Acne scars with
loss of skin tissue:
Acne spots:
these acne scars are characterized by some type
of discoloration of the skin to red or brown. Acne spots
often fade away naturally or with the use of topical
scar treatments. Post inflammatory hyper pigmentation,
which usually appears after a breakout, also fades away
naturally, but to accelerate the process some have used
MSM with great success.
Ice-pick
lesions: these acne scars share the resemblance
to cuts on ice made by an ice pick. They can be
superficial or deep and the most common place these acne
scars turn out is the cheeks. Ice pick scars are more
resistant to treatment than discoloration scars.
Depressed
fibrotic scarring: these acne scars are rigid
and white and often result from deep nodules. They have
sharp margins and steep sides.
Atrophic scar
macules: These acne scars are white colored,
small and soft and distensible.
There are other types
of acne scars like boxcar scars which
are have round indentations and vertical edges and
rolling acne scars which are the result
of an adhesion of skin surface to the subcutaneous
layer.
Acne Scars Treatments
Although most acne
scars tend to fade away in time (like Post inflammatory
pigmentations), some acne scars are more resistant and
the only way to make them less apparent is by using some
sort of acne scar treatment, from topical treatment to
surgical cosmetic intervention.
Each type of acne scar
requires a different scar treatment. Some scars require
the combination of several acne scar elimination methods
to maximize results. There is myriad of treatments for
acne scars and they include: pulsed laser technology,
dermabrasion, chemical peels, laser resurfacing, punch
techniques, collagen injections and creams.
Collagen
injection is an acne scar treatment where skin
collagen is injected under the skin. It is suitable most
for soft scars, which are either shallow or deep. The
results of collagen or fat injection are short term as
they should be repeated every 6 months, Collagen
injections have some side effects as incorrect
positioning and allergy reactions.
Microdermabrasion is an acne
scar treatment involving the passing of tiny particles
through a vacuum tool aimed at scraping the external top
layer of the skin. The process of scraping stimulates
and enhances new cell growth. Microdermabrasion is
effective only with mild scarring.
Laser
resurfacing is a process in which laser is used
to flatten and resurface the skin layer so that scars
will become more even with skin surface and therefore
les apparent. Laser resurfacing can cause side effects
such as increased redness, infection and even aggravated
scars. It has been studied that old acne scars respond
less to laser treatments than newly formed acne
scars.
Punch
grafting is a procedure that involves the
cutting of the acne scar all the way down to the layer
of fat and then using a small skin graft stitching the
hole.
MSM, and Alpha lipoic
acid acne cream have been used with great success for
post hyper pigmentation marks. Ice pick scars are
treated by dermabrasion or laser resurfacing. Flat or
thin scars usually require Collagen injections, which is
not the recommended treatment for ice pick scars. As for
keloids acne scars, they are usually treated with
steroid injections, pulsed laser treatment combined with
carbon dioxide laser vaporization (when the keloid scar
is not so thick or red), silicone gel dressing or
crytotherapy.
How To Prevent Acne Scars
The best and probably
the cheapest most effective way to avoid all the costs
and side effects of acne scar treatments is to get rid
of your acne in the first place. The only way you could
ever cure your acne permanently is by fixing the
internal cause of your acne and not by using
conventional medication, steroids, over the counters or
topical acne treatments.
If you fix the deep
internal factors that are causing your acne to form in
the first place, you will surely prevent any acne
scarring and the costs and treatments involved in trying
to eliminate them.
Although acne form of
the skin surfaces and so do acne scars as a result of
acne, acne is not a problem with your skin, but with
your deep internal balance. The cause of acne is
internal and so is the internal cause of acme
scarring.
You have the ability to
eliminate acne scars before they form by stopping the
process of acne formation from the root. Only this way
you will be able to enjoy lasting acne freedom with no
fear of acne scars and their heavy emotional and
esthetic consequences.
|