For many, the worst aspect of having acne-riddled skin is the legacy it leaves behind, especially when it comes to scarring.
Acne scarring can depend on a few factors, such as an infection or as a result of popping a spot, but most commonly they develop as a complication of severe acne.
Generally, there are normally 3 types of acne scars to look out for:
- Ice pick scars – small, deep holes on your skin.
- Rolling scars – raised, wide scars, which can make your skin look uneven, caused by scar tissue which is formed under the skin.
- Boxcar scars – the most common acne scar and are round, deep scars that are wider than ice pick scars.
The treatment for these different types of scars can depend on your skin type. While these scars may fade over time and start to lose their colour, the indentation they leave behind can be trickier to eradicate. Thankfully, there are several in-clinic procedures that can help eliminate the scar completely and leave you with beautiful, flawless radiant skin, ensuring the acne is almost a forgotten memory!
Chemical Peels
A popular aesthetic treatment, chemical peels smooth texture and lighten pigmentation so scarring may become less visible. As an added bonus, by removing the top layer of skin from your face, they can also unclog your pores.
The chemical peel you should choose depends on the type of skin you have. For instance, salicylic acid is best for greasy and acne-prone skin, glycolic acid is best for normal/oily skin types, while mandelic acid is perfect for those who have darker skin tones.
As a general rule, however, chemical peels aren’t usually the best if you have very raised scars (such as rolling scars), but there is another way to help reduce that type of scarring.
Fillers
Enter dermal fillers. Dermal fillers are particularly effective for rolling scars and some less defined boxcar scars. They are safe and well-tolerated, with great results to fill the depression associated with scars and they counteract volume loss that you get as a side effect of the acne scars.
Microneedling
For those who do not wish to have an injectable, microneedling can be beneficial.
This treatment works by inducing the body to produce new collagen to replace the old, unsightly scarring to leave the skin looking better and vibrant. Scarring on the face is less visible, and the skin appears healthier.
In the case of depressed acne scars, the new collagen fills up the depressions leaving the skin looking even. Also, in some instances, the acne scarring may lead to an uneven skin tone. The newly laid collagen will also help even out the skin tone leaving the skin looking smooth.
Lasers
Finally, for those who was to avoid an invasive treatment completely, lasers can be a winner and offer two benefits.
First, heat from the laser works to remove the top layer of your skin where a scar has formed. As this top layer of your scar peels off, your skin appears smoother, and the appearance of the scar is less noticeable.
The number one rule of avoiding acne scars – is by not touching, picking or squeezing the spots. While it’s very tempting when a spot looks like it’s about to pop and needs a bit of encouragement, but that’s how infections can develop and spots become irritated, leading ultimately to scarring.
