Acne breakouts at any stage in life can be frustrating and acne scars that are left behind are even more frustrating. Post-acne scars can significantly affect anyone’s quality of life, especially at a younger age. Necessary medical intervention, assessment and acne scars treatment of the severity of scarring are necessary.
But there is good news. With technological advancement in aesthetics industry, acne scars treatment is available using different devices, technologies and provided by dermatologists. Prior to your acne scars treatment, it is important to treat acne because recurring acne breakouts will lead to recurring acne scars.
Types of Acne Scars and Acne Scar Treatments
Acne scars are developed when an acne breakout is not properly managed and it damages the tissue beneath the skin when it goes deep in to the skin. There are different types of acne breakouts and it is important to know your acne type so the treatment is according to it.
Here are the main types of acne:
1) Whiteheads.
2) Blackheads.
3) Papules.
4) Pustules.
5) Nodules.
6) Cysts.
Similarly, there are different types of acne scars for which different types of acne scars treatments are available
- Ice-pick scars – they are deep, narrow, pitted scars
- Rolling scars – these are broad depressions with a sloping edge
- Boxcar scars – they are broad depressions with sharply defined edges
- Atrophic scars – these are flat, thin scars or depressed scars
- Hypertrophic or keloid scars – they are thick lumpy scars.
Acne Scars Treatment for Ice Pick Scars
What are ice pick scars? This type of acne scars is severe and difficult to treat at home and because they are deep inside the skin. As the name suggests, ice pick scars leave the skin looking as if it was punctured by a tiny ice pick. They can appear on face and is most common in teen agers.
Like all other types of acne scars they are vestige of a severe acne breakout. They are usually caused by cystic acne and pustules that are deep in the skin.
Acne scars treatment for this type of scars is include:
- Skin grafting
- Laser resurfacing
- Microneedling
- Microdermabrasion
- Chemical peels
- Morpheus RF microneedling
Acne Scars Treatment for Rolling Scars
Rolling scars occur on the skin because of bands of scar tissue that form under the skin. This type of acne scars gives the skin surface an uneven appearance. Rolling scars are characterized by their sloping edges, that result in a wavy and uneven look and appearance of the skin. These scars are uneven in size as the original acne lesion that caused them, as the size depends on how the skin heals. The most common areas for these types of acne scars to appear are cheeks and jawline. It is important to meet your dermatologist to discuss available acne scars treatment in Islamabad.
Acne scars treatment for this type of scars is include:
- Skin or dermal grafting
- Laser resurfacing
- Microneedling
- Microdermabrasion
- Chemical peels
- Morpheus RF microneedling
- Cryotherapy
- Subcision
Other acne scars treatment options for rolling scars could be any or a combination of the following:
- Combined therapy
- Laser resurfacing and light therapies
- Autologous fat transfer
- Topical creams
Acne Scars Treatment for Atrophic Scars
Sometimes severe acne breakouts and skin diseases like chicken pox leave behind acne scars that are called atrophic scars. There are a few acne scars treatments available for atrophic scars such as:
- Chemical peeling
- Dermal fillers
- Microneedling therapy
- Skin grafting
Acne scars treatment for atrophic scars can reduce the appearance of unevenness and indentation on skin surface and eliminate feelings of insecurity. It is important to know that it takes consistency and patience to get the desired results from any acne scars treatment.
Acne Scars Treatment for Boxcar Scars
The type of scars that result from acne or diseases like chicken pox are called Boxcar scars. There are a number of aesthetic acne scars treatments for boxcar scars that help in reduction of their appearance.
These scars are also called pockmarks/craters and can cause low self-esteem in people facing this kind of issue. These scars are also atrophic in nature that cannot go away on their own and cannot be treated at home.
For acne scars treatment of boxcar scars, it is recommended to consult a professional dermatologist and get acne scars treatment accordingly.
The types of acne scars treatments available are:
- Ablative and non-ablative laser resurfacing for acne scars treatment
- Morpheus 8 for acne scars treatment
- Microdermabrasion & dermabrasion for acne scars treatment
- Fillers for acne scars treatment
Boxcar scars need immediate medical attention. It is important to see your dermatologist and explore available options of acne scars treatment.
Treatment for Atrophic Scars
As the skin fails to produce adequate amount of collagen, after an outbreak of acne of skin diseases like measles of chickenpox and other inflammatory conditions.
They can also be a result of any accident, trauma, surgery or genetic disorders. The appearance of acne scars can always be stressful and uncomfortable.
People with acne scars resort to multiple at-home remedies and OTC treatments. It is always advised to consult dermatologists to get medical grade acne scars treatment to counter the appearance of scars.
The types of acne scars treatments available for atrophic scars are:
- Ablative and non-ablative laser resurfacing
- Morpheus 8
- Microdermabrasion & dermabrasion
- Fillers
Treatment for Hypertrophic Scars (Keloids)
A keloid is a hypertrophic scar that is an elevated/raised buildup of scar tissue on the skin. Hypertrophic scar is an abnormal response to wound healing, trauma or post-surgery.
Treatments for hypertrophic scars include medication, freezing, injections, lasers and surgery.
Treatment Strategy
You must always see and consult a dermatologist before you start acne scars treatment for professional advice. Only a professional doctor will help you and guide you properly and determine the best treatment available for your skin condition that may comprise of one or a combination of treatments to get the desired results.
Apart from aesthetic treatments, your doctor may also advice medication to help control the root cause first.