Acne Scars: Why They Happen & How To Treat It

Most of us have no choice but to live with the dark marks and scars that acne has to leave behind. If these skin problems are not addressed promptly and effectively, they are more likely to worsen. That’s why experts would always advise people to act fast and prevent acne from worsening, as it can lead to scarring.

In the case that you are currently struggling with acne scars, effective means of treating or handling acne scars such as laser treatment for acne scars are possible to fade away its appearance.

Scars are usually permanent, but when you start to notice them, it’s best that you see a dermatologist right away. If you have acne marks and scars, you don’t have to accept that they will stay with you forever. With the right procedures, you can get rid of them.

What’s the Root Cause of Acne Scarring?

Acne scars are common for everyone, particularly if people don’t know how to care for their skin properly. When a pimple, lesion, or cyst becomes inflamed, collagen is caused to repair the cut, but the skin structure will change according to the severity and depth of the infection. Excess oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells will clog swollen pores, causing inflammation. When the pore swells, the follicle’s walls are broken.

Scars develop as an infected material extends through the healthy layers of skin tissue. Fresh collagen fibres produced naturally by the body to reconstruct tissues that have been destroyed by inflammation are continually produced. However, the body also produces too much collagen, resulting in elevated or discoloured skin tissue that is not as smooth as the skin.

Is Acne Scar Preventable?

Stubborn acne can lead to scarring, and it can cause a lot of stress for a lot of people. Let’s skin experts’ advice to treat and prevent acne scarring immediately. Here’s what you can do:

Counteract the Inflammation

Your primary goal should still be to reduce inflammation and prevent irritating your skin. Reduced inflammation is one way to decrease the chances of acne getting worse. Scrubbing and harsh skincare products should be stopped.

Avoid Acne Popping/Picking

You risk exposing the skin’s inner layers to bacteria if you want to touch your pimple. Acne will spread if you pop a pimple. If you’re lucky, the pimple will go down, but for most of us, it will leave a scar. This tip is quite important, especially if you have been trying to keep your skin smooth and flawless. Once you start picking on that pimple, soon, you will be dealing with deeper acne that can potentially leave a scar.

How to Treat Acne Scars?

Here are some of the acne scar treatment that you can consider if you’ve been struggling with your acne scars for a long time:

Laser Resurfacing Treatments

When dealing with severe acne scars, dermatologists strongly suggest laser treatments. Fortunately, you would not experience any pain as a result of the medicinal cream added prior to the surgery. Scars and stains are treated with the laser by scraping the surface layer of infected skin. Laser resurfacing treatments should be done in a series of sessions depending on the skin condition. Although the treatment is known for its effectiveness, patients should be patient with the results.

Chemical Peels

A specialised chemical peel procedure is one of the best treatments for a superficial acne scar. The dermatologist is in charge of applying a strong chemical substance in the area of the skin where the scar is located. This chemical replaces the outer layer of the skin, leaving you with clearer, softer skin. Redness and peeling can appear a few days after a chemical peel procedure. This treatment is generally safe as it can also be done at home, but it’s advisable to have it done by a skin specialist.

Cosmetic Fillers

Cosmetic fillers include injecting filler substances into the acne scar. Collagen, hyaluronic acid (HA), and even the patient’s own fat are examples of such compounds, which tend to reduce scar appearance as it fills the skin layer and makes the skin smooth. This treatment should be used on an ongoing basis to treat acne scars when they are dissolved by the skin and require further collagen filling before the acne scar is completely healed.

Dermabrasion

This treatment reduces or eliminates the depth of the scar. Dermabrasion is a procedure that involves a dermatologist wearing down the outer layer of the skin with a rotating wire brush. It is possible that this operation would take longer to recover. When it has completely healed, though, it is well worth the wait because you will have cleaner and more polished skin.

In-Home Treatments

Dark marks react better to the most effective natural therapies. However, other specialist therapies such as laser therapy and derma fillers may be used in conjunction with or during these home remedies. Aloe vera, honey, potato, lemon, and apple cider vinegar are some of the widely used ingredients that can be utilised at home to help cure and avoid further acne scar formation. These herbal medicines are both healthy and beneficial to the skin. The slight acne mark that has been bothering you will vanish in no time if you have enough patience.