Acne Marks Vs Acne Scars
Most pimples leave behind evidence. Our hope is that their marks are superficial. If your skin remains smooth in dark or red areas, you simply have an acne mark. Those marks are not scars they are just temporarily discolored. It usually takes 3-6 months for the marks to disappear.
However, if you have a scar, youre dealing with permanent skin damage that needs treatment in order to disappear. An acne scar changes the texture of the skin. If acne has left indentations, or raised spots, the damage has occurred at a deeper level in the skin. This cobblestoning effect indicates scarring that needs more than a surface-level treatment.
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The best intervention for smooth skin is prevention. If youre experiencing acne, you need to take steps to keep these scars from occurring. Treat new acne immediately, working with your dermatologist to find the best treatment option for you. And dont pop pimples! Youll just create more long-term damage.
If you notice that your skin remains bumpy after a pimple has cleared, visit your dermatologist for an early treatment plan. The ultimate goal is to stop the scars from forming.
Treat Acne Scars Today
Treating acne scars takes the right combination of patience and the right acne scar treatment for your skin and scar type. A series of several treatments with your preferred acne scar treatment will be able to smooth the appearance of your skin sometimes even permanently. If you want to start treating acne scars today so you can feel more confident, please contact Your Skin RN in Kitchener, ON to schedule your consultation today.
Acne Scar Treatment No: Ipl Laser
If its good enough for Kendall Jenner, its good enough for us. The reality star admitted that laser treatments did wonders for her skin when she was scrutinised by the public for suffering from acne. IPL lasers are non-invasive and extremely gentle to skin, so its the perfect lunch time treatment.
‘Not just for hair removal, IPL lasers have a fantastic anti-inflammatory role and can take action against the bacteria that cases acne,’ says Dr. Mahto, ‘but they also work well to reduce redness and skin staining. Just be prepared to undergo multiple sessions and maintenance treatments for good results.’
The problem with most lasers are that they work better on paler skin due to pigments, so wont be your best bet for darker skin tones.
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Acne Scars Or Hyperpigmentation
Acne scarring and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can both occur after a breakout, but the two are actually very different and thus a different approach is required when it comes to fading them.
“Acne scars occur when too much collagen forms in a particular spot while a wound is healing,” explains dermatologist Dr Dennis Gross. “The scar often develops within the dermis, where the original acne-induced inflammation formed.”
When someone has cystic acne, there’s a higher probability of having rolling or boxcar scarring especially if they are picked at before they are ready, or too aggressively,” says Marshall. Aesthetic practitioner and ambassador for Filorga, Dr Philippe Hamida-Pisal agrees. “Acne scarring is due to touching and squeezing spots. This damages small veins, glands and tissues surrounding the spots which creates scarring,” he says.
Unlike acne scarring, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is simply a form of skin pigmentation , which occurs as a result of trauma to the skin. As it doesn’t damage the follicle, it isn’t considered a true form of scarring.
According to Ayodele, certain skin types and tones are more likely to experience this post-acne redness. “Darker skin tones are more prone to hyperpigmentation because of the higher levels on melanin in the skin. This means that whenever there is any trauma, the melanin cells quickly leap into action to produce more melanin to defend and protect against that trauma,” she says.
Removing Pitted Or Raised Scars
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Do Acne Scars Fade Away Naturally
The truth is, most of the acne will naturally go away after puberty, but varying from person to person, acne and its symptoms might stay even in adulthood.
However, acne is not the only problem the more obvious problem is the scars that they leave behind. Although most of the scars can fade, it will take more or less time depending on the scar.
After a breakout, the body will try to heal itself by replacing lost skin tissue, and scarring occurs when the body produces too much or too little of the tissue. If too much tissue is produced, a raised scar will occur. On the other hand, if too little of the tissue is produced, it will cause skin depressions, which are known as atrophic scars.
Acne can also leave dark marks, which are technically not scars, but changes in pigmentation. Usually, when the lesion gets popped, the body has to close it back together but might not always close it seamlessly.
To get rid of these dark spots effortlessly, you can try ClearifiRx customized hyperpigmentation treatments to help fade your acne dark spots, leaving your skin smooth, bright, and flawless.
The body is very good at healing itself, but after a trauma like a pit from a popped acne lesion, it might not cover up the proper way. The skin that closes the wound will often change color or texture, and it might happen even if you didnt pop the acne.
However, if you didnt pop the acne, it will probably go away after a couple of months.
Dermatological Procedures To Improve Or Remove Acne Scars
But while certain measures can help prevent new scarring, what are your options for minimizing the appearance of existing scars?
Common procedures to remove or improve acne scars include:
Dermabrasion This effective scar removal treatment uses a high-speed brush or other instrument to resurface your skin and remove or reduce the depth of scars. It can take up to three weeks for skin to heal.
Microdermabrasion For this less-intensive type of dermabrasion, a dermatologist or aesthetician uses a handheld device to remove surface skin. More than one treatment may be required, but theres no downtime, according to the AAD.
Chemical peel During a chemical peel, a chemical solution is applied to the skin. It removes the outer layer of your skin, resulting in a smoother, more even appearance. You may experience redness and peeling for three to seven days after the procedure, notes the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery .
Laser Your dermatologist can use a laser resurfacing treatment to remove the outer layer of your skin, contour areas of acne scars, or lighten redness around healed acne lesions. Healing may take between 3 and 10 days.
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Can I Permanently Remove Acne Scars
Dr. Garshick says the potential removal of acne scars typically depends on the type of scar and the extent of the scarring. “For example, faint discoloration may fade with time and can certainly be improved with topical treatments alone, while deep ‘ice pick’ scarring won’t go away with topicals,” she says.
It’s best to approach acne scars with multiple different treatment modalities that address the different components, so work with your dermatologist to sort out the best regimen for your level of scarring.
In addition to the aforementioned ingredients that you should add to your scar-reducing regimen, Miami-based board-certified dermatologist Annie Gonzalez, M.D., puts equal emphasis on what to avoid when treating acne scars. She steers her patients clear of cleansers and toners containing alcohol, which, she says, can dry out the skin and make the sebaceous glands produce more oil to compensate, thus causing acne and potentially resulting scars.
“It’s also important to note that using too many treatments at once, using extraction tools by yourself, and over-exfoliating can make acne scars worse,” says Gonzalez. “Doing these things could cause inflammation, which may lead to a new acne outbreak. In addition, the skin may become red, which may highlight the appearance of an acne scar.”
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When And Why Does Acne Scar
While acne often makes its presence very known above the skin, the reason it leaves scarring behind actually has to do with what’s happening underneath the skin.
“During a breakout, inflammation is happening underneath your skin. This inflammation causes trauma to skin tissue leading to scarring,” says Christenson. “Whether there’s scarring and how exactly it presents depends on your skin type and the extent of damage.”
The two main types of acne scarring are:
- Discoloration scarring hyperpigmentation that causes the affected skin to remain darker after the blemish has healed
- Indentation scarring more common with severe acne, occurs when the top layer of skin doesn’t fully heal and regenerate leaving an indentation in the skin
“In most cases, acne scarring mirrors how your skin generally scars. Some people’s skin discolors easier than others, for instance. I have a Hispanic background and my skin hyperpigments fairly easily, so I myself am prone to discoloration scarring after a breakout,” adds Christenson.
So…scarring can happen whether you pick at your acne or not, but here’s why you should still avoid the urge to pop.
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Products To Help With Acne Scarring
The treatment is different based on the type of atrophic scar that you have. Fillers can help treat small and deep ice pick scars temporarily. Boxcar scars can, in most cases, be treated with subcision, which can also treat rolling scars pretty well.
On the other hand, hypertrophic scars occur when the body produces excess collagen, which leads to a raised scar.
When the scar occurs, it will usually be pink or purple, but the color will fade over time, and it will match the skin color. Note that if the scar is recent, cortisone can slow down the production of collagen and therefore reduce the appearance of the raised scar. Also, an erbium laser can be used to reshape and decrease the size of the scar.
Keloids can also appear when the body exaggerates trying to repair the inflammation caused by a cyst. They are usually much larger than hypertrophic scars and tend to have a dark color. It is actually pretty rare but is also very difficult to treat. If you happen to have a keloid, then you should try a skincare product that contains a retinoid.
Difference Between Acne Scars And Marks
We often take acne scars and marks as same. But, no they are not.
- The most basic difference between them is that the acne marks are ‘dark in color and flat in shape’, while the acne scars are ‘light in color but indented’.
- Acne scars are completely visible under direct light and are noticeable. On the other hand, due to their flat shape, the acne marks can be hidden behind makeup.
- In terms of visibility, acne marks are more visible on the bare skin due to their dark color. And, the acne scars are not noticeable until one stares at them from very close.
- dot-circle-o Acne marks may be red to brown in color while, acne scars are basically orange-ish in color.
- dot-circle-o Acne scars can be permanent until you get a laser treatment for them. On the other hand, acne marks tend to fade away slowly on their own. Just don’t give much attention to them, and they won’t certainly bother you.
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What Acne Scarring Is Not
An acne scar is a change in texture in your skin. Usually, its depressed. Its not a brown spot. Discoloration is temporary, but texture changes are permanent.
This bumpy texture, also known as cobblestoning, starts when a pimple creates an indentation. If you notice a low spot form from a pimple, get the dermatologist ASAP. The more aggressively you treat this type of acne, the less likely you are to deal with the long-term effects of acne scarring.
What Are Pitted Acne Scars
Pitted acne scars are a name given to acne scars that are characterized by a hollow, indented impression in the skin. This concave appearance is due to a sudden loss of collagen. Unlike hypertrophic scars , which result from an overproduction of collagen, pitted acne scars result from the damage and inflammation of deep breakouts, which create a small pit-like structure on the facehence the name.
According to Camp, pitted acne scars are often categorized based on their appearance, within three common types: boxcar scars, ice pick scars, and rolling scars.
- Boxcar scars: “Boxcar scars are broad and have sharp, well-defined edges. A good example is a chicken-pox scar,” says Camp.
- Ice pick scars:”Ice pick scars are small, narrow, and deep. Because they are deep, they tend to be difficult to treat,” Camp explains.
- Rolling scars:”Rolling scars are similar to boxcar scars but have smooth, undulating edges that make the skin surface look uneven. They tend to be more shallow,” he says.
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What Is Acne Telling You
What Your Acne Is Trying To Tell You About Your Health. Around the eyes: “The skin in this area is associated with kidney health,” explains Shapiro. Conditions such as dark circles under the eyes can indicate impaired kidney function or dehydration. Upper Cheeks: The upper cheeks communicate with the lungs.
What Are The Different Types Of Acne Scars
Due to its inflammatory and bacterial aspects, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation after acne is considered its own category in the world of discoloration and scarring. “This differs from sunspots or hyperpigmentation that is the result of an increase in melanin from UV exposure and environmental stressors lead to free-radical damage that can manifest as brown spots,” Dr. Sarkar explains.
If there’s been too much skin warping by the original pimple, it may cause a scar that looks indented. Or on the other end of the texture spectrum, “when the blemish heals a little too well, you can get an excess of skin added that forms a bump or raised scar,” says Dr. Sarkar. “Either way, acne scars cause a textural change that leaves hills and valleys on the face that bother people greatly.”
Acne scars are slightly different than other pigmentation and texture changes. Many people can have acne without any resulting scab or textural change. “The lesions that tend to form scars are the ones that are really inflamed or really large,” says Dr. Sarkar. She notes that the deeper, more painful acne bumps that have a lot of contents within them tend to be the ones that leave a mark or scab behind. “The worse the acne, the more likely your skin is to have acne scarring,” Dr. Sakar adds.
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Are Acne Scars Permanent
Now time for some good news. Christenson says there are definitely things you can do to reduce acne scarring once you have it.
“The best course of treatment depends on the type of scarring you have, with indentation scarring often requiring more advanced treatment,” says Christenson.
For discoloration acne scarring, start by trying the at-home retail topicals aimed at counteracting hyperpigmentation, such as brightening serums or retinol-containing products.
“The one watch-out about using retinol is that it can make your skin more sun-sensitive. It’s always important to use sunscreen to protect your skin, but be even more diligent about applying sunscreen while using a retinol product,” warns Christenson.
For hyperpigmentation that doesn’t respond to retail products, and for the deeper indentation scarring, Christenson recommends the more advanced treatment options a medical aesthetician can provide, including:
- Chemical peels
- Microneedling
- Prescription brightening products
“Chemical peels are great for both discoloration and indentation scarring, and these peels can also help with what’s called ice pick scarring very deep indentations that form due to severe acne lesions,” explains Christenson. “Microneedling, which uses tiny needles to stimulate your skin’s healing process, works incredibly well to reduce indentation scarring and make your skin look smoother.”
How Do You Get Rid Of Severe Acne Scars
The most effective treatments to get rid of severe acne scars include
- Chemical peels: This involves the use of strong chemicals to remove the outer layer of the skin and reduce the appearance of scars. Some salicylic acid, glycolic acid containing peels are available OTC.
- Botox injections: These are highly effective for acne scars with puckered skin around them. These puckered areas can be treated with botulinum toxin injections to improve the appearance of skin.
- Dermabrasion: The procedure involves the removal of the top, damaged layer of skin with a rapidly rotating wire brush or wheel with a rough surface. The procedure deeply exfoliates the top layer of skin to reduce the appearance of deeper scars.
- Microneedling: This uses a small, handheld pen or needle-studded roller to puncture the skin on the surface of the scars. As the punctured skin heals, it makes collagen and reduces the visibility of acne scars by smoothing out the skin.
- Laser resurfacing: The procedure involves removing the top layer of skin to reveal younger underlying skin cells to reduce the appearance of scars. It creates a more even skin surface.
Speak with a dermatologist to determine the best treatment for your acne scars.
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