Types Of Pitted Acne Scars
The three types of pitted acne scars are: rolling, boxcar and ice pick
Pitted acne scars consist of three different types:
How Do You Prevent Acne Scarring
If you’re looking to prevent acne scars from happening in the first place , the best way is to treat acne lesions as soon as they appear. Over-the-counter treatments that contain benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are a great place to start, but if acne persists, ask your dermatologist about prescription medications like retinol, Aczone, or spironolactone.
Munavalli likes to treat acne with a topical prescription-strength retinol cream to clear clogged pores and decrease inflammation. He also recommends topical benzoyl peroxide washes at four-percent strength or higher to decrease bacterial growth.
Tighten Your Skin With Professional Radio Frequency
Skin tightening with radio frequency energy can help make depressed scars less obvious. It creates kinetic energy that triggers the body’s healing process. As a result, skin produces more collagen and softens the appearance of scars.
- What are pitted acne scars?
Pitted acne scars result from the damage and inflammation of deep breakouts, which causes the indented appearance of a pitted acne scarhence the namecreating a small pit-like structure on the face.
- Do pitted acne scars go away?
Left unaddressed, pitted acne scars can take quite a while to fade and, in some cases, may never disappear completely.
- Do indented scars fill in over time?
In most cases, the indentation does not fill in on its own but discoloration can improve over time.
Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Cheek Acne Fast
What Are Acne Scars
A generalised term, acne scarring can be used to refer to a multitude of different marks that a breakout may leave behind. “Acne scars come in different forms, including rolling, boxcar and ice-pick scars,” explains Pamela Marshall, clinical aesthetician and founder of Mortar & Milk.
While most types of scarring can be treated via various methods, there is one subset that requires specialist treatment, as aesthetician and founder of West Room Aesthetics Dija Ayodele explains. “Be wary that keloid scarring, which darker skin can be prone to, can make you contraindicated to treatment that works on the basis of inducing a mild trauma to the skin, such as chemical peels and microneedling. If youve got this type of scarring, it’s best to see a doctor or dermatologist that can provide steroid shots or advise on removing with surgery.”
Look Into Fraxel Laser Treatments
According to Camp, Fraxel lasers can be non-ablative, meaning that they emit columns of heat beneath the skin while leaving the surface intact, or ablative, which are more aggressive and remove a narrow column of skin. Non-ablative lasers are much less invasive than ablative, requiring multiple treatments for clinical results.
Read Also: Does Curology Work For Acne Scars
Who Is At Risk Of Getting Acne Scars
Anyone with oily and acne-prone skin is susceptible to having acne scars. If you have persistent acne breakouts, then you are at a higher risk than others. Therefore, it is critical to seek medical treatment before your pimples aggravate and lead to permanent skin damage in the form of scars. Dermatologists can minimise the appearance of acne scars and prevent future scarring only after managing current breakouts effectively.
If you think you are at risk of having acne scars, do not panic. The best remedy to avoid scarring is the prevention of acne with proper management of acne-prone skin. Read on to know some preventive measures you can try.
Must Read:How To Prevent Pimples On Face?
Lifestyle Changes To Reduce Acne On Cheeks
Cheek acne can be worsened by certain skincare products, but it can also be irritated by minor things in your daily life. The two biggest things you can change to reduce acne on cheeks are changing your sheets and pillow cases regularly and being careful not to touch your face too much.
When you sleep, oils and dead skin cells from your face transfer to your pillow case, and then when you lay your head down again the next night, those same oils and skin cells are transferred back to your skin. After too many nights, this process becomes bad for your skin and could cause more acne. If you can wash your sheets once a week or once every two weeks at the most, it could help reduce acne.
Another small way to improve acne is to avoid touching your face when you can help it. Many of us pick at our skin, run our hands over our face, or just rest our cheeks in the palms of our hands when were tired, bored, or stressed. This isnt great for acne, because our hands contain all kinds of oils and bacteria, and if we touch our face in a way that irritates the skin it can get inflamed, trapping those oils and bacteria under the surface and creating a pimple. Try to pay attention to your little actions throughout the day, become aware of how often you pick at your skin to determine if it might be a factor in your acne.
You May Like: Does Adapalene Help With Acne Scars
How To Get Rid Of Acne Scars: Expert Advice Preventatives And Products
Acnes tough. Its painful, it can be difficult to treat and it can knock confidence. Even if youre able to get things under control, theres still the question of the acne scars left behind, which can last long after the initial breakout.;
The good news is that dermatologists and skincare experts are confident that acne scars can be cleared or at the very least, faded as long as youre willing to commit.
Ask Your Dermatologist About Accutane
;Yulia Reznikov/Getty
A common but powerful prescription medication, isotretinoin is a prescription acne medication that is specifically indicated for scarring acne. When other forms of treatment have been ineffective and exhausted, Camp says that isotretinoin is helpful for providing a durable remission in scarring acne. You should only begin an Accutane prescription under the guidance of your board-certified dermatologist, and it can be helpful to go into your appointment with some background knowledge of its potential side effects.
Don’t Miss: How To Cure Back Acne At Home
How To Get Rid Of Acne Scars On Face
If you are looking for treatments to reduce your acne scars, here are some of the options you may try:
Must Read:Microdermabrasion Vs Laser Resurfacing Vs Chemical Peel
Now you know all about the different treatment options to get rid of acne scars from face. Go ahead and make an informed decision.
Visit Oliva Skin & Hair Clinic to consult an experienced dermatologist today to get a customised solution for getting rid of your acne scars!
Common Questions
Fade Acne Scars With Over
Over-the-counter or nonprescription products may also help minimize the appearance of acne scars.
Even though dark spots may fade over time on their own, an over-the-counter medicated dark spot remover with hydroquinone may help these scars fade quicker, notes Yoram Harth, MD, a dermatologist and the medical director of MDacne in San Francisco.
In addition, acne treatments with alpha hydroxy acids can stimulate the growth of new skin, minimizing the appearance of old scars while simultaneously preventing the formation of new acne, says the Mayo Clinic. When shopping for an acne treatment, look for products that contain alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acid and lactic acid.
If over-the-counter products dont fade acne scars, concealer and foundation can help camouflage discoloration.
Also Check: How To Heal Acne Scars
They Help Minimize And Correct Discoloration
Your risk for skin discoloration increases with age. For example, flat brown spots, known as age spots , may develop as a result of sun exposure. They tend to develop on areas of the body that are exposed to the sun most often, such as your chest, hands, and face.
Discoloration may also result from:
- melasma
- post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
- acne scars
AHAs promote skin cell turnover. New skin cells are evenly pigmented. In theory, long-term use of AHAs may reduce skin discoloration by encouraging the old, discolored skin cells to turn over.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends glycolic acid for discoloration.
Acne Scar Treatment No: Radiofrequency With Microneedling Treatment
This powerful combination is designed to rebuild collagen and elastin using pulses of light energy from radio waves with microscopic needles that gentle puncture skin to help fill the indentation acne scars tend to leave behind.
The idea is to leave skin looking brighter and firmer with scars looking smaller and lighter in colour, whilst skin texture is left touchably smoother.
Unlike with IPL, this can work no matter what your skin tone and has minimal downtime, with redness only sticking around for an hour or two after.
You May Like: How To Clear Acne Home Remedies
Treatment Options For Atrophic Acne Scars
Addressing this type of scar usually involves reducing the depth of the scar and then treating any discoloration.
There are a number of treatments that range from mild to clinical-level, so speak with your dermatologist to see whats right for you and your skin tone and type. Treatments include:
- Chemical peels. Used to removed top layers of the skin and encourage new skin growth in mild scarring.
- Laser resurfacing. Uses lasers to treat layers of the skin and encourage new skin growth.
- Dermabrasion. Removes the top-most layer of skin to encourage a smoother layer to grow in its place.
- Dermal fillers. Substances such as hyaluronic acid can be injected to fill in the scar temporarily.
- Microneedling. Tiny needles are used to encourage collagen production and reduce the depth of scars.
- Punch excision. The scar is cut out and then stitched together to create a less noticeable scar.
- Punch grafting. The scar is cut out and replaced with skin from elsewhere, usually from behind the ear.
- Subcision. Scar tissue is broken away from the skin so that it can raise up and look less noticeable.
- TCA CROSS peels. Trichloroacetic acid is used on a scar to encourage collagen growth.
Shop Our Favorite Vitamin C Face Products
“At-home microneedling can be effective, however you can achieve faster results with medical-grade options,” says Martino. To improve the texture of your skin at home, look for a face roller that uses surgical grade stainless steel like Gold Roll CIT.
5. Don’t skimp on sunscreen.
The most important acne scar treatment in your arsenal is actually SPF. Sunscreens help tremendously with reducing hyperpigmentation associated with scars, says Dr. Henry. Bonus: It also prevents your acne scar from getting any darker.
6. It might sound weird, but try to avoid coconut oil.
Some people like this ingredient to soothe inflammation, but on the face it can do the opposite. Coconut oil can actually clog pores and cause scars, says Dr. Henry.
Don’t Miss: Why Is My Baby’s Acne So Bad
Best Acne Scar Treatments Of : How To Treat Acne Scars
Our editors independently selected these items because we think you will enjoy them and might like them at these prices. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn a commission. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time. Learn more about Shop TODAY.
Treatments for acne scars are typically intensive, the best results coming from lasers, injections and fillers best handled by medical professionals, experts told us. There are, however, some solid home treatments you can consider if you want to improve the appearance of acne scars. To understand how some of these at-home treatments work and what their limitations are we consulted dermatologists and found some highly rated options to consider based on their guidance.
SKIP AHEAD Best acne scar products
Inflammation from blackheads, whiteheads and cystic acne large and sometimes painful breakouts can damage skin tissue and result in acne scars, too, noted board-certified dermatologist Michele Green, MD. She said the “best way” to avert acne scars is to treat and prevent breakouts from occurring in the first place.
Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% Bha Liquid Exfoliant
This product is ideal if you’re still suffering from acne and trying to get it under control. By controlling your acne, you lessen the chance of new scars from developing.
- How to use: This product can be used after cleansing and before moisturizing. Apply a dime size amount to a cotton ball and apply all over your skin. DO NOT wash off. Follow with your favorite moisturizer.;
- How BHA helps pitted acne scars:;Specially formulated for acne prone skin, this popular product unclogs pores in an effort to prevent acne from developing.;By preventing acne, you also prevent pitted acne scars from developing.
- What you can expect: Although it will not directly reduce scarring, this leave-on exfoliant is a good preventative measure to take to keep acne at bay. Combined with the dermaroller and Vitamin C serum above, you’ve got yourself a solid plan to finally combating your pitted acne scars.
- Ideal for: Those with oily and acne prone skin.
Don’t Miss: Where Does Acne Come From
Cheek Acne Treatment #: Take An Oral Contraceptive
There has long been a debate whether birth control helps or worsens acne. For some women, taking an oral contraceptive can help regulate hormones and help get rid of cheek acne. If youre considering taking birth control for acne, you want to choose one that has the right amount of estradiol and low levels of progestin. Before you try to control your acne with birth control, youll want to speak with your doctor.
Ask Your Dermatologist About A Subcision Procedure To Break Up Scars
Performed in-office by a dermatologist, a subcision procedure involves breaking up the cord of scar tissue responsible for tethering the skin down and making a depression . During this procedure, a needle is inserted into the skin to break the collagen cord. Camp warns it can be associated with bruising, though.
You May Like: How To Get Rid Of Arm Acne
Cheek Acne Treatment #: Wash Your Sheets And Pillowcases
To help get rid of cheek acne, it is recommended that you wash your sheets at least once a week to maintain healthy skin.; If you are especially acne prone, try sleeping with a clean hand towel over your pillowcase, and change it out every day, or switch out the pillowcase itself.; If you have long hair, tie it up on top of your head to avoid contact with your face, neck and back.
How To Prevent Acne Scars In The First Place
First, some tips on prevention, which Lortscher says is imperative for anyone with acne-prone skin. Lets first assume that youre actively breaking out . Lortscher says one way to get ahead of the scarring is to treat the skin immediately after a pimple or breakout, thus preventing a scar from forming in the first place.
First of all, you need to differentiate between scarring and temporary discoloration, Lortscher says. The latter can happen after a particularly deep pimple popsbut those dark spots arent technically scars: Scars change the skins texture, not just the color of the skin, he says. Scars can be permanent, while dark spots from acne tend to fade within 6 to 12 months.
Secondly, he urges against any unnecessary pimple popping, which can lead to scarring. You have to resist the urge, which can prove difficult. Many people wrongly assume that by popping a pimple, you also empty it fully and thus clean out all the gunk. You may also think that this expedites healing. But it just isnt so: When you pop a zit, the gunk inside can make its way to the skins surface and irritate your skin, Lortscher says. This leads to even more pimples nearby. Plus, you run the risk of driving debris and bacteria even deeper into your skin, which can lead to scarring and worsen breakouts.
You May Like: Is Hyaluronic Acid Good For Acne
Can You Get Rid Of Old Acne Scars
One prevailing myth is that old scars are permanent. While it is difficult to remove scars completely, there are effective solutions available.;
Often it requires a combination of treatments, especially for hypertrophic and keloid scars that tend to develop slowly and worsen over time. One treatment approach to effectively flatten and shrink persistent keloids includes laser treatment combined with injection of steroids or 5-FU and steroids.;
