Archive for the ‘acne scars’ Category
The cause, prevention and treatment of acne scars
Acne affects as much as 80% of teenagers and others in their early twenties, while most get out with only a few minor acne scars, some even without any at all; there is a notable percentage that suffers from acne scars.
There are two types of skin problems caused by acne that can be recognized as acne scars. One is the red pigmentation that appears after acne has healed. These contrary to popular belief, are not scars, rather, these are post-inflammatory lesions, which occur as the acne heals, and these can be present for up to 6-12 months. If however the pigmentation that you see lasts longer than the said period, you may be facing acne scars.
Acne scars come from connective tissue that the body uses to repair damage done to a certain area. Together with antibodies and white blood cells, they work together to heal the wound. After the healing process, you are left with a scar.
Acne scars can develop as long as acne is present, so one good form of prevention is actually preventing acne. However, Acne scars can also be prevented even with the presence of acne. This is done by facilitating the healing of the acne, the faster it heals, the shallower the acne scar will be, making it easier to treat, or may need no treatment at all.
There are two dermatologically tested ways to facilitate the healing of acne, one is the use of Tretinoin, its a form of vitamin A, which speeds up the skins healing and renovation process shortening the inflammation period, thus preventing Acne scars.
The other treatment used by most dermatologists for Acne scar prevention is the use of Aplpha-Hydroxy Acids of AHAs and Beta-Hydroxy Acids or BHAs. These help the skins remodeling process, with the right concentration and proper application; these can also prevent acne scars.
Without the complicated chemicals and difficult dermatological treatments, you can also help prevent acne scars by treating your skin righteously. Avoid sun exposure, this can cause even more skin damage and may hamper the healing process of your skin. Wear sunscreen that has SPF 15 or higher. Picking at scabs never helped either. Never pick on acne as it heals; it interferes with the healing process and might worsen the resulting acne scar.
Of course, not even the most rigorous person can prevent acne scar, with the stress of everyday life, facial and other skin problems are hard to avoid, there are however, treatments available for acne scars, here are some of them.
Dermal Fillers
Collagen or other fillers are injected into the acne scar to raise is just a bit, so that it will be the same level as your skin, these treatments arent permanent though. They mostly last 3-6 months and youll need additional injections after that.
Punch Excision
This method is effective for some types of scars. It includes the surgical tool that matches the size of the scar; it can be compared to a cookie dough cutter. This tool cuts the scar out and the remaining wound is then sewed back together. The resulting scar will be unnoticeable, but if it is, it will be easier for lazer resurfacing to treat it. Other types of this treatment include the use of skin grafts.
Laser Resurfacing
Laser resurfacing is a very popular and fast treatment for acne scars. Lazer resurfacing works by burning a measure upper layer of the skin, and then letting it heal, leaving a newer looking skin. However, care must be taken after the procedure; the correct postoperative procedure determines the success of the operation.
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Types of Acne Scar Removal Treatments Available Today
It is still unknown how acne forms into the different acne types. What science can tell us right now is that when the sebaceous glands produce excess sebum (oil), it can mix with the dead skin cells and dirt in the skin. This mixture becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. The dead skin cells, dirt and sebum clog up the skin pores. They the manifest themselves as reddish blemish on the skin surface, and this is what we know as acne.
Acne that is close to skin surface are what we know as whiteheads and blackhead, non-inflammatory type of acne. Acne that is painful to the touch and swell up, on the other hand, is the inflammatory type of acne. These are the pimples or zits and they can leave scars since they go beyond the top layer of the skin.
Acne scars vary from person to person. This is because people have different facial topology. Thus, one person with acne scars can have just shallow imperfections (acne scars that are not so deep), another person may have “ice pick” scars (acne scars that look like chickenpox scars), and another person may have deep acne scars.
To date, there is still not a lot of information and research done on acne scars and how they form. Thus, acne scar treatments are not surprisingly limited. Acne scars and their treatment then needs to be addressed on a case-by-case basis. There is not a single acne scar treatment that works for everyone. If you have acne scars, you’ll need to talk to your dermatologist or a cosmetic surgeon to find out what procedure or treatment is most appropriate for you.
A number of treatments for removing acne scar are available, and the treatment type depends on the type of acne scarring. Again, it’s best to talk to your dermatologist and find out which acne scar removal treatment (or even a combination of treatments) is the best for you.
Below are a few of the acne scar removal treatments available today:
* Dermabrasion
With this treatment, the skin is numbed or frozen. A machine removes damaged skin to make way for new skin growth. Dermabrasion is not the same as microdermabrasion. The latter wont remove acne scars.
* Lazer resurfacing
This acne scar removal treatment uses lazer to remove old skin that has been damaged to allow new skin to grow. Lazer resurfacing is becoming very popular, and is promising to surpass dermabrasion as the treatment of choice when it comes to acne scar removal.
* Chemical peel
Chemical peeling is an acne scar removal method wherein the top layer of the skin is removed by applying acid or chemical. The procedure allows for a new smoother skin layer to grow.
* Punch
This acne scar removal method is recommended for people who have deep, pitted scars. The procedure involves removing the scar and the wound closed so that it can heal. This method has three techniques: punch excision, punch replacement and punch elevation.
* Subcision
This acne scar removal method involves detaching the acne scar from the deeper tissues. This lets a pool of blood to form under the acne scar and clot. The blood basically helps in the formation of connective tissues under the scar so that the acne scar area comes up level with the skin surface.
* Augmentation
In this acne scar removal method, the acne scar is injected with a material, either collagen or one’s own fat, with the goal of bringing the scarred skin to surface level.
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Glycolic Acid for Removing Acne Scars
The use of glycolic acid for the removing of acne scars is carried out through the use of a chemical peel containing glycolic acid. To understand how a chemical peel works, we must first understand the causes of scars and how to prevent them.
Our skin has sebaceous glands which produce oil to moisturize the skin. Bacteria that form on our skin from acne metabolize this oil, and the by-product of this action leaves the skin irritated. As the skin becomes irritated, the tiny hair follicles become clogged and begin to collect debris, such as dirt, oil, and dead skin cells. When this dirt and oil is not cleaned properly, either by the body’s own natural defenses, or by general cleansing, it can travel down into deeper tissue causing very severe acne.
The dermis then determines that there are foreign substances in the skin that need to be removed. As the body begins this process, the skin begins to become inflamed, causing scarring.
Glycolic acid chemical peels are chemical treatments used to exfoliate and rejuvenate the skin. During a chemical peel, the skin is not really peeled off. What happens is a thin layer of the top surface is removed, and healthy skin cells that are trapped underneath can appear. The top layer is actually dissolved and removed, causing a very slight wound to the skin, causing the natural defenses of healing to occur. The strength of the peel is determined on the amount of glycolic acid added to the solution.
Glycolic peels are often thought of as, “lunch time peels”, because they are quick and easy to do. Glycolic acid is actually a form of alpha-hydroxy acid and is generally found in such things as, sugarcane, pineapple, grapes, and other fruits. Glycolic acid peels can be used at home or administered by a dermatologist.
Glycolic acid for the removing of acne scars are thought of as very easy to use, and are considered a mild form of chemical peels. While these are considered mild, the level of acid in them makes them stronger. These peels can also be weakened with baking soda and water to neutralize the acid effect. These peels can really help with acne breakouts, and the results last about a month.
The only way to use a strong glycolic peel, you will have to go to a dermatologist who will apply a solution with the concentration of about 20 to 80 percent. The stronger the acid level in the peel, the deeper level of tissue will be removed.
Retin-A has been combined with glycolic acid for the removing of acne scars.
Before allowing a dermatologist to administer a glycolic acid peel, there are a few questions you should ask to make sure that you are in a professional, safe clinic. Make sure that the dermatologist is a licenced, certified doctor. Ask if the use of lasers would be added to your chemical peel for better treatment. Ask if they are going to use a topical treatment after your peel to further the healing of your skin. Ask about the experience of the doctor in applying these chemical peels, and you can ask to see photos of other patients that underwent that particular type of treatment so that you can see the effects.
By doing your research, and asking questions, your doctor can determine the best course of action to take in treating acne, and acne scarring.
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At Last! Treatment For Acne Scars Revealed
Acne is one of the most embarrassing conditions because it occurs on your face and you can’t cover it up like you can a rash that may be on your leg or arm. It is bad enough to develop acne when you are a teenager or an adult. It is even worse when those breakouts leave glaring scars on your face.
There Is Surgical Treatment For Acne Scars
Seeking surgery as a treatment for acne scars is one option. A surgeon can perform punch grafting on your skin to remove the scaring left from adolescent breakouts. Another surgical option is scar excisions.
As with any surgical procedure, both of these treatments for acne scars are invasive and should only be performed after careful consideration of the pain, cost, and risk involved. If you determine that a surgical treatment for acne scars is the path you want to take, do your homework and find a plastic surgeon with a good reputation and fantastic recommendations. The obvious downside to having surgery are obviously the costs and risks associated with it.
What About Chemical Treatment For Acne Scars?
Many dermatologists and plastic surgeons perform chemical peels as an outpatient procedure. Most people have this procedure done to refresh their skin and remove the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, but it has also been found to help reduce the affects of acne scars.
The process is rather simple. Acid is carefully applied to the uppermost layers of your skin. The idea is for the doctor to burn your top layers of skin in a controlled manner. The top layers are lifted away, leaving the fresh and glowing lower layers. When the damaged layers are removed, the appearance of acne scars is drastically reduced.
As a treatment for acne scars, it is much more affordable than plastic surgery, but it is still an uncomfortable process to experience. Some people react badly to the acidic chemicals used for the procedure and others just don’t like the idea of burning their skin. If you decide to have a chemical peel as a treatment for acne scars, have it administered by a qualified doctor. Never have this procedure done at a spa or non medical facility.
Home Treatment For Acne Scars
If surgery or a chemical peel isn’t in your budget or your plans, you might want to try a few home remedies to alleviate your acne scars. Moisturizing your skin can help to plump it up and that can help lessen the appearance of acne scars. Applying a vitamin C serum can also help to lighten acne scars.
You should try the natural methods of getting rid of acne scars before you undergo surgery or use chemicals. If surgery is necessary, however, go ahead with it, but just understand the costs and risks involved. Either way scars caused by acne are embarrassing and if you are sick of looking at them in the mirror you need to do whatever you can to look and feel like you again.
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Treatment for Deep Acne Scar
Acne is one of most common skin conditions in the world, afflicting 40 to 50 million Americans. The term “scarring” refers to a process where collagen within the skin is damaged from inflammation, leading to permanent texture changes in the skin. Macules or “pseudo-scars” are flat, red or reddish spots that are the final stage of most inflamed acne lesions. After an inflamed acne lesion flattens, a macule may remain to “mark the spot” for up to 6 months. When the macule eventually disappears, no trace of it will remainunlike a scar. Most serious scarring is caused by the more severe forms of acne, with nodules more likely to leave permanent scars than other types of acne. Most cases of acne responds to treatment and clears up without leaving scars. Acne scars is two types of tissue response to the inflammation of acne. (1) increased tissue formation, and (2) loss of tissue.
Nearly 80 percent of people aged 11 to 30 years have acne, most often on the face, chest and back. Scars caused by increased tissue formation are called keloids or hypertrophic scars. The typical keloid or hypertrophic scar is 1 to 2 millimeters in diameter, but some may be 1 centimeter or larger. Hypertrophic and keloid scars persist for years, but may diminish in size over time. Acne scars associated with loss of tissuesimilar to scars that result from chicken poxare more common than keloids and hypertrophic scars.Using tretinoin speeds up the skin’s remodeling process and helps heal post-inflammatory changes. Appropriate formulations of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) and Beta-Hydroxy Acid (BHA) that contain the correct concentrations and are at the appropriate pH also help the skin’s remodeling process. Accutane may be prescribed for severe cases. Acne staining can be treated with exfoliating creams and facials
Acne staining can be treated with exfoliating creams and facials while scarring may require the use of fillers, dermabrasion or lazer treatments. Picking at scabs should be avoided at all costs. Scabs form to protect the healing process that is going on underneath them. Collagen, a normal substance of the body, is injected under the skin to “stretch” and “fill out” certain types of superficial and deep soft scars. Surgical removal (or excision) of acne scars is especially effective for ice pick and boxcar scars. Unprotected exposure to the sun causes more skin damage and delays healing, therefore wearing a good sunscreen is important. Lasers of various wavelength and intensity may be used to recontour scar tissue and reduce the redness of skin around healed acne lesions. Skin grafting may be necessary under certain conditions.
Acne Scar Treatment Tips
1.Using tretinoin speeds up the skin’s remodeling process and helps heal post-inflammatory changes.
2.Surgical removal (or excision) of acne scars is especially effective for ice pick and boxcar scars.
3.Accutane may be prescribed for severe cases.
4.Acne staining can be treated with exfoliating creams and facials.
5.Skin grafting may be necessary under certain conditions.
6.Lasers of various wavelength and intensity may be used to recontour scar tissue and reduce the redness of skin around healed acne lesions.
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