Many private clinics offer treatment for acne scarring. The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons website has more information about private treatment available in your area. It's important to have realistic expectations about what cosmetic treatment can achieve. While treatment can certainly improve the appearance of your scars, it cannot get rid of them completely.
Dermabrasion involves removing the top layer of skin, either using lasers or a specially made wire brush. After the procedure, your skin will look red and sore for several months, but as it heals you should notice an improvement in the appearance of your scars.
Laser treatment can be used to treat mild to moderate acne scarring. There are 2 types of laser treatment:. Punch techniques are used to treat ice pick scars and boxcar scars. There are 3 types of punch technique:. Subcision is a surgical treatment that can be used to treat rolling scars. During surgery, the upper layer of the skin is removed from the underlying scar tissue.
This allows blood to pool under the affected area. Acne scars take two forms: scars with a gradual dip or depression sometimes called "rolling" scars scars that are deep and narrow A person's acne needs to be under control before scars can be treated.
Mild vs. Severe Scarring Treatments depend on how severe the scars are. For serious scarring from previous bouts with acne, several types of treatment can help: Laser resurfacing. This procedure can be done in the doctor's or dermatologist's office. The laser removes the damaged top layer of skin and tightens the middle layer, leaving skin smoother.
It can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour. The doctor will try to lessen any pain by first numbing the skin with local anesthesia. It usually takes between 3 and 10 days for the skin to heal completely. Permanent scarring is more likely to develop if you pick at or squeeze your acne instead of treating it or allowing it to heal. But most people deal with at least a few acne scars at some point in their lives. The type of acne scarring you can expect depends on the type of acne you develop and how you treat it.
Acne scars range in appearance from shallow, mottled depressions, sometimes called rolling scars, to deep and narrow depressions. These depressions are skin colored but can be darker or pink as well. Atrophic scars are flat, shallow depressions that heal below the top layer of skin.
These scars are commonly caused by severe cystic acne. However, other types of acne can cause them as well. There are three types of atrophic scars:. Boxcar scars are broad, usually box-like depressions with sharply defined edges. Boxcar scars are caused by widespread acne, chickenpox , or varicella, a virus causing a red, itchy rash with blisters.
Boxcar scars most often form on areas like the lower cheeks and jaw, where skin is relatively thick. These scars are common on the cheeks. Ice pick scars tend to be very tough to treat, and often require persistent, aggressive treatment. Unlike atrophic scars, hypertrophic and keloid scars form as raised lumps of scar tissue where the acne once was.
This happens when scar tissue builds up, sometimes from previous acne spots. Hypertrophic scars are the same size as the acne that caused them. Keloid scars create a scar larger than the acne that caused them and grow beyond the sides of the original spot. Hypertrophic and keloid scars are more common on areas such as the jawline, chest, back, and shoulders. People with a darker skin color are more likely to develop this type of scarring. Do acne scars ever go away? Sure—with help from a great skincare routine and, potentially, a dermatologist, scars can fade or disappear altogether.
Here are treatments to try. If you have mild or moderate acne scarring, Ciraldo recommends visiting a skin care professional for glycolic or trichloroacetic TCA peels. Ciraldo is a fan of 70 percent glycolic acid peels—often called "lunchtime peels"—because they require "no real downtime. TCA peels ranging from 25 to 35 percent concentration are great for "more moderate acne scarring" or older acne scars, which are more challenging to eliminate, she adds.
Peels can improve acne scars on all skin tones, but those with dark skin should proceed with caution before getting TCA peels. Pitted acne scars—new or old—can be injected with hyaluronic acid filler, a quick though impermanent way to smooth over scars on all skin types. If you have deep or long-standing acne scars—think: scars from breakouts you had years ago—consider microneedling, which is meant to boost collagen production by creating microscopic injuries in the face using small needles.
It's also safe for a variety of skin tones. It has been something I have come to rely on. For severe scarring or old acne scars, you can also try the big guns: lasers.
Once again, if you have darker skin, it's a good idea to ask your derm for a patch test before going all-in with lasers. Protecting yourself from sun exposure may speed skin healing of acne scars, so never skimp on sunscreen. We love Emma Lewisham Skin Shield SPF 30, a broad-spectrum zinc oxide sunscreen that pampers skin with hydrating hyaluronic acid and soothing plant extracts. If you've had acne scars for under a year, Ciraldo says you can minimize them with some key skincare ingredients.
First, put vitamin C in your skincare rotation. Ciraldo also recommends using peel pads or toners with a 10 percent concentration of glycolic acid.
Glycolic acid can "help to unclog pores and minimize acne, and it also supports new healthy collagen production," she says. Loretta Micro Peel Peptide Pads are a great product for this.
Retinoids not only help prevent acne, they can improve mild acne scarring. According to Vargas, retinoids correct "structural changes from acne in the collagen by stimulating normal, healthy cell turnover.
This, over time, can help remodel the damaged collagen and correct the scar. The most powerful retinoids are available by prescription, but less potent retinol products can be purchased over the counter.
0コメント