Which product holds the magic spell that will clear up scarring?
Acne scars are just the worst. They not only mar your skin and make you feel self-conscious in the present day, but remind you of a difficult time when you were struggling with acne.
Now is the time to say goodbye to bad memories. Whether you’re looking for home care or professional treatments, there are ways to take back your skin and clear up scar tissue.
Before diving into a scar treatment, meet with a professional to learn more about the type of scars you’re facing down. You can learn more about the different types of scars below – we want to make sure you’re approaching them safely and correctly, so professional advice is a must. There’s no requirement to work with our medical spa after your consultation, but you’ll learn more about what would be best for your skin (both at home and in the office). Both raised and depressed scars can be improved with treatment.
Keep reading to learn more, and get in touch to start your anti-acne journey.
Why Acne Scars Form
You may have had scars since you were younger, developed new scars from adult acne, or noticed existing scars becoming more noticeable. In each case, the cause of the scars might be different. But discovering the correct cause of the scarring will allow you to move forward in the right way.
Typically, acne scars form because of an inflamed lesion. This may be a papule, pustule or cyst. These areas become inflamed because the pore is clogged and enlarged due to oil, dead cells or bacteria. As the pore swells, the follicle wall breaks and the pore ruptures. If this occurs deep in the skin, it is more likely to scar as the infected contents of the pore impact surrounding skin tissue.
The skin strives to repair any damage done to the skin, and forms new collagen fibers in the process. While collagen is a desirable component in the fight against aging, this fibrous tissue is also the cause of scars. Because the skin produces extra collagen in the immediate area of injury, the end result is often raised, depressed or otherwise looks different from the surrounding skin and is not smooth.
The worse the inflammation, the worse the scarring. Long-lasting breakouts are also more likely to lead to scars.
If you have blackheads, whiteheads or other blemishes that are not inflamed, you typically don’t need to worry about scarring.
One other thing to consider – if the acne is recent, the “scar” might not be a true scar, but just temporary hyperpigmentation. A skincare professional will be able to distinguish between the two.
Home Care for Subtle Improvements
Before beginning any acne scar regimen, it’s crucial that you tend to any existing acne first. Clearing your acne will help you prevent the need to worry about future scarring, or your efforts being reversed. Plus, when you have active acne, your skin is inflamed, which reduces the likely effectiveness of any scar treatments.
If you’d like to develop a home skin care regimen that will help improve acne scars, learn more about these products:
- Skinceuticals C E Ferulic – This serum contains vitamins C and E to brighten and lighten brown spots and also help repair damaged skin.
- Skin Medica Scar Recovery Gel – This gel comes widely recommended and helps turn over skin cells and moisturize the area. It should be used twice a day for 90 days.
- Dermaflage – To cover up existing scars that you can’t treat professionally, this concealer is key. It contains silicone to actually fill and seal depressed scars, and is tinted to blend the scar into your surrounding skin.
- A retinoid – Retinoids offer a wide variety of anti-aging effects, including improving pigmentation and repairing collagen damage. Those in their late 20’s and onwards can consider using a retinoid regularly. Because they smooth skin and even skin tone, retinoids are ideal for acne scarring.
At your consultation, we will recommend products and a detailed regimen that will be ideal for your unique needs – considering your skin, your age, your scars and more.
In-Office Options for Scar Removal
Contrary to this blog post’s title, there’s no “best,” one-size-fits-all acne scar treatment. It all comes down to your skin – and to what you’re interested in trying. Depending on how involved you’d like your treatment to be, we can make a recommendation as to the treatment plan that will provide the best possible results. Some treatments are more aggressive than others, and those lead to more dramatic results but typically require more downtime and a longer healing period.
Depending on your scarring, one or a combination of these treatments could offer the best results:
- Chemical peels
- Microdermabrasion
- Microneedling
- Laser skin resurfacing
- IPL photofacial
- Laser genesis
- Dermaplaning
- Dermal fillers
Ready to take the first step? Reach out today.