Unlike raised scars that can arise from wounds, acne scars are often stung and require that connective tissue called collagen be reconstructed. Acne scars can get worse when people age and collagen levels decrease. Fortunately, dermatologists can check for acne scars, which are most often found on the face and back, to determine the best choice for treatment and eliminate acne scars.
Lindsey Bordone, a certified dermatologist in the Dermatology Department at Columbia University Medical Center, said that acne scars are important to treat with the help of a dermatologist because there is no free solution for special acne scars.
What causes acne scars?
The good news: zits and blackheads rarely cause scars unless the selected seeds traumatize the deeper layers of the skin. However, not all acne scars are caused by acne. Inflamed cysts or zits can cause lesions on the surface of the skin, even though they have never been touched. For this reason, dermatologists urge patients to work with professionals to treat acne earlier than waiting to recover, because it is more difficult to repair.
Cystic acne on the face often causes itchy scars, which can be treated with collagen augmentation treatment by a dermatologist. If you see a red mark or discoloration of the skin after a pimple, it might be a hyperpigmentation instead of a pimple scar. Over time, the points will disappear. For hyperpigmentation or long-lasting acne scars on other parts of the body, a dermatologist can prescribe a cream that speeds up the healing process.
Bordone says that there are rarely zits on the back that cause bloody scars, but usually appear marks and black scars that take years to disappear because the skin is thicker. Most of the time, only the pigment increases after inflammation.
Can acne scars be prevented?
The first step to preventing acne on the face and back is to apply sunscreen carefully, Bordone said. Apply Neutrogena or CeraVe non-comedogenic sunscreen that does not clog the pores (even during an outbreak) to help prevent the formation of dark marks after inflammation of the pimples heals.
Apart from general belief, it is a dangerous myth that absorbing sunlight can increase zits. In fact, people who feel improvement on the skin often only see redness due to UV light damaging the skin. In other cases, the sun temporarily dries the skin and causes short-term effects in reducing oil production, which will then be compensated by the body with more outbreaks. When the skin becomes damaged from the sun, it loses its protective barrier and people grow at a higher risk of skin cancer. "Sun protection prevents the sun's UV rays from causing what we call solar elastosis, which is thinning of the skin," Bordone said. "Thinning of the skin can worsen atrophic scars".
Free sale of acne scars
According to Bordone, over-the-counter scar treatment does not work to treat acne scars. To treat acne scars, you must rebuild collagen, which is a protein that binds to the connective tissue of the skin. A dermatologist can help formulate a plan for doing that, but certain methods that are sold freely are often just a waste of money.
"Something you just put on your skin won't do anything for deeper scars, you really have to treat the underlying acne," Bordone said. "When the scar is thin and bleeding, the cream doesn't make much difference."
Professional acne scar treatment options
Before dealing with acne scars, it is important to control acne to make sure the patient does not face cycle problems, Bordone said. He prescribed Accutane as a treatment for severe acne, which may seem extreme for some patients who expect free methods to solve all their problems. "Many people are afraid of Accutane," Bordone said. "But this is a very remarkable drug because this leads to permanent healing in most of these serious cases of cystic acne."
Outside Accutane, chemical exfoliation carried out by a dermatologist or microdermabrasion can be used to help revive skin cells. Some patients also respond well to laser treatments for hyperpigmentation, although it doesn't work for everyone.
If you are affected by acne scars, a licensed dermatologist can help you make the best treatment plan to deal with scars, hyperpigmentation, and root acne.