About Acne Scars

Different Types of Acne Scars from acne can seem like double punishment — first you had to deal with the pimples, now you have marks as a reminder. Acne lesions (pimples) happen when the hair follicles (or "pores") on the skin become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. A plugged follicle is the perfect place for bacteria to grow and create the red bumps and pus-filled red bumps known as pimples.

Acne comes in different forms:

Mild Acne: this causes the whiteheads or blackheads that most of us get at some point
Moderate Acne: this can cause red, inflamed pimples (called papules) and red pimples with white centers (called pustules)
Severe Acne: this causes painful, pus-filled cysts or lumps (called nodules) under the skin 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. The best approach is to get treatment for acne soon after it appears to prevent further severe acne and more scarring. If you have nodules, call us and make your appointment for treatment.

Treating Acne Scars

Most of the time, those reddish or brownish acne marks that are left behind after pimples clear up will fade with no need for treatment. Picking or squeezing acne can increase the risk for scarring, though.

Acne scars take two forms:

1. Scars with a gradual dip or depression (sometimes called "rolling" scars)
2.Scars that are deep and narrow

A person's acne needs to be under control before scars can be treated.
Laser Resurfacing: The laser removes the damaged top layer of skin and tightens the middle layer, leaving skin smoother. It usually takes between 3 and 10 days for the skin to heal completely.
Dermabrasion: This treatment uses a rotating wire brush or spinning diamond instrument to wear down the surface of the skin. As the skin heals, a new, smoother layer replaces the abraded skin. It may take a bit longer for skin to heal using dermabrasion — usually between 10 days and 3 weeks.
Fractional Laser Therapy: This type of treatment works at a deeper level than laser resurfacing or dermabrasion, Because fractional laser therapy doesn't wound the top layer of tissue, healing time is shorter. For "rolling" scars, doctors sometimes inject material under the scar to raise it to the level of normal skin. Finally, in some cases, a doctor may recommend surgery to remove deeply indented scars.One thing you shouldn't do to deal with acne scars is load up your face with masks or fancy lotions — these won't help and may irritate your skin further, making the scars red and even more noticeable.