Acne is a prevalent bacterial skin disease that often heals with a scar. For this reason, acne scars are mostly found on the face (usually on the cheek or between the brows), chest, back and sometimes on the abdomen
People in their teens and young adults upto the age of 30 years have a greater tendency to develop acne, and every one in five people stands to develop a scar after acne heals.
Acne scars are extremely easy to spot, characterized by light pigmentation to bright red or brown spots on the skin.
When bacteria enter the layers of the skin through a breach, they trigger inflammation of the skin tissues and even sebaceous glands.
When the pores in the skin get clogged, the infection might reach deeper into the skin, which heals with deeper scars that take longer to fade. Smaller acne lesions create shallow pores and heal without a scar.
Once formed, acne scars can be of two types:
It is essential to understand that having acne does not mean you will get scars, and not all acne scars are permanent.
Based on the nature of your acne scar and its type, the dermatologist will choose treatment to restore your skin aesthetics.
When you visit our clinic for a diagnosis of your scar, our experienced dermatologists will assess if it is due to acne or other causes.
During a thorough clinical evaluation, the dermatologists will often use a measurement scale to determine your acne grade.
A commonly used scale uses four grades– macular, mild, moderate and severe. Based on the grade of your acne scar, your doctor will determine the most suitable treatment.
Several treatment options are available for scars, and your doctor will discuss the best options for you. It is natural to have more than one treatment session of a procedure or combination of methods to reduce the scar. Here’s how some commonly used acne scar treatment procedures work:
Here are preparatory instructions for your Acne Scars Treatment session:
This advanced procedure involves the Chemical Reconstruction of Scars (CROSS) using Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA).
During this procedure, trichloroacetic acid is applied to the scars, which causes a white frost on the skin almost immediately.
This frost forms a scab in two to three days and falls off within the next one week. You will need repeat treatments, and results are usually visible after a few weeks.
Scar Treatment is not for everyone. The strongest driving force that brings people to get their acne scars treated is how their scars affect their appearance or everyday life.
The preparatory steps for acne scar treatment vary for each treatment, and your dermatologist will inform you regarding the same.
You may need to avoid taking a few medications or supplements before your scar treatment if your doctor feels they will interfere with the treatment.
Your acne must reduce before you can begin treating the scars. In many cases, the dermatologist treats the acne before treating the scars.
The result of your Acne Scar Treatment depends upon several characteristics of the scar and the type of treatment option used.
You must understand that it may take a couple of sessions to notice the fading of your acne scars. Most people require several sessions till their scars fade or disappear entirely.
After noting your medical history and performing a clinical evaluation, your doctor will determine whether you are a laser hair removal candidate.
Feel free to discuss all the options for getting rid of unwanted hair and enjoy your independence like never before! Have concerns about undergoing this treatment?
Our experienced dermatologists or laser specialist at Hortman Clinics will be extremely happy to help you!
Vitamin C is known to fade spots and lighten pigmented areas of the skin. Many scar removal creams have vitamin C with other skin-brightening substances to lighten acne scars. Besides reducing scars, vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that prevents acne. Your dermatologist will evaluate your acne scars to assess if topical vitamin C application can help lighten your scars.
When you think of acne, it is common to think of scars. But, it is not always so. By taking suitable measures, you can prevent or minimize scar formation by promptly treating acne.
If your acne scars are bothering you or you have tried many over-the-counter products to lighten them, it’s an excellent time to book a consultation appointment with an experienced dermatologist at Hortman Clinics who can give you the most effective way to reduce your acne scars and treat your acne.
Though all acne scar treatment options are effective, your scar type will determine the option best suited for you. A combination of acne scar treatments is used for effective and enhanced results in most cases.
Acne scar treatment is a safe procedure that rarely causes side effects or complications. You may experience mild discomfort during or after treatment that tends to resolve by itself in a few hours to a day.
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