Acne Scars

“Don’t worry there is no need to treat the pimples!
Leave them alone!
They will go away! They are a part of growing up!”
How often have you heard these words? Unfortunately, quite often!
It’s truly sad, because pimples do not really go away. Maybe only the mild ones do so!
The other pimples and the large zits definitely do not heal spontaneously. They need active
treatment otherwise they leave behind the Legacy of horrendous scars!
Acne scars are no joke - and if you suffer from them, you will agree that they
undermine your self-confidence and dampen your social life. The anxiety from these
scars can dominate your personal and professional life. The agony of always wanting
to continuously hide your face is with you at all times.

What are Acne scars?

Acne scars are the skin’s reaction after large acne or pimples have healed.
When pimples or acne spots heal it can leave “brown flat spots” or “pseudo-scars” in some
people, which heal in about few months. But in some other people, especially when there are
deep nodules and cysts, there can be very deep holes or thick scars after the pimples heal.
Some people are more prone to scarring because of hereditary factors.

What is the treatment for Acne Scars?
Early and prompt treatment is the mantra to prevent scar formation.
The only sure method of preventing or limiting the extent of scars is to treat acne early in its
course, and for as long as pimples or acne spots exist. The more that inflammation can be
prevented, the more likely it is that scars can be prevented.
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Years ago, there was really very little that could be done for acne scars, but today,
there are multiple treatment options available depending on the type of acne
scarring seen on the face

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Treatment—
There are multiple treatment modalities available, depending on the type of acne scars.

-TOPICAL FADING CREAMS
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Topical hydroquinone or fading creams are effective for post acne brown spots or “pseudo-scars”.
It will take at least six weeks to see any noticeable improvement. If there is still no improvement
after two months, a stronger hydroquinone-based bleaching cream is to be used in conjunction
with a topical retinoid cream. The retinoids will help prevent further acne breakouts and will peel
and exfoliate the skin cells deep within the skin and hasten the fading of the marks.

- CHEMICAL PEELS
Chemical peels are another effective option today.
Soft superficial scars do well with this type of treatment. Glycolic acid, Trichloro-acetic acid or
Salicylic acid are the commonly used substances.
The first peels will be 35 per cent glycolic acid peel, which can gradually be increased to a 70 per
cent peel at an interval of about 2 –3 weeks.
If there are active breakouts in addition to the scars, a salicylic acid peel, which will help clear up
acne while treating the scars is used. It will take three to four months on average to see results.

-MICRODERMABRASION

Our skin is prone to pigmentation; therefore the treatment options, which are available for the
white skin in the West, like Laser resurfacing and Dermabrasion are not advised for us. So the
next best option is Microdermabrasion.
Basically, microdermabrasion entails blasting the face with sterile micro-particles to abrade or
rub off the very top skin layer, then vacuuming the particles and dermabraded skin. The skin
procedure may also be used on the chest, neck, arms and hands with virtually no complications.
It polishes and smoothes out the margins of acne scars, which ultimately appear less obvious,
and gives the skin a smoother appearance.
This treatment usually requires 10 visits at an interval of 2 weeks.
This treatment is non-invasive; produces minimal discomfort; requires no topical or local
anesthesia; and involves practically no recovery or downtime.
Microdermabrasion also helps to contract enlarged pores that are seen in people with oily skin.

-MINOR SKIN SURGERY

This is a very minor surgical option, to be used in certain types of acne scars, which is performed
under local anesthesia.
Ice pick scars are deep-pitted scars that make the skin look like it had been jabbed with an ice
pick. A “punch excision” is done whereby the core of scar tissue is removed. This can also be
combined with “punch grafting” at the same time. Many of these types of scars can be treated in
one session.
Another type of acne scar technique called "punch elevation”, sometimes called a “punch float” is
used.
Some people have groups of very small acne scars. In this situation a needle is used below the
skin, to cut the fibrous collagen bands that attach the scars. This “subcision” technique will allow
the skin to pop back up.
Thick, raised or hypertrophic scars from acne damage are treated by injecting steroid drugs into
the skin around the scars.

All these treatments are safe and give you back as near normal skin as you originally once had!