
So, you had acne, and now you have the scars to prove it. What can you do now? Many people experience the devastating effects of acne and feel a sense of victory once the pimples have cleared but do not realize that the battle is not completely over. Residual scarring and hyperpigmentation may remain, long afterwards.
Acne scars are the result of inflammation caused by infection of pimples. The acne pore swells, and a breakdown occurs in the wall of the pore. Some pimples are small, and the scars created, are shallow and heal quickly. Sometimes the content of the pimples spill into the surrounding tissue and cause deeper scars. The skin’s response is to repair the scars by forming new collagen fibers, thus a scar is created. In addition to this hyperpigmentation is formed due to the amount of inflammation in the skin, we call this post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
There are many different acne scars that can form, including atrophic/depressed scars (icepick, rolling and box). These scars caused indentations in the skin that cannot be covered with make-up. Hypertrophic or keloid scars can also form and look like raised areas of skin.
When treating acne scars it is very important to consult with an acne specialist that understands how, and when, to introduce treatment. Strengthening your skin with homecare products at least 6-8 weeks before treating your acne scars is very important, as is not over treating the skin with in-clinic treatments.
Homecare ingredients that your acne specialist may prescribe include alpha-hydroxy acids, retinol, salicylic acid, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, azelaic acid, vitamin C and bakuchiol, anti-inflammatory ingredients, and sunscreen. The percentage and pH value of these ingredients are very important to ensure that your skin does not become irritated. In-clinic treatments should aim to work deep enough to treat the scar or pigmentation at its core, and should therefore only be performed by a qualified and knowledgeable Somatologist or Doctor. Dermabrasion, medium depth chemical peels, laser resurfacing, micro needling, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and fillers are all available for the treatment of acne scarring. In the case of keloid scarring, you will want to consult with your doctor to get cortisone injections.
Keep in mind that you might need more than one treatment with most of these treatment options mentioned above. And for the best results it is very important to combine the correct homecare to these procedures to ensure excellent results and a quick recovery period.
Remember, healthy skin doesn’t happen overnight,
Erika
Team Skin Deep SA
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