Inflammatory acne can permanently damage tissue, leaving scars.
The best way to treat anything on your, skin is to ensure you know what you’re treating.
So first things first, you need to rule out what’s not an acne scar.
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
A dark, flat patch left behind by a breakout is not an acne scar; this is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).
PIH is, in fact, your body’s natural response to skin trauma, which is why you should not scratch or pick your skin.
These marks will often fade on their own, providing the trauma does not sit deep in the dermis.
True acne scars have texture irregularities, not just hyper-pigmentation. They appear like a small indentation in the skin, but they can also be slightly raised in some instances.
If this sounds like what you’re dealing with, you likely know from experience that acne scars can be challenging to treat. Several treatments can help significantly to reduce acne scars, that don’t require surgical intervention.
The following article, gives an overview of the many types of acne scars, and the treatments available for acne scars.
Acne scars treatment
Topical treatments are excellent options for mild to moderate acne scars, and many types of abnormal pigmentation.
Retinoids like the kind found in A+ complex are an excellent way to stimulate cellular turnover at the skin surface and the growth of new tissue and collagen in the dermis, whilst also balancing sebum production on the surface of the skin.
Microdermabrasion
This is a great treatment for smoothing an uneven surface. This treatment involves the use of fine crystals being directly applied to the skin.
The crystals help to lift dead skin cells from the surface whilst stimulating new cells and collagen production. Because this is mechanical exfoliation, the therapist does have a greater degree of control when targeting areas of concern; a course of microdermabrasion treatments is usually recommended.
Medical dermabrasion
This treatment is not to be confused with microdermabrasion, the non-surgical treatment performed by aestheticians.
Medical dermabrasion is an intense form of surgical skin planing, which has to be performed under anaesthetic and can only be performed by medical professionals. It is a really successful treatment for facial scarring because it reaches living tissue in the dermis; however, with the advent of new technology, this treatment has now largely been replaced by lasers.
The following article on laser treatment for acne scars is a question-and-answer guide that you may find useful.
Glycolic peels
This ingredient comes from the acid found in sugar cane, making it one of the most natural acne scars.
These peels gently remove dead, dull, pitted skin from the skin’s surface; it literally slouches away dead cells to encourage cellular regeneration, revealing smoother, brighter skin underneath.
TCA peels
This is a treatment that we recommend using as a spot treatment.
Used in this way, you can get some really great results with treating scars and uneven skin texture, which may have occurred due to acne.
We don’t recommend using this treatment all over the face because it is too harsh for delicate skin tissue. It can also cause severe inflammation in the dermis.
Phenol peels
Phenol peels are the deepest chemical peels for acne scars and can have very dramatic results on the skin, sometimes even after one treatment.
Because there are side effects to this treatment, these peels are now being replaced with laser treatment.
You can read more about peels here.
Conclusion
The type of exfoliation used on acne scars will entirely depend on the severity and grade of acne.
It is important to note that surface exfoliation modalities, such as microdermabrasion and light peels, will only provide mild improvement in acne scars. This is because they don’t reach deep enough to stimulate complete skin regeneration.
Before embarking on any treatment, you must get any skin sensitivity treated, to bring inflammation under control.
Many prescription treatments leave the skin photosensitive, dry, and fragile.
If you are on prescription treatments, then no exfoliation should be performed for at least 6 months following the completion of the internal treatment.
I loved reading your articles and can tell you are totally passionate about your industry.
Hello There,
I stumbled across your blog as I was searching how to reverse scarring naturally, this blog is amazing, I fell onto your Urea article and now on this thread, Im still navigating myself around 🙂
Re my Scars, I seem to be seeing scars appearing on my face, I am not sure where they have come from, but it seems as though these have been old electrolysis scars and acne scar wounds that, once must have been hidden but are now manifesting outwardly, now that in my early 40’s, this has really started to depress me as I dont know if this will only get worse and deeper as time goes on, I was wondering if you dont mind leading me onto the right path?
I live in Australia, so summer is fast approaching, I am thinking of in-corporating products into my skincare routine that may assist, but not sure if I should stay away from Retin A during the warm weather, what are some of the suggestions you may advise in helping reverse some of these damages? From what I read, i would love to try Urea and possibly Retin A and or light glycolic Peels if its not too irritating for spring/summer, or if its is maybe a lower concentration level? IDK, but any thoughts of suggestions would be so so appreciated, thank you in advance and for your wonderful and informative articles, you really have given us readers some hope and a sense of direction. God bless your work 🙂
Ps: I would also love to know when your products come out and where we maybe able to find them?
Thanks Kindly.
Hi Thank you for reaching out I will send you an email with a link to a site i think you may find suitable.
Hi There
Thank you for reaching out. I hope you have had results with your skin? If not and you would like to discuss skin care options please do reach out and I will be happy to answer any questions you might have. Yours in skin health Samantha
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Hi Elsa
So glad you are enjoying the information, feedback like this makes posting all the more worthwhile really appreciated.
You got a really useful blog I have been here reading for about an hour. I am a newbie and your success is very much an inspiration for me. Keep up the good post!
Hi David
Thankyou very much, this is a lovely compliment and makes me publishing the information all the more worthwhile.
Thank you for the feedback David, makes releasing these articles for my readers all the more worthwhile. Samantha