Even after the most inflamed acne subsides, it more often than not leaves behind a mark for us to remember it by. Let’s scrub away all the acne marks so they can go away completely.
Our skin regenerates over time and helps these marks fade away. Everything on our list today is meant to speed up this healing process, so let’s get right into it.
Acne scars on the face, chest, and back are common. About 80% of people between the ages of 11 and 30 will develop acne, and one in five of them will develop scars. Reducing scarring requires over-the-counter medications or one or more procedures performed by a dermatologist.
What causes acne?
Acne lesions (papules) grow when bacteria, oil, and dead skin fill up and inflame pores, which are tiny openings in the skin through which oil and sweat rise to the surface. About 40,000 cells are shed from your skin every hour, but sometimes, these dead cells clog pores. Sometimes clogged pores are small and can lead to “whiteheads or blackheads”. Sometimes these pores become inflamed and cause other types of acne.
If you have acne, you’re not alone! Skin inflammation is the most widely recognized skin sickness on the planet. About 80% of people between the ages of 11 and 30 will have it .Due to hormonal changes, teens develop acne. Adults have stress, environment, menstrual cycles, oil-based products, and birth control pills, although hormones can still work.
What are the types of acne and what do they look like?
Acne takes many different forms. Whiteheads and pimples are ordinary and will more often than not mend without a hitch. Then there are the types that can cause scarring:
Papules: pink to red bumps that hurt when touched.
Pustules: lesions filled with pus. Nodules: solid lesions. They are larger than pimples and pustules, and are more harmful because they extend deeper into the skin.
Sores: Blisters are found somewhere down in the skin. They are painful, full of pus, and most likely scarring.
What makes acne scars worse?
Your own DNA plays a role in your scar! Your genes determine how well your skin heals, and the amount of collagen produced and the depth of acne lesions also determine the severity of scarring. However, you can make scarring worse by smoking, squeezing acne, and picking.
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Sunscreen
Let’s have a quick crash course on the sun’s effect on acne marks. Melanin is your friend when it comes to protecting your skin. However, it is unevenly distributed on your skin and leaves behind a dark brown pigment
Your acne marks darken because there’s a high level of melanin in those areas. Sunscreen prevents further darkening of these marks since it allows the melanin to take a break and protect the skin by itself.
If you have been facing acne due to applying sunscreen, there is no need to avoid it completely.
Just select a lightweight and non-comedogenic sunscreen. Sunscreen should become a crucial part of your skincare routine and you should apply it daily and reapply it every 2 to 3 hours, even when you’re just hiding from the outside world at home.
AHAS-Alpha-Hydroxy Acids
Have you ever wished to shed off the first few layers of your skin that have acne marks and let your clear skin that’s hiding within shine through?
AHAs can help you do just that. They are skin exfoliants that help speed up the natural skin exfoliating process. One of the most popular variants of AHA is glycolic acid. Don’t let the term “acid” scare you; it is actually derived from the well-known sugarcane plant.
Glycolic acid is antimicrobial, which makes it perfect for acne-prone skin. Like any other method of exfoliation, this must not be overdone.
Especially for sensitive and acne-prone skin, it is ideal to use products with glycolic acid once or twice a week, preferably at night. Remember to apply sunscreen every morning as the sun increases the skin’s sensitivity.
Vitamin C
What can fade dark spots, boost collagen production, and give your skin an overall glow? This isn’t a messed-up skincare routine; all these benefits can actually be found in one ingredient.
Vitamin C reverses sun damage by balancing uneven melanin production, and its cooling and posting properties accelerate cell turnover, resulting in faster fading of acne marks and brighter skin.
Even though vitamin C serums usually try to snatch the spotlight, you can find vitamin C in moisturizers and some sunscreens too. The best time to use them is in the morning, followed by your daily dose of sunscreen.
Niacinamides
The best time to use them is in the morning, followed by your daily dose of sunscreen. Niacinamide is a boon for acne-prone and hyperpigmented skin. It’s a form of vitamin B3, which helps your skin’s hydration.
This keeps it from drying out and developing discolored patches. When used in serums or creams, this ingredient helps control melanin production.
It reduces the appearance of dark spots, evens out your complexion, and the best part is that it also deals with the excess sebum production of your skin. No excess sebum means your pores are less likely to get clogged and this prevents acne formation too.
How can I reduce my risk of acne scarring?
Apply sunscreen: Sunlight is important because your skin uses light energy to help make vitamin D.However, too much sunlight can darken the scar. The darker the skin tone, the more pronounced the scar will be.
Don’t pick, scratch or squeeze: Causing extra damage to the skin promotes inflammation that can make scarring worse.
Treat acne immediately: The longer you wait, the more likely you are to leave a scar.
Don’t smoke: Smoking increases the risk of scarring. Not just acne scars, but scars all over the body.
See a dermatologist: get professional help as soon as possible! Treat before it scars.
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Two different name acne marks and acne sscars
Acne marks are usually brown acne marks (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) or red marks (post-inflammatory erythema).
Acne scars, on the other hand, tend to be atrophic (dented) or hypertrophic (raised scars).Atrophic acne scars can be further divided into 3 subtypes: Boxcar scars, rolling scars, and ice pick scars.
There may also be scarring and acne marks after acne.
What is Acne Marks?
Brown traces are due to the production of melanin. These dark spots tend to be more common in darker-skinned patients. After the pimples heal, brown marks may persist for more than 1 year. The red mark is due to damage to blood vessels and blood vessel growth in the injured area. After the initial acne breakout, the red marks may persist for months.
What is Acne Scars?
Acne scars are caused by skin atrophy (indentation) and scar tissue formation due to skin inflammation and damage. This is seen as a dent or “hole” in the skin. Due to the concurrent disease process, acne scars and acne marks may appear at the same pimple.
How to Treat Acne Marks?
Treatment options for acne scars are different from acne scars. There is a specific treatment for each type of acne scar. Red marks are usually treated with vascular lasers and microneedling radiofrequency treatments, while brown marks require pico laser treatment. Acne scars with a mix of red and brown are not uncommon, meaning you may need a range of treatments to treat both types of acne scars.
Micro-needling Radiofrequency
Fractional radiofrequency treatments like INFINI can improve redness by reducing inflammation and reducing blood flow to aid the healing process. This treatment also stimulates collagen production.
Vascular Laser Treatment
Gold Toning vascular laser treatment helps to relax constricted blood vessels. This reduces red acne scars. Pulsed dye lasers also help.
Pico Laser Treatment
Pico lasers help reduce dark spots by reducing the production of melanin in the skin. It may also help with superficial skin scarring. This is a very popular treatment because there is almost no downtime. Pico Laser can also improve sunburn, freckles and sunspots.
How to Treat Acne Scars?
The difference between acne scars and raised scars is an important distinction to make before starting treatment. In order to effectively treat scars, it is also important to first determine the type of acne scar, and then it is also important to perform appropriate treatment for the type of scar. For example, truck scars require subcutaneous incision and filling, followed by fractional lasers, while ice pick scars may be treated slightly differently and can use TCA chemical peels and fractional lasers. Everyone is unique. The best treatments for scars and skin vary from person to person, depending on your skin type, hydration, pain tolerance, and ability to handle downtime
Chemical Peel
Chemical peels can treat acne scars. For mild acne scars, chemical peels can help reduce acne inflammation (increase white blood cells), help fight acne and treat mild indented scars. Examples include azelaic acid and exfoliating hydroxy acid. More aggressive chemical peels (eg TCA cross) can be used for ice pick scars.
Fractional Laser
Fractional laser therapy helps to reshape the skin and reshape acne scars. After a laser peel to treat acne scars, your skin will heal and new skin cells will grow, and the skin underneath will become more even. This treatment also helps to rejuvenate surrounding tissues. Fractional lasers can be combined with other treatments such as Infini and Subcision for better scar improvement. That’s why it’s important to see a doctor who can offer you a variety of treatment options.
INFINI
Infini is one of the best options for treating acne scars. Infini uses tiny needles to deliver radio frequencies to deeper layers of the skin to stimulate collagen production. Another benefit of Infini is minimal downtime, with recovery times typically only 1-2 days. Infini also has a lower risk of hyperpigmentation because it is a non-ablative treatment.
Subcision
Subcutaneous resection is best suited for tethered scars and stubborn scar tissue. A subcutaneous incision is performed using a needle to gently free the scar tissue under the skin. It’s a painstaking process, but the results obtained are often unparalleled. In Singapore, there are not many doctors who provide this treatment. Subcutaneous resection is best used with dermal fillers to support scar recovery and remodeling.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are often used in conjunction with subcutaneous resection of acne scars to promote scar remodeling and recovery. There are several types of acne scar dermal fillers, from hyaluronic acid fillers to collagen stimulators such asRejuran, Profhilo and Ellanse. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. This is an exceptionally specialized treatment that requires smoothness and experience.
Conclusion
Understanding the difference between acne scars and acne marks will help you get the most appropriate treatment for your skin problems. In addition to the effectiveness of the treatment, other key factors you should consider include: recovery time, risk, and price. When in doubt, consult an acne scar specialist.