What Is the Best Acne Scar Treatment?
4 Things You Can Do For Acne Scar Treatment
According to the Cleveland Clinic, over 80% of people under the age of 30 will experience acne at some point in their lives. Many people do not develop scars, which often occur with painful inflammation — but at least 20% of people with this skin condition struggle to manage blemishes and find the right acne scar treatment long after their pimples have faded.
What causes these permanent marks, and what can you do about them? If you're disappointed by the state of your skin, even when it's blemish-free, don't lose hope! You have several options to minimize the appearance of your scars and restore youthful, healthy skin.
What Causes Scarring?
Scars are the end result of skin inflammation. There are a few different types of this condition, and not all of them cause scarring. If you've dealt with cystic breakouts, you're likely to experience lasting marks even after your acne has faded. That's because cystic acne and nodules exist in the deepest layers of the skin. The deeper the blemish was, the more likely it'll leave a mark, and the more prolonged your acne scar treatment will need to be.
Cystic sufferers will recognize the first phases of this condition: uncomfortable, red swelling nodules and bumps underneath the skin. They're difficult to treat with topical medication because they're not on the skin's surface. You might have taken oral medication like isotretinoin or even managed your hormonal breakouts with birth control pills. Usually, these medications work well to treat the problem and prevent acne from returning — but they do not treat scarring.
Can Acne Scars Be Treated?
Yes. Scars must be treated differently from acne because they happen after the problem of the breakouts has already been solved. You might be in your 30s, 40s, or 50s with clear skin, but you are still struggling to conceal your scars from decades ago. Sometimes, these blemishes fade over time, but they often don't.
Are There Different Types of Acne Scars and Treatments?
Yes. Determining the right acne scar treatment often depends upon which type of scars you have, as well as whether your scarring can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe. The two main types are as follows:
- Atrophic scarring: This is the most common. You might have heard your dermatologist refer to your scars as "ice pick" scars, which means they're deep and jagged. "Rolling" scars are smooth, wide indentations in your skin. "Boxcar" types are deep and oval. Atrophic scarring means that there is a loss of collagen in your skin.
- Hypertrophic scarring: This type of scarring involves a buildup of collagen and tissue surrounding the affected area. Hypertrophic scars are also referred to as "keloids." These appear as large, discolored areas of raised tissue on your face, chest, or back. Keloid scars on the trunk area are the most common. If you have darker skin, you have a higher chance of experiencing hypertrophic scarring.
4 Things You Can Do To Treat Your Acne Scars
Acne problems are not just for teens. Regardless of the clinical terminology, visible scarring can contribute to frustration and self-esteem issues even if you're entering middle age. Fortunately, solutions are available that can drastically reduce the appearance of scarring. Consider the following four options to begin your acne scar treatment journey.
1. Chemical Peel
If you've never had a chemical peel, know that this treatment isn't nearly as terrifying as it sounds. It simply involves applying a chemical solution to the outer layer of the skin and waiting for it to do its job.
The chemical, which is usually a type of hydroxy acid, will remove the dead tissue and damaged skin on the very surface of your epidermis. Your practitioner may use glycolic acid, salicylic acid, or a combination acid acne scar treatment known as Jessner's Solution.
At Lavish we provide a myriad of clinical peels which include:
Cosmedix Benefit Peel (Vit A) 45mins $166
Cosmedix Timeless Peel (Vit A) 45mins $299
Aspect Lactic Peel (20%/30%/40%) 45mins $166
Aspect 3 Step Power Peel 45mins $565
Aspect 3 Step Power Peel (repeat peel) 45mins $400
Book your free consultation to choose which peel would best suit your skin.
2. Dermabrasion and Microdermabrasion
Dermabrasion and microdermabrasion are similar acne scar treatment techniques that remove the outer layers of the skin to facilitate growth underneath. The difference between these two procedures is the depth of the treatment. Dermabrasion is an older treatment that uses tools such as wands layered with small abrasive crystals to physically scrape off the outer layer of the skin.
Microdermabrasion isn't as harsh, and in this treatment, the practitioner does not exfoliate as deeply as he or she would during dermabrasion. You may be offered one of these two options depending on how significant your scarring is and how much discomfort you can stand. As an older procedure, dermabrasion can cause discomfort. Microdermabrasion is typically painless and does not require as much recovery time.
At Lavish we offer a 45 min microdermabrasion treatment that works to buff away dead skin and damaged cells, unclog pores and stimulate new cell growth, leaving you with soft, supple skin. A vitamin mask is applied to the skin to further accelerate the production of collagen.
3. Laser Acne Scar Treatment
If you have rolling scars or box scars, your practitioner may recommend laser acne scar treatments. During these treatments, you will visit your practitioner's office for several treatment sessions with an ablative laser.
These specialized skin lasers will work on the scar tissue to break it up and stimulate the production of extra collagen, which will help your skin to return to a more youthful state.
At Lavish we offer laser genesis treatments to help acehive a smooth, even complexion using Laser Genesis. Laser genesis can reach finer, shallower areas of the face than other laser treatments are abe to, resulting in a smooth, glowing complexion.
4. Needling
During this treatment, your practitioner will use a special rolling tool that is covered with tiny needles to break up the acne scarring (don't worry about pain; you'll receive a topical anesthetic before you begin). You will have to complete several treatments that are each about one month apart.
Over time, needling has similar results to other treatments such as dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, and laser acne scar treatments. Because there is no medication or chemical used in the needling process, it's a safe option for most people with this type of scarring.
Lavish offers a DermaFrac treatment which is a micro-channelling machine that works by repeatedly pricking the skin with small needles infused with high-grade ingredients and serums. DermaFrac provides a pain-free and highly effective delivery of essential nutrients to the skin.
Book your free consultation to discuss with your clinician your specific treatment needs and select an appropriate serum such as Hydrate, Clarify, Growth Factor Complex, VItamin C and Rejuvenate.
Contact Lavish Skin and Body for Professional Acne Scar Treatment
You don't have to live with acne scars — even if it has been decades since you were diagnosed with this condition. Learn more by contacting Lavish Skin and Body for a professional consultation or book online here. We look forward to helping you restore your skin to a naturally beautiful state with a personalized acne scar treatment and teaching you how to prevent future skin issues.