Removing and Treating Acne Scars

It’s almost inescapable. 95% of acne patients will develop some degree of scarring. Establishing the appropriate treatments early in the process that work for the severity of the outbreak can improve the odds that scar formation will be mild. Delaying acne therapy by three or more years is likely to increase one’s risk of more significant acne scarring.

For most people, acne scarring is a minor annoyance. For others, acne scarring can cause devastating long term emotional suffering. Depression, withdrawal and lack of self-esteem can plague acne-ridden teens. In fact, acne scarring has been cited as a risk factor for male teenage suicide.

People suffering from acne now have choices newer acne therapies make it needless for anyone to suffer from long outbreaks or go on to form scars. Unnecessary disfigurement can be prevents by early medical intervention. No need to drop everything, and rush to schedule an appointment with a dermatologist, if a single blemish should raise its ugly head. However, any acne that doesn’t respond to commonly used over-the-counter therapies should be evaluated by a specialist.

Some acne patients go for their initial 6 to 8 week follow up with the dermatologist concerned about their “new acne scars.” Many of them really have no scars at all. What they’re really noticing is a color change. Hyperpigmentation following acne inflammation is not an acne scar. The skin’s typical inflammatory process leaves this normal remnant.

People with paler skin tones will notice color changes that are primarily pink, red or purple. Darker-skinned acne victims may notice brown or black spots where their acne used to be. This hyperpigmentation can go away on its own. Unfortunately, the darker the pigmentation, the longer it may take to resolve.

Intervention may be necessary to hasten the process. Acne scars are not all alike. The most common outcome is tissue loss, as collagen is destroyed. Skin lying over the collapsed area has no support and a soft pock mark or jagged ice pick scar is formed. This is more typical on the face and is seen in both men and women. Less frequently, and usually in cases of severe acne, excessive scar tissue, called a keloid, is formed from the over-production of collagen. This is more commonly seen on the male torso.

Aging can affect how visible acne scars can be. After the age of 40, we lose 1% of our skin’s collagen each year. With this additional loss of collagen combined with reduced skin tone, scars can become far more noticeable. Ironically, you can actually end up “outgrowing” these acne scars as part of the aging process. Small comfort!

Articles on Acne Scarring:

• Acne Scars
• Acne Scar Causes