Acne develops when bacteria, oil, and dead skin fill up and inflame your pores, (small openings in your skin from which oil and sweat are released). If you’ve ever had to deal with acne or you are dealing with it currently, then you may know that acne sometimes does leave scars. You must be wondering “what causes those acne scars and can they be prevented?”. This article is all about that. We will discuss the causes of acne scars and about acne scar treatment.
What Causes Acne Scars?
When acne forms on your skin, your body gets the message and starts healing as it would for an injury. Acne forms when your skin pores get clogged and sometimes, it appears close to the skin’s surface, which means it will heal quickly with minimal scarring. When acne is deeply rooted, it takes longer to heal. And, because it runs deeper and destroys more of your skin tissues, it often leaves scars. This is one of the leading acne scar causes.
After the breakout, your body will try to heal the acne by replacing the lost tissues. Scarring occurs when your body provides too much or too little of this tissue. When there’s too much tissue, you get raised scars called hypertrophic scars. When you have fewer tissues, the scar appears as depressions called atrophic scars.
Some people also get dark scars after a breakout. Technically, these may not be scars but pigmentation, a change in skin colour. When acne is popped badly, your skin has to heal and close the depression. But, sometimes, your body doesn’t cover it seamlessly. Often, the skin that closes over the wound changes colour and texture. In other cases, the blood vessels broken from a popped lesion leave a mark on your skin. Even if you don’t pop the pimple, you may still see dark red or brown spots on your skin, especially with inflamed and deep acne cases. However, these marks will disappear within a few months if you have held back from popping the acne.
How to Get Rid of Acne Scars?
Various topical creams are available in the market that you can use to reduce acne scars. You can check with your doctor which type of cream you can use. They may include the following chemicals or a combination of them:
- Lactic acid
- Retinoids
- Alpha hydroxy acids
- Salicylic acid
Clinical methods are also effective for acne scar removal treatment. These include:
- Chemical peels: In this treatment option, the top layer of your skin is removed, and in place, new skin grows with a smooth appearance and few scars.
- Dermabrasion: This treatment uses a unique tool that creates friction to remove the top layer of the skin.
- Microdermabrasion: It uses a machine to remove the first layer of the skin.
- Laser resurfacing: There are two types of laser resurfacing. One is ablative and the other is non-ablative. Your doctor will determine which type of treatment is right for you. What happens in this treatment? A laser delivers heat to acne where there’s scarred collagen. Due to the wound by the laser, your body’s healing response will kick in to create new and healthy collagen. This will, in return, lead to new skin growth.
How to Remove Acne Scars Naturally?
Natural remedies for acne scars do not remove them entirely but reduce their appearance. You can use aloe vera gel, honey, tomato pulp, or egg whites as a face pack or spot treatment.
Tips to Prevent Acne Scars
In order to prevent acne scars from occurring, you can follow these tips:
- Always wear a sunblock when you step out of your home.
- Don’t pick, squeeze, or scratch your acne. It will cause more damage to your skin.
- Be sure to treat your acne quickly. The longer you wait, the more scars you will have.
- Please don’t smoke as it will increase your risk of scarring.
- Get professional help for your acne before it becomes scars.
Conclusion
In conclusion, acne is a common occurrence, and so are your acne scars. Talk to a dermatologist about your options for acne scar removal treatments. They will assess your skin and the scar type and then let you know the best possible treatment for your scars.
