Having acne isn't something anyone is happy with. What is even worse though is that for some individuals the signs of it linger long after it has gone away. This is in the form of acne scars. They can be very minimal or they can be very evident which will make a person self conscious most of the time.
How do Acne Scars Form?
Acne scars form after the breakouts have cleared up. Some individuals worry that they have scars right away. This is because they redness and indentions from acne can last for up to six months before they go away on their own. If the area remains that way for more than six months it should then be classified as a scar.
Sometimes too much new tissue forms around the area though and that too can result in scarring. So there has to be a balance because too much or too little of the tissue can increase your chances of scars remaining.
Types of Acne Scars
Acne scars are classified according to which category that your recovery fell into. Those that are caused by too much tissue are known as hypertrophic. Generally there is too much collagen being produced. Those caused by a loss of tissue are often smaller in both diameter and depth. They are often called ice pick scars due to the small indentations that they leave on the face .
Avoiding the Development of Acne Scars
It is important to remember that your face consists of live tissue. So when it is damaged due to the acne outbreaks it may not recover fully. Doing all you can to make sure it heals well is important. For example you need white blood cells for the live tissue to recover. Eating right will help you to continue to have enough of them in your body to avoid acne scars.
It is best to keep the skin clean and to pat it dry after washing it. Excessive rubbing can result in the skin becoming irritated. That can lead to the development of acne scarring as can squeezing and touching the inflamed area of skin. Do your best to treat the acne as soon as you can. The less severe that the outbreak is, the less likely you will end up with scars from it.
Tips to Remove Acne Scars
Should you find that acne scars do develop though they don't have to be permanent. There are some ways in which you can reduce the look of them or complete remove them. It will depend on your skin type, the severity of the acne scars, and how long you have had them.
Avoid the various over the counter products that tell you they will eliminate them though. Instead you will need to look towards technology to help you. The use of a laser to stimulate the skin that has been scarred seems to be very effective. However, it is also expensive and it can take many sessions before you see results.
Injections of collagen into the skin as well as microabrasion work well for ice pick scars. These methods also require several treatments over the course of time before you will see results. For more severe types of acne scars skin surgery or grafting may be necessary.
How do I Know Which Treatment is Right for Me?
Since there are many issues that have to be addressed, you should have a professional decide which treatment options will work best for you. A dermatologist who specializes in skin can do this for you. In most instances you should be able to get a free consultation about the remove of old acne scars. Make sure you get at least two different opinions though before you make a final decision.
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