Acne scars come in many shapes, sizes, and shades—and they can be tough to get rid of. Here are the different types of acne scars and which acne scar treatment may be suitable for your skin.
What Causes Acne Scars?
Acne breakouts can be more surface-level, such as whiteheads and blackheads, or deeply penetrate your skin, such as cysts. Because acne damages the skin and the tissue beneath it, your body will try to repair this damage. Your body will produce collagen during the healing process, an important structural protein.
If your body produces too little or too much collagen, you will see a scar. There are several different types of acne scars, and the scar that appears on your skin depends on how much collagen your body produces. The main three types of acne scars include:
- Depressed Acne Scars If your body produces too little collagen, depressions or small pits form as the skin heals.
- Raised Acne Scars If your body produces too much collagen during the healing process, you’ll develop a raised scar, which will look very different from a depressed one, as their formations are almost opposite. This type of acne scar is more common in people of color, but can also appear in Caucasians.
- Hyperpigmentation While this is traditionally not considered a “true acne scar”, it is still a common type of scarring that can happen as a result of the acne healing process. People of color tend to develop small patches of skin that appear darker in color than the rest of their skin. This is hyperpigmentation, AKA “dark spots” or “sun spots”. When an event triggers the skin to produce extra melanin, these dark spots will appear. Triggering events include:
- An acne breakout or patch of psoriasis clears. Whether it clears up by itself or you apply a product to clear it, not applying SPF can lead to a dark spot in the area.
- A wound caused by an insect bite, cut, burn, or other injury heals
- You ingest or topically apply certain medications
- A skin or hair care product irritates your skin
- Changes due to hormones occur, such as during pregnancy
Identifying the type of acne scar you have helps you best determine which acne scar treatment is best for you and how to prevent future scarring. Consulting with your dermatologist is the best way to do this!
Acne Scar Treatment Options
Fraxel
Fraxel or fractional laser resurfacing is a revolutionary facial laser treatment that helps remove years from your overall appearance and regains a more youthful look. As the original product in the Fraxel line, Fraxel restorative treatment is the gold standard for quickly rejuvenating the skin and correcting acne scars and other imperfections. The treatment is incredibly efficient and interferes with minimal impact on your daily routine.
Microneedling
Microneedling, also known as “Collagen Induction Therapy” or “Micro Needling Therapy,” is the next big thing in the world of cosmetic procedures. It is a skin rejuvenation procedure that is minimally invasive and utilizes a specially crafted machine to create controlled micro insertions into the skin to initiate and stimulate the natural healing properties of the skin.
This procedure has become so popular because it can induce collagen production while keeping the top layer of your skin intact. Not only is this procedure incredibly effective, but it is also very affordable. If you are looking to stimulate the natural production of collagen without breaking the bank, this is the perfect solution for you.
What We Believe
With a holistic clinical approach, which involves first listening to patients concerns, we thoroughly diagnose and explain their individual treatment options.
Our methods combine microneedling and Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy. PRP is a sample of blood plasma that has been enriched with platelets. During this procedure, blood is taken from the patient and then put through a Centrifuge machine to separate the platelets. These platelets have various healing qualities that can completely rejuvenate the skin. The platelet-rich plasma is then injected into various parts of the face and neck, depending on a patient’s unique needs.
This innovative procedure is making incredible strides in cosmetic dermatology. By utilizing the healing properties of your very own blood, you can see the results you have always wanted in no time at all.
There are countless benefits involved with the implementation of Micro Needling and PRP Therapy. Some of the most prominent benefits include:
- Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Helps in correcting damage caused by sun damage
- Prevents premature skin aging
- Fades or completely eliminates the appearance of scars
- Treats rapid skin stretching, or stretch marks
- Reduces hyperpigmentation
- Alleviates symptoms caused by skin conditions such as Rosacea and Acne
- Minimizes age spots
- Lessens pore size in the face
- Assists in the treatment of hair loss caused by various conditions
As if this procedure were not appealing enough, microneedling has minimal to no side effects and calls for a very short recovery time. The exact length of recovery varies depending on the patient’s skin type and depth of treatment, but most patients are completely recovered within 24 hours. Side effects are minor and may include moderate sunburn-like redness, mild swelling, and limited peeling. However, these symptoms are temporary and typically disappear within 12 hours to a few days.
What About Derma Rollers?
There are currently many different kinds of derma rollers on the market, but the professionals at our center utilize the trusted brand, Melanopen. This medical microneedling fractional device offers laser-targeted precision results. With adjustable, ultrafine needle length, all body areas, including neck and face, can be treated quickly and effectively.
We highly discourage at-home microneedling devices, as patients often cannot know the right or wrong amount of microneedling for their skin. A dermatologist will be able to perform the procedure most safely and effectively while monitoring the health of your skin so they can determine when microneedling is working and when it’s harming your skin.
Contact us today for your individualized, unique acne scar treatment right here in our office!
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We love serving the Kendall community; we can’t wait to see you and help you on your journey to clear skin!
