Acne scars are the bane of acne sufferers everywhere. They can be unsightly and make us feel self-conscious, but acne scar treatments exist to help! According to this site, acne scars can be treated in so many ways! There are various treatment options for acne scars on the market today, so you must do your research before diving in headfirst.
We will look at what types of acne scars there are and how they develop and discuss some of the best acne scar treatments available on the market right now.
What are Acne Scars?
One of the common skin conditions is acne, and most acne sufferers know the physical toll that it can take on your body. Not only does acne cause unsightly breakouts of pimples and pustules all over our faces, but acne scars are often left behind after they’ve healed.
Acne usually develops when something goes wrong with one’s hormones (like during puberty), which causes an increase in sebum production and a clogging up of pores. Because this excess oil builds up within the pores, dead skin cells don’t shed as quickly as they should – meaning we end up with blockages leading to those pesky acne bumps!
What are the Types of Acne Scars?
There are many acne scar treatments available on the market today, but acne scars can be divided into two main categories: hypertrophic and atrophic.
Hypertrophic acne scars
Hypertrophic acne scars are those that remain below your skin’s surface even after they’ve healed, which means that you could still see them through your regular makeup routine! These types of acne scars tend to feel like a rubbery bump under the skin. Usually, they develop as a result of severe inflammation or infection in one particular area (like cystic acne).
For women who suffer from hormonal acne, these bumps might form along their jawline – causing all sorts of problems for us ladies when it comes to our daily beauty regimes (and, by extension, self-esteem!) As such, there is no perfect way to get rid of hypertrophic acne scars – you can only try to reduce their appearance.
Atrophic acne scars
On the other hand, atrophic acne scars are those that form as a result of loss of tissue. This might be caused by an infection or severe inflammation during the acne breakout phase, and these types of scars often look like craters or icepick marks on the skin. Unlike hypertrophic acne scars, atrophic acne scars can usually be treated successfully with various methods – although there is no one ‘miracle’ cure. A popular and clinically proven option for scar care, silicone scar tape provides a flexible and adhesive solution to minimize scar appearance and encourage maximum healing.
Acne-prone people are more likely to suffer from atrophic acne scars, but they can affect anyone. This includes both men and women of all ages, races, and backgrounds.
How and Why do They Develop?
People are and will always be curious about how acne scars form and what acne scar treatments are out there. It’s important to remember that different things can cause acne scars, so it is vital you do your research before starting on any acne scar treatment plan!
A good way of forming an idea of how acne scars develop is by breaking them down into several stages – although what stage one will go through depends on the person as well as their skin type.
First stage
This first stage after acne has healed up (which usually takes around three months) can last anywhere from five weeks to two years, depending on the individual. During this time, people with acne-prone skin tend to experience hyperpigmentation or abnormal collagen production, which shows itself in red patches along the acne scar. This is typically due to the skin’s attempt at repairing itself and can be treated using various acne scar treatments (more on that below).
Second stage
After the first stage, it might take anywhere from two months to a year to move into their second acne scars development stage! During this time, people will experience either no changes or minor changes in their acne scars – such as laxity (where there seems to be more space between pores) or bumps along an acne scar line.
Third Stage
The third acne scars development stage tends not only to bring about physical changes but also emotional ones too: we finally start seeing those deep-set pits and craters appearing on our faces which really puts a damper on our self-confidence and makes us feel less than beautiful.
Fourth stage
The fourth acne scars development stage is the last one before we either move onto scarring or fading acne marks, where we can start to see both of these things happening and some small sunken areas along with acne scars lines that might look bumpy.
What are the Acne Scar Removal Treatments?
Many acne scar treatments are available on the market today that claim they will help fade those pesky red acne scars overnight (or at least within a few days), but not all acne treatments work in the same way! Let’s learn about some of the most popular acne scar removal treatments available today:
- Laser Treatment: This is one of the more common acne scar removal treatments out there and works by utilizing a laser to target the hyperpigmentation that is left behind after acne has healed up.
- Topical Creams: These types of medications usually contain Vitamin A or retinol, which helps speed up skin cell turnover so old acne marks will fade away quicker than usual.
- Chemical Peels: Chemical peels work by stripping off layers of your outermost skin to reveal the newer, less damaged skin underneath. This acne scars treatment is great for those who have more than just red acne marks and want to get rid of all types of acne scars.
- Microdermabrasion: This is one of the mildest acne scar treatments available today and works by using tiny crystals (usually aluminium oxide) to buff away the surface layer of your skin. It’s perfect for those with sensitive skin as well as those who are looking for a cheap acne scar treatment!
Barry Lachey is a Professional Editor at Zobuz. Previously He has also worked for Moxly Sports and Network Resources “Joe Joe.” He is a graduate of the Kings College at the University of Thames Valley London. You can reach Barry via email or by phone.