What Causes Acne Scarring and How Is It Treated? - PDF document

What Causes Acne Scarring and How Is It Treated? Millions of people all around the world have some sort of acne scarring . In some cases, the scarring is very mild and hardly noticeable, but in others, it can be quite severe and have a negative impact on the sufferer’s self esteem. Understanding what causes acne scars and what can be done to treat them can help these individ uals regain their confidence and their ideal skin. The Origin of an Acne Scar The people who are most likely to experience acne scarring include: ● People who have inflammatory acne. Infl ammatory acne is characterized by swollen, painful, and red blemishes, including cystic and nodular acne. These types of acne penetrate deep into the skin, which increases the risk of scarring due to the damage they cause. ● Those who do not seek immediate treatment for acne. The longer inflammatory acne is left alone without proper treatment, the more likely it is to cause scars. ● People who pick or pop their acne. Picking and popping acne not only increases inflammation, but it also creates a significant r isk for infection - both of which can lead to serious scarring. ● Individuals who have blood relatives with acne scars. Evidence suggests that genetics play a large role in someone’s tendency to develop acne scars. Types of Acne Scars Acne scarring can oc cur for many reasons. It is generally associated with acne that causes cysts or nodules, which penetrate deep down into the skin and cause more damage than non - cystic “regular” acne. To heal itself, your body utilizes collagen (and other compounds) to repa ir the damaged skin, and when that damage is significant, the scars become visible. In fact, there are two types of acne scarring. ● Depressed acne scars occur when the body doesn't produce enough collagen to fill the damaged part of the skin following a b lemish. This causes depressions or pits to heal around the blemish area as the skin heals. ● Raised acne scars occur when the body produces too much collagen as it attempts to heal the damaged tissue. Although it can occur in virtually anyone, raised scarri ng is more likely to occur in people of color. Treating Acne Scars There are several therapies available to treat acne scars , but individual results vary since different people react in diff erent ways to each therapy. The first step involves isolating the cause of the acne and preventing it in the first place, but once the scars are present, it’s difficult to remove them completely. Options include laser skin resurfacing, chemical peels, derm abrasion/microdermabrasion, and various others. Today, there are excellent laser treatment options that are completely pain - free, safe, and effective that can significantly reduce the appearance of acne scars while treating the acne at the same time. Acn e scars occur in millions of people to varying degrees, but fortunately, there are not only ways to prevent them, but also ways to treat them once they occur. No matter the cause of your acne scar, there are proven, effective, and safe ways to treat them t hat are approved by the FDA and utilized in dermatology offices across the country.