Article by dr shabbir ahmed
Acne scarring occurs in people who experience acne and either picked at the acne causing rupture and acne scarring, or the acne was so intense that it left acne scarring. There are some over-the-counter topical products which improve mild acne scarring with daily application. However, some acne scarring is so intense that only a combination of surgical procedures and other types of skin resurfacing can heal the acne scarring. Early on, after acne heals, red marks or hyperpigmented marks can be left on your skin. This might be perceived as acne scarring, but realistically it is a post-inflammatory change. It is part of the process that the skin goes through to heal and remodel itself after severe change or damage. This process can take six to twelve months. So long as additional marks are not left in the same area, the skin will be able to heal normally. It is only considered permanent acne scarring if the mark is still present after 1 year. Preventing such marks from appearing is done through understanding what acne is, what causes it, what treatments are available, how to maintain it, and how to avoid creating acne scarring. To help treat your acne scarring, you can avoid unprotected sun exposure. This will cause additional damage to the affected region and that will cause delays in preventing or healing the skin. Sunscreen should always be worn when exposed to the light. You can obtain tretinoin to facilitate the healing and remodeling process. Otherwise, another milder option is to use Alpha-Hydroxy Acids or Beta-Hydroxy Acids. These will both correct part of the pH balance in your skin and aid the process of remodeling. Most importantly, avoid picking at any scabs which are already present! These act as barriers or protection as the healing process is taking place underneath and removing the scab in any quantity will interfere, postpone the process of healing and remodeling, and prolong any changes which were taking place, leaving acne scarring. Some might suggest that antioxidants will prevent acne scarring, but unfortunately this is not scientifically supported and cannot protect your skin from acne scarring. The types of acne scarring you might find include icepick scars. This is a narrowly shaped acne scarring that causes the appearance of your skin having been punctured by an icepick. This type of acne scarring extends into the subcutaneous layer of your skin and cannot be treated with simple topical methods like laser resurfacing or dermabrasion. Boxcar acne scarring are oval depressions, the edges of which are sharp and vertical. These are often shallow for acne scarring, only 0.1-0.5mm deep and can be treated with conventional skin resurfacing. Rolling acne scares are a result of tethering which give an undulating appearance to the skin. This acne scarring can only be rectified through breaking up the subcutaneous fiber. More intense forms of acne scarring treatment include dermal fillers of fat or collagen into the scar to provide a smooth look, but this requires continual injections as it does not fix the problem. Punch excision can also be used, a punch excision with a skin graft replacement for severe acne scarring, or punch elevation. Lastly, subcutaneous incision and laser resurfacing are two other options for acne scarring treatment.
About the Author
Dr Shabbir Ahmed is a family physician in the UK, with an interest in complimentary medicine.http://www.drshabbirahmed.com/acne.
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