Acne Scar Types and Treatment
Acne Scar or Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation?
The discolorations on the surface of your skin left behind by your healed pimples are actually not true acne scars, but are instances of Postinflammatory Hyperpigmentation. You may have seen products aimed at fading scars at your local drugstore and wondered if these would work on you. If you look in the mirror while feeling your skin and note that all your acne has left you with are smooth discolorations, and no indentations or raised tissue, then yes, these products would work for you.
If you do notice that you have either lost tissue or gained tissue on your skin, then you have unfortunately experienced true acne scarring.
Treating Hypertrophic Scars
If your scars are raised above the surface of your skin, then you have hypertrophic scars, which are not common. The good news for you is that the methods for treating this type of scarring are usually not invasive or expensive, at least in comparison to the treatment of indented scars. You will, however, need to see a dermatologist to make sure you get the right kind of treatment for these scars, as a professional opinion is required to determine the severity of the issue and to achieve true acne scar removal.
Treating Atrophic Scars
If your scars are indented into your skin, then you unfortunately have the most common type of acne scars, atrophic scars. As you can imagine, finding a topical cream to fill holes in your skin is not likely. However, the most effective acne scar treatment procedures, when done by a qualified professional, should leave your skin flawless.
Subcision and needling, for example, break the scar tissue up so that your skin will heal and grow into the scar. For dermal grafting, another common procedure, skin is removed from another part of the body and transplanted into the scar.
A Possible Compromise
I have only recently gotten my severe acne under control, and I am still left with trouble skin: hyperpigmentation and atrophic scars, as well as blackheads. After researching procedures for my indented scars, I was not comfortable with their invasiveness or their cost.
I have instead experimented and found that my skin can appear quite healthy when I use a blackhead remover and good make up to cover the color of my scars. Meanwhile, the color of my marks will fade naturally and even the atrophic scars will become less noticeable. Perhaps this can be a temporary solution or a permanent compromise for you as well.
Leave Your Response