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Non Surgical Solutions : Acne and Acne Scaring
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The different treatments of acne scars.
Early Acne Scars
After an acne lesion has healed, it can leave a red or hype-pigmented mark on the skin.
This is actually not a scar, but rather a post-inflammatory change. The redness or hyper-pigmentation is seen as the skin goes through its healing and remodeling process, which takes approximately 6-12 months. If no more acne lesions develop in that area, the skin can heal normally. Any color change or skin defect still present after one year is considered to be a permanent defect or scar.
Preventing Acne Scars
It is a lot easier to prevent acne scars by controlling or treating acne early than to try and treat acne scars which is much more expensive, time consuming and less effective.
Treating Early Acne Scars
• Unprotected exposure to the sun causes more skin damage and delays healing, therefore wearing a good sunscreen is important.
• Using tretinoin (Retin-A) speeds up the skin's remodelling process and helps heal post-inflammatory changes.
• Appropriate formulations of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) and Beta-Hydroxy Acid (BHA) that contain the correct concentrations and are at the appropriate pH also help the skin's
remodelling process.
• Picking at scabs should be avoided at all costs. Scabs form to protect the healing process that is going on underneath them. Pulling a scab off before it is ready interferes with the healing and
remodelling process, prolonging the time that post-inflammatory changes will be visible.
Treating Late Acne Scars
Acne Scars - Icepick
Icepick scars are narrow, sharp scars that make the skin appear it has been punctured with an icepick. They are usually narrower than 2 mm and extend into the deep dermis or subcutaneous layer. Icepick scars are usually too deep to correct with skin resurfacing treatments such as dermabrasion or laser resurfacing.
Acne Scars - Boxcar
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Boxcar scars are round to oval depressions that have sharp vertical edges. Unlike icepick scars they do not taper to a point at the base. Shallow boxcar scars are 0.1-0.5 mm in depth and can usually be treated with conventional skin resurfacing techniques. Deep boxcar scars are >0.5 mm in depth and require full-thickness treatment techniques.
Acne Scars - Rolling
Rolling scars occur as a result of tethering of otherwise normal-appearing skin to the subcutaneous tissue below. This process gives the skin a rolling or undulating appearance. Conventional skin resurfacing techniques do not work on rolling scars. They must be corrected by breaking up the subcutaneous fibrous bands.
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