For some people, they have the double whammy of having to suffer through acne in the first place and then they have to deal with the scarring that acne can sometimes leave.
There are different types of acne and these different types can lead to or cause the scarring. You skin is covered with
pores which are tiny holes in your skin. The pores have oil, or sebaceous, glands in them and these glands produce a substance called sebum, which is oil that helps keep your skin and hair moist. The clogged follicle is the perfect place for pimples and acne to occur.
There are many types of acne which include:
• Mild acne – whiteheads and blackheads which are the most common types of acne.
• Moderately Severe Acne – inflamed pimples called papules and red bumps with white centers called whiteheads or pustules.
• Severe Acne – pus- filled cysts or lumps that are under the skin that can be painful.
Severe acne is the type that is more than likely going to cause scarring later on in life. If you suffer from acne that is noticeable worse than other people with acne, you should consult your doctor to ensure you are taking the best course of action against the acne and possible avoid the scarring acne can cause.
While the scarring can be traumatic, sometime the scarring, which includes the brownish marks that are left behind, can disappear in time. If you do have pimples, it is incredibly important that you do not pick or try and pop the pimples because doing that can cause scarring.
If you should scar from acne there are options available to you that can reduce the scarring or get rid of it altogether. Depending on the severity, your doctor or dermatologist could prescribe a chemical peel or some microdermabrasion that could help reduce the effects of the scarring. These treatments are very effective and can be done with no anesthetic and in the doctor’s office.
Should you have scarring that cannot be treated with microdermabrasion or peels, there are still some other options available. Laser resurfacing is a treatment that provides good results and can be done in the doctor’s or dermatologist’s office. This treatment removes the top layer of skin and tightens the middle layer, leaving skin smoother. The treatment takes anywhere from a few minutes to an hour. You will be given a local anesthetic to reduce the level of discomfort and your skin will heal anywhere from three to 10 days.
Another treatment for scarring is dermabrasion. This treatment involves a rotating wire brush or spinning diamond instrument to wear down the surface of the skin. As the skin heals, a new, smoother layer replaces the abraded skin. As the skin grows back, it comes in smoother and has a less scarred appearance. The healing time is a little longer with this treatment, usually taking 10 days to three weeks.
A new treatment, called fractional laser therapy, has proven to be highly effective in reducing the scarring caused by acne. This procedure works at the deeper layers of the skin than dermabrasion and laser resurfacing. The healing time is also less than the other two as this treatment is much easier on the skin. Unfortunately, this treatment is expensive and is not generally covered by insurance.
If you have scars that are depressions on your skin, you doctor may inject material into the scar to raise it to the level of your skin. A last chance option is surgery where the deepest indented scars will be removed.
Before any of these treatments can be undertaken, the person’s acne has to be under control or completely cleared up. If you are suffering from acne scars, don’t waste your money by covering your skin with fancy lotions or masks. They won’t work and they probably will make the scaring worse because they will irritate the scar tissue and cause it to inflame.
Most of the time the redish-brown mark left by acne will fade in time and won’t be a problem. Your best option is to not pop, squeeze, or pick the original pimple and should it leave a mark, don’t pick at that either. Most of the time the mark will fade in about 12 months and won’t leave a mark on your skin.