What Causes Acne Scars and How to Treat Them
Acne scars are more than just a blemish. Acne may swell and sink into your pores, forming these scars or depressions.
Why do some people have light acne scars that heal quickly and some that have deep wounds on their faces?
Those are the things we will also explore here in this guide as well as knowing the exact cause of acne scars and how to treat them.
The Cause of Acne Scars
Like an inflamed wound, acne scars are a result of a defence mechanism of the body in order to heal.
They look ugly on the outside, but what’s happening inside is your skin is being repaired by white blood cells.
During your skin’s repair, two things can happen: one, collagen is produced, which may result in raised scars, and two, a tissue layer may be lost, which forms indentations and pits on your face.
Note that since each person heals differently, their skin also reacts differently to their acne condition.
Factors That Cause Acne Scars
Miami-based dermatologist Loretta Ciraldo MA, FAAD identifies the factors that cause acne scars in people. These are the following:
- Touching or hurting the pimples
- Not getting the acne treated
- Genetic reason (inherited from your family)
So refrain from touching or picking your face if you have acne. Schedule an appointment with a dermatologist as soon as you can so that the condition won’t exacerbate.
How common is acne scarring?
West Lake Dermatology says that acne scarring is very common among people with acne. 80% of people that are less than the age of 30 will have acne, and 20% of them will have scarring.
Furthermore, they mentioned that teenagers have the highest instance of acne and acne scars. So it’s best to watch out for them or consult a dermatologist while early to treat them.
How to Treat Acne Scars
As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Don’t wait until your acne leaves scarring before you apply a suitable facial cream or toner. Stop acne before it even starts and get into a home skincare regimen as soon as possible.
This will prevent pimples from coming out or heal the wounds that are already there. Doing this would certainly be worth the effort.
So look for effective creams containing some or all of these chemicals to fight acne and acne scars:
- Alpha hydroxy acid
- Salicylic acid
- Retinoid
- Lactic acid
If your acne scars are mid to severe, you can also opt for these procedures after discussing them with a specialist:
- Chemical Peeling – This removes the dead skin cells and replaces them with newer and smoother ones using special chemicals.
- Dermabrasion – This procedure also removes the top layer of the skin but by friction from a clinical tool.
- Microdermabrasion – It’s similar to dermabrasion, but it’s a great deal less painful and invasive.
- Laser Resurfacing – For this method, laser heat is used to singe the scarred collagen. It then relies on your wound-healing ability to develop new skin.
More Skincare Resources
Here are some related articles for treating acne scars or beautifying your skin: