| Acne scars are easily recognized by the red skin | | | | there are several different things you can do |
| of an area formerly occupied by a pimple. The | | | | yourself that can help prevent acne scars from |
| initial form, while not actually a scar, will lead to | | | | forming. The biggest thing is to treat your skin |
| one in some cases. Unfortunately, the only way | | | | well. Avoid over-exposure to the sun, as sunburns |
| to know for sure that it is a scar is if the red skin | | | | can dramatically slow the healing process. Always |
| persists for longer than 6-12 months. It is often | | | | wear sunscreen when going out in the sun. Don't |
| better, therefor, to treat all acne lesions as | | | | pop your pimples, and if there are scabs from |
| potential scars. | | | | lesions, do not pick at them. Picking at any wound |
| What Causes Acne Scars? | | | | as it heals causes more damage, extending healing |
| Acne scars are caused by an overabundance of | | | | times and increasing the likelihood of scar tissue |
| the connective tissues your body uses to heal | | | | forming. |
| itself. These tissues work to provide a temporary | | | | Removing Existing Acne Scars |
| framework for your skin cells to regrow on. But if | | | | Even with the best of care, scarring still |
| there is too much of this connective tissue, it is | | | | sometimes occurs. But even if a scar does form, |
| not broken down when the healing is complete, | | | | there are several options available that can reduce |
| but rather stays permanently. This causes a | | | | or eliminate your visible scarring. |
| discolored or unpigmented section of skin to form. | | | | Dermal Fillers |
| Avoiding Acne Scars | | | | Fillers such as collagen can be injected into the site |
| Since the root cause of acne scarring is acne, | | | | of an acne scar, raising the skin surface to reduce |
| preventing acne in the first place is the best way | | | | the appearance of pockmarks. These are not |
| to avoid scars. But even if you already have | | | | permanent treatments, however, and will require |
| acne, it is still possible to prevent acne scars from | | | | re-injection every 3-6 months. |
| forming. The way this is done is by speeding the | | | | Laser Resurfacing |
| healing process as much as possible. The faster | | | | An extremely popular and fast treatment for |
| your acne lesion heals, the less time the | | | | acne scars, laser resurfacing works by burning a |
| connective tissue framework has to overgrow | | | | precisely measured upper layer of skin. New skin |
| and leave scars. | | | | then grows over the wound, leaving mostly |
| Speeding the Healing Process | | | | unscarred skin visible. But as with the initial acne |
| There are 2 main treatments dermatologists use | | | | healing process, care must be taken to insure that |
| to facilitate the rapid healing of acne lesions. The | | | | this new skin does not scar as well. |
| first is Tretinoin, an acid derivative of Vitamin A, | | | | Punch Excision |
| also known as all-trans retinoic acid. This chemical | | | | This procedure is only effective on certain types |
| speeds the skin's healing, reducing inflammation | | | | of scars. A surgical punch is made to precisely the |
| and preventing acne scars from forming. | | | | dimensions of the scar to be removed. The scar |
| The second method involves the use of various | | | | is then punched out, similar to a cookie cutter, |
| Alpha- and Beta-Hydroxy acids, which perform | | | | and the wound sewn together. If there is any |
| much the same function as Tretoinin, speeding | | | | scarring left after the wound heals, it can be |
| healing and reducing the chance of scarring. | | | | more easily treated with laser resurfacing than |
| Helping Yourself | | | | the original larger scar. |
| Even if you don't or can't see a dermatologist, | | | | |