| Acne can be very mild, resulting in a few lone | | | | derivatives, and polytheyl-methacrylate |
| blemishes, or it can be severe when it occurs on | | | | microspheres with collagen can be injected into |
| the face, neck, shoulders, chest, and back. | | | | acne scars to raise the surface of the skin and |
| Pustules and deeper cysts occur with very | | | | give a smoother look. The injection of dermal |
| severe acne and scarring may result if the | | | | fillers does not permanently correct acne scars. |
| condition is not cared for properly. These scars | | | | The results are temporary, so further injections |
| may be visible for a lifetime. Here’s what | | | | are necessary. |
| your can do to prevent these scars from | | | | Punch Excision |
| forming, and treat them if they do develop. | | | | Deep acne scars such as ice pick and deep |
| Preventing Acne Scars | | | | boxcar scars can be treated with the punch |
| Never pick or squeeze acne blemishes. This can | | | | excision method. This procedure uses a punch |
| lead to the spread of acne and the development | | | | biopsy tool that looks similar to a round, sharp |
| of acne scars. Instead, there are a number of | | | | cookie-cutter. It comes in diameters ranging from |
| treatment methods that can be used to care for | | | | 1.5 mm to 3.5 mm, and the correct size can be |
| acne and prevent the development of scars. | | | | chosen to match the size of the scar. Local |
| Herbs such as chamomile, lavender, juniper, | | | | anesthesia is used to remove the scar tissue and |
| bergamot, dandelion root, Echinacea, poke root, | | | | suture the edges together. If a new scar should |
| witch hazel, and burdock root can be used to | | | | develop in the old one’s place, it will now be |
| reduce toxicity, improve the skin’s condition | | | | easier to treat with a skin resurfacing technique. |
| and treat acne. Vitamin supplements can also be | | | | This technique can also be performed with a skin |
| helpful as vitamins A, C, E and B6 are vital for | | | | graft, where the scarred skin is removed and |
| healthy skin. Also, avoid exposing your skin to the | | | | that area is filled with a skin graft taken from |
| sun’s rays. Initially, sun exposure may dry out | | | | behind the ear. Some kind of skin resurfacing |
| an acne blemish, but over time, unprotected sun | | | | technique will still likely be needed to correct any |
| exposure can damage the skin and further | | | | differences in the skin’s color and texture. |
| aggravate problem acne. | | | | Punch Elevation |
| Types of Acne Scars | | | | This method of surgically correcting acne scars |
| Medical professionals have developed a acne | | | | uses the same punch tool that is used in the |
| scarring classification system that aids in the | | | | punch excision method. It is used on deep boxcar |
| diagnosis and treatment of many acne scars. | | | | scars that have sharp edges and normal |
| Scars may be classified as ice pick, boxcar, or | | | | appearing bases. With the punch elevation |
| rolling. | | | | method, the base of the scar is excised leaving |
| Acne Scars – Ice pick | | | | the walls of the scar intact. The excised base is |
| As their name implies, ice pick acne scars are thin, | | | | then sutured to the surface of the skin to fill the |
| sharp scars. The skin looks as though it has been | | | | void. There are fewer incidences of color and |
| sliced with an ice pick. These scars are narrow, | | | | texture differences with this technique and less |
| but deep, extending into the deep dermis or | | | | chance of developing another visible scar. |
| subcutaneous layer. | | | | Subcutaneous Incision |
| Acne Scars - Boxcar | | | | Rolling scars can be treated with subcutaneous |
| Unlike ice pick scars, boxcar scars do not taper to | | | | incision. This method is used to break up the |
| a point. Instead, they are round pits that have | | | | fibrous bands that cause the skin to roll or appear |
| sharp vertical edges. Skin resurfacing techniques | | | | undulated. Local anesthesia is inserted under the |
| such as dermabrasion or laser resurfacing may be | | | | skin with a special beveled needle that remains |
| used to treat shallow boxcar scars. Deeper scars | | | | parallel to the skin’s surface. The needle is |
| require full-thickness treatment techniques. | | | | then used to gently cut the fibrous bands with a |
| Acne Scars - Rolling | | | | piston like motion. Bruising is likely to occur with |
| Rolling scars appear to have a rolling or undulating | | | | this method, but it will usually fade in about one |
| texture. They are the result of folds in the skin to | | | | week. |
| the subcutaneous tissue below. Rolling scars must | | | | Laser Resurfacing |
| be treated by breaking up the fibrous bands that | | | | Laser resurfacing is a popular treatment used to |
| are causing the skin to fold or roll. Subcutaneous | | | | cure many skin defects. Carbon dioxide and YAG |
| incision is the method most commonly used to | | | | lasers are the two most common types used for |
| treat this condition. | | | | the laser resurfacing of acne scars. Using the |
| Acne Scar Treatment | | | | controlled beam of a laser, the top layer of skin is |
| Dermal Fillers | | | | burned to a precise depth. The skin then heals |
| Dermal fillers such as fat, collagen, hyaluronic acid | | | | itself by replacing the lost skin with new skin. |