How do acne scars form?
Acne scars are one of many skin imperfections that can affect how beautiful the face looks and leave marks on the body. They are the traces that severe acne leaves behind after it has healed. Acne, which most commonly appears in adolescence due to hormonal imbalances, is a skin disease. In other words, it is an inflammation of the hair follicle, which results in:
- red spots (with pus when they are mature)
- micro cysts
Excess sebum and blackheads occur alongside these skin impurities.
Acne scars form therefore after a substantial period of aggressive acne. They are more likely to occur if someone itches and constantly twiddles with the spots. Caps, headphones and other forms of contact increase the risk of scars.
There are different types of acne scars:
- Hypertrophic scars: these scars are swollen and look like an outgrowth of skin tissue. They can be larger than the original spot.
- Atrophic scars: these scars are hollow like a crater.
Hyperpigmented scars: they are red, pink, brown or even black. They are a hyperpigmentation mark caused by the stimulation of melanocytes. The darker the skin, the darker the scars will be. They can be hollow or swollen. The center treats brown scars in particular.
Hypopigmented scars: They are a lighter color than the skin because they destroyed the melanin.
How to get rid of these stubborn acne scars?
Apart from surgery and aesthetic medicine, there are no effective solutions to diminish or get rid of acne scars.
The Lazeo aesthetic medicine center can treat the scars listed above. There are other types of scars such as atrophic, “ice pick” scars, which make quite deep holes in the skin, or very hypertrophic scars, which are very difficult to treat.
Please note that to perform these types of treatment the acne must have permanently cleared and the marks must be completely healed. All drug treatments to treat acne must also have been completed. It is also recommend to start these treatments in winter to prevent any skin depigmentation when tanning.
Hyaluronic acid injections: to fill shallow scars such as “gentle sloping” or flat scars, and smooth the skin surface. This treatment must be repeated every year as hyaluronic acid is a resorbable product.
Fraxel laser: to treat some atrophic, hypertrophic and hyperpigmented scars. By treating the skin section by section with fractional laser beam micro pulses, the fraxel laser will stimulate cell regeneration. Scars will disappear and the skin is left beautiful, smooth and even. Collagen is stimulated for several months.
Peels: to treat slightly atrophic, hypertrophic and hyperpigmented scars. The chemical substance contained in the peel will irritate the skin and make it peel to help a scar-free second skin form with a clear complexion. Medium and deep peels are chosen depending on the depth of the scar.
Fractional CO2 laser: to treat some atrophic, hypertrophic and hyperpigmented scars. This more aggressive treatment is based on the same principle as the fraxel laser but delivers carbon dioxide micro pulses.
It is highly likely that peel or laser treatments will require several sessions to effectively get rid of scars.
