Acne's Physical Effects
Lesions may persist even after they have healed and serve as enduring reminders. Although it can be challenging to totally prevent acne scars, knowing how your skin functions can help you reduce long-term harm.
What causes scarring from acne? Acne scars are, to put it simply, physical evidence of tissue repair and injury. The body sends its repair team to the injury site as soon as tissue is damaged. White blood cells and a variety of inflammatory chemicals make up this specialist team, which works to combat infection and repair damaged tissue. However, the tissue may not always be able to be returned to its pre-infection state.
Who is most prone to getting scars from acne? Nobody is really sure how or why people develop acne scars. There is a lot of individual variance, which may indicate that some people are just more prone to acne scarring than others. People who are prone to getting acne scars frequently discover a hereditary link, and both how much you scar and what form of scar you get might "run in the family." The life histories of individual scars also vary greatly; although some people live with acne scars for the rest of their lives with little change, others see their scars fade with time. We do know that patients with the most severe types of inflammatory acne, including deep nodular lesions, are more likely to experience scarring.
How may acne scars be prevented? The greatest strategy to prevent scarring is to prevent acne because we don't know what makes one individual scar more easily than another. Early intervention and ongoing treatment are crucial for this illness. The more inflammation you can stop, the lower your risk of scarring. If you do develop acne lesions, it's crucial to take the right medication to cure them rather than squeeze or pick at them. Squeezing the skin with your fingernails, popping pimples with a pin, or doing anything else that causes harm to the surrounding tissue greatly enhances the likelihood that the lesion will leave a permanent scar and necessitate acne scar therapy.
Just keep in mind that if you don't pick at a pimple that is troubling you right now, it will likely go away quickly. Consult your dermatologist or aesthetician for safe, qualified scar therapy or extraction if you have a particularly bothersome lesion.
Another thing to keep in mind is that a healthy body heals more completely and swiftly, so never discount the power of leading a healthy lifestyle. Eat a healthy, balanced diet and drink enough of water. If your work or play requires you to be outside in the sun, shield your skin from UVA and UVB rays using oil-free sunscreen since too much sun exposure can cause scars to become more persistent. You probably already know that smoking is a nasty habit, but it also depletes your skin's vital oxygen and collagen reserves, damages it with free radicals, and deposits pollutants, leaving it more susceptible to aging and acne scars.
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acne scar types
I'll start by sharing some encouraging healing news. The inflamed area of an acne blemish flattens as it heals, leaving a crimson mark in its place. Although it may appear to be an acne scar, the ultimate stage of an acne lesion is called a macule. Although macules might linger for up to six months, they do not permanently damage the skin.
The same is true for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which is a darkening of the skin at an acne lesion's healing site. These spots, which are most common in African-American, Asian, and Latino populations, can last up to 18 months, but they might go away more rapidly if you avoid the sun. The fact that macules and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation eventually go completely makes them both "pseudo-scarring" conditions.
True acne scars come in two varieties: those brought on by enhanced tissue production and those brought on by tissue loss. The former, also known as keloid or hypertropic scars, are less frequent and might be inherited. Patients who are African-American, Asian, or Latino are more likely to have these. When the skin cells respond to an injury by overproducing collagen, keloid scarring results. Keloid scarring most typically appears along the jawline and on the back or chest. These acne scars have a solid, shiny appearance and can last for years.
The many different types of acne scars that result from tissue loss are significantly more common:
Soft acne scars feature borders that gently slope and blend into the surrounding skin. They are typically delicate to the touch, tiny, and round or linear in shape.
Icepick scars from acne. Ice-pick scars are typically small but deep, with a jagged edge and steep sides, and are most frequently discovered on the cheek. Stretching the skin may help if the scars are soft to the touch; ice-pick scars are challenging to cure.
depressed scars from fibrotic acne. Ice-pick wounds may transform into depressed fibrotic scars over time. Although larger and firmer at the base, these nevertheless feature sharp edges and steep sides.
Atrophic macules are soft acne scars with a slightly wrinkled base that are most prevalent in Caucasians. Scars may first seem reddish due to blood vessels just beneath the skin's surface, however this discoloration may eventually turn into a light ivory tone. On the face, atrophic macules are typically modest, but they can be up to a centimeter in size elsewhere on the body.
A person with acne is more prone to experience follicular macular atrophy on their back or chest. These tiny, soft white lesions, which can last for months or years, resemble whiteheads that didn't fully form.
My acne scars鈥攃an they be treated?
The quick answer is that there are treatments for acne scars. With the help of bleaching chemicals, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and macules can be improved. Topical resurfacing therapies, such as Retinol, which is sold in a variety of over-the-counter formulations as well as in prescription drugs like Retin-A and Renova, can be used to treat certain superficial acne scars. Microdermabrasion (a minimum of 68 sessions are normally necessary) or dermatological surgery can help with other types of scarring. Even while it might not be able to return your skin to its pre-acne condition, it may be worthwhile if your emotional wellbeing is significantly impacted by your scars. There are numerous scar treatments available; speak with your dermatologist to learn if and how your specific situation might be improved.