Acne Scars

We are often told to get our acne treated as soon as possible to avoid acne scars, but that doesn’t help those that are  already living with scars. While some people are not bothered by acne scars and assume that they will gradually fade, others with acne scars experience a significant decline in their self confidence and esteem, leading to anxiety, depression, and in very severe cases an increase risk of suicide.

Why do Acne Scars have such an impact?

Because most acne scars are located on the face, it is difficult to hide or cover them. Many people who suffer from severe acne scarring find it difficult to look people in the eye, especially on first meeting. This can be because they don’t want to see the new person’s reaction to their acne scars, or simply because they feel looking directly at the person will draw attention to their scars.

Acne scars on the body can also have a negative impact, with many sufferers staying away from the beach and swimming pool, or avoiding intimate contact with their partners, because they are afraid to be seen without clothes.

Different types of permanent Acne Scars

There are a number of different types of acne scars, and your doctor or dermatologist will know the best treatment for each one. However, permanent acne scars can be classed into two main categories:

· Depressed acne scars are the most common and are caused by a loss of tissue where the pimple was. A common depressed scar would be an ice pick scar, or a pointed dent in the skin.

· Raised area acne scars are less common and are caused by the body producing too much collagen in an attempt to heal the pimple. Raised area acne scars tend to be hereditary.

Non permanent Acne Scars

Many people worry that they have permanent acne scars when actually they are experiencing macules or post inflammatory pigmentation. A macule is a red area of skin that is the final stage of an acne pimple or lesion, and it can last for up to six months. Post inflammatory pigmentation forms after a pimple has healed, and is a slight skin discolouration which should not last more than eighteen months. Your dermatologist will be able to identify if you have these rather than permanent acne scars.

Treating Acne Scars surgically

Consult your dermatologist to determine the best treatment for your particular acne scars. Surgical procedures that work well for one sufferer can make scars worse for another.

Here are a few of the surgical options available to treat acne scars:

· Collagen injections

· Transfer of fat to fill acne scars

· Dermabrasion to remove raised acne scars

· Laser treatment

· Skin grafts

For these procedures to be really effective you usually need to be free of active acne, and only have the acne scars remaining.

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