Acne scars may seem like double punishment — first you dealt with pimples, now you have marks as a nice reminder.
Pimples (acne lesions) occur as the pores (hair follicles) on your skin become plugged with dead skin cells and oil. Plugged follicles are the ideal area for bacteria to grow, as well as create the pus-filled red bumps referred to as pimples.
Treating Scars from Acne
The majority of the time, those brownish or reddish acne marks which are left behind after acne lesions clear up will vanish without any need for treatment. Although, squeezing or picking acne may increase the risk for scarring.
Scars take on two forms:
- scars which are narrow and deep
- scars that have a gradual depression or dip (occasionally referred to as “rolling” scars)
An individual’s acne must be under control before acne scars may be treated.
Severe vs. Mild Scarring
Treatments depend upon how serious the scars are. Within some instances, a dermatologist might recommend a microdermabrasion or chemical peel to assist in improving the look of scarred spaces. Those milder treatments may be performed directly in the office.
For severe scarring from prior acne bouts, several kinds of treatment may help:
Laser Scar Removal Beverly Hills
This treatment may be performed in the dermatologist’s office. The laser will remove the damaged top skin layer and tighten the middle layer, and leaves skin smoother. It may take anywhere from a couple of minutes to one hour. The laser treatment at Dr. Newman’s office is called the V Beam laser, this is a non-ablative laser and has no pain, just a little zap feeling. Usually, it takes between three and ten days for the skin to completely heal.
Dermabrasion
This procedure utilizes a spinning diamond instrument or rotating wire brush to wear down the skin’s surface. As your skin heals, a smoother, new layer replaces your abraded skin. It might take a little longer for the skin to heal through the use of dermabrasion — typically between ten days and three weeks.
For “rolling” scars, dermatologists occasionally inject material underneath the scar to raise it to the level of regular skin. Lastly, in some instances, a dermatologist might suggest an operation to remove scars that are deeply indented.
Something you should not do to handle acne scars is load up your face with fancy lotions or masks — these will not help and might further irritate your skin, which makes the scars red and even more visible.
If you have a brownish or red mark on your face you got from a zit, it eventually should fade. But, it might take one year or longer. If you are upset about acne marks, speak with your dermatologist, who may have suggestions on what you should do.
For more information on getting rid of acne scars contact highly qualified dermatologist, Dr. Newman today!
