There’s a high chance of acne leaving unpleasant, rather embarrassing scars on the face and other areas of the body. For some people, they stand for an unwanted reminder of painful and bothersome conditions that may leave a psychological impact on their minds as well.
However, the ‘silver lining amidst the cloud’ is that these acne scars can be well treated with timely intervention and implementation of home remedies and medical treatments and plans.
It should be mentioned in the aforementioned context that on a deeper, effective, and foolproof level of How to treat acne scars, treatment options How to remove acne scars constitute natural, over-the-counter, and prescription remedies, with options depending on the type and extent of scarring which include:
- Chemical peels like salicylic acid
- Retinoids & other creams
- Laser treatment, micro-needling, and light therapy with varied procedures
- Surgery on some occasions
Types of Acne Scars
Atrophic Scars are visible as small indentations in the skin.
- Icepick scars are tiny scars resembling pinpricks.
- Boxcar scars are larger indentations having clear edges.
- Rolling scars with unclear edges, imparting skin a rolling or undulating appearance.
They occur when the skin is not capable of making sufficient fibroblasts during the healing process. Fibroblasts are cells that play a determining role in wound healing and collagen production.
Hypertrophic scars occur when the skin makes excess fibroblasts owing to the healing of acne spots resulting in raised scars.
Keloid Scars are akin to hypertrophic scars but tend to be thicker than the original acne spot, making room for the frequent occurrence of hyperpigmentation whereby giving the appearance of visibly darker skin than surrounding adjacent areas. They may be either red or brown, itching, or painful.
With Eva Pimples, Skin & Hair Clinic, Pune coming to your rescue, you can rest assured that all your skin-related woes, worries, and concerns be kept at bay!
Natural Remedies of How to Treat Acne Scars/How to Remove Acne Scars
Many people employ natural remedies that help them clear up acne scars, often ending up with irritation or other skin problems. So, it’s advisable to use them with caution in mind.
Traditional/Conventional Home remedies of How to remove acne marks, that have been prevailing and ruling over the years:
- Black seed oil helps to even out skin pigmentation.
- Rosehip oil aids in the reduction of discoloration of postsurgical scars.
- Honey proves to be highly beneficial in wound healing and reducing future scarring.
- Aloe vera combined with manuka honey act as a facilitator in promoting scar-free wound healing.
Over-the-Counter Remedies to Treat Acne Scars
A variety of over-the-counter remedies can facilitate in reducing acne marks, with products containing the following necessary ingredients proving to be highly beneficial.
Salicylic Acid-A naturally occurring compound often an ingredient in acne skin care range of products, Salicylic acid peels aid in clearing off dirt, grime, and skin cells, accompanied by other debris that leads to the formation of acne from skin pores. Moreover, it helps to minimize swelling, and redness in areas thereby reducing scarring appearance. Salicylic acid is also beneficial for treating scars of all kinds.
A word of caution or two: People having sensitive skin should do a patch test on a small area of skin before applying salicylic acid on the entire face, which in some cases, may result in dryness or irritation.
Retinoids-Some topical retinoids may act as facilitators in removing acne scars, as well as blocking inflammation, reducing acne lesions, whilst speeding up cell regeneration. Furthermore, retinoids help lighten hyperpigmented acne scars, including those in people with darker skin tones.
A word of caution or two: Retinoids make skin sensitive to the sun, and anyone using retinoids for acne or scar treatment should apply sunscreen before stepping out of the house.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids-Alpha Hydroxy acids (AHAs) help to increase the rate of skin cells renewal, a skincare regime of How to treat acne scars as recommended by doctors/dermatologists, as well as act as an agent of reducing acne scars visibility.
A word of caution or two: Swelling, burning, and itching may occur at high concentrations, so it’s advisable to consult a doctor/dermatologist before trying out AHAs.
Lactic Acid-Belonging to the category of AHA, Lactic acid acts as a gentle peel for pulling away dead skin cells and minimizes scars visibility/appearance thereby smoothening skin in the process. Moreover, it also aids in lightening dark scar tissue causing hyperpigmentation.
A word of caution or two: It’s highly advisable to test products containing lactic acid on a small patch of skin before applying them for the treatment of acne scars.
Silicone Dressings-Being part and regime of How to remove acne marks, Silicone dressings aid in reducing the appearance and size of acne scars by providing hydration, and also reduce itching and pain thereby enhancing skin’s flexibility.
A word of caution or two: A person will have to use Silicone dressings all the time, which can prove to be difficult at times. Some people may experience itching and irritation as part of the side effects.
Medical Treatments & Plans to Remove Acne Scars
Dermatologists generally recommend suitable and appropriate procedures entailing an amalgamation of therapies in keeping with persons’ skin type and texture and extent of scarring.
Options constitute:
Chemical Peels like Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA) and others are recommended by dermatologists apt for persons’ skin type, acne frequency & severity, and scarring.
Injections of Corticosteroids aid in softening and flattening raised acne scar tissue if a person has hypertrophic or keloid scars. Treatment generally comprises a series of injections.
Dermal Fillers or soft tissue fillers are suggested by dermatologists for treating atrophic acne scars and are particularly beneficial for rolling and boxcar scars.
Options include:
- Collagen-based products
- Polymethylmethacrylate
- Hyaluronic acid
- Polyacrylamide
- Poly-L-lactic acid
- Silicon
Depending on the filler, a person needs to repeat the treatment after a few months. Seek a doctor’s consultation before opting for treatment.
Microneedling is the procedure of inserting tiny needles into the skin surrounding the scar for stimulating the body to produce more collagen thereby reducing atrophic acne scar appearance whilst smoothening out skin. However, microneedling has its fair share of side effects like redness, pain, and inflammation post-treatment, generally subsiding over time.
Laser Treatment resurfaces the skin without chemicals or scrubs usage, removing the uppermost layer of skin to unearth and reveal younger skin cells beneath, simultaneously reducing scarring visibility and texture of raised scars. Treatment with a pulsed dye laser can also help in minimizing hyperpigmented scars colors.
Moreover, intense pulsed light treatment is a better option for people having pale skin. However, laser treatment dealing with How to remove acne marks is not an apt choice for everyone and is thoroughly dependent on the type of acne scarring and the person’s skin type and texture.
Surgery helps to remove raised acne scars, so is advisable to perform it under the consultation and supervision of an experienced doctor, who may recommend further post-operative treatment for acne scars removal of varied types.
Electrodesiccation reduces the edges of boxcar acne scars, making skin look flatter and less indented. Doctors employ electric probes for heating up the skin and killing tissue causing edges around scars.
Punch Excision involves treating pitted scars that won’t heal well with the standard mode of treatment. Here a round tool is used for completely removing scar by puncturing the skin’s top layer. The skin sutures are used for closing up areas resulting in smaller, flatter scars fading over time.
Subcision is a procedure involving the release of a scar that’s bound to the muscle or deeper tissues so that it can move again freely. This technique entails using a surgical probe or needle used with deeper scars for bringing them to the surface to enhance their response to laser, chemical peel, or micro-needling.
Dermabrasion uses a special tool to create friction for removing the skin’s uppermost layer. Upon removal of the skin’s top layer, a moist dressing is applied to make the healing process faster taking up a couple of weeks.
Get yourself treated at Eva Pimples, Skin & Hair Clinic in Wakad & Hinjewadi, Pune India, and be free of all problems about skin and hair.
Eva Skin & Hair Clinic provides treatment for varied skin concerns like Pimples, Acne Pigmentation, Dark Spots, Uneven Skin tone, and other skin-oriented problems, having more than 11 years of experience and expertise in the field of Dermatology, Aesthetic Cosmetology & Trichology, and Hair transplant (FUE) surgery.
Moreover, we’re a pro when it comes to treating all grades of Hair Loss, Hair Thinning & different Hair & Scalp related issues and ailments. Eva Clinic is well-equipped with all modern, state-of-the-art treatments and modalities under one roof, endowed with an efficient bunch of certified Dermatologists, Cosmetologists & Trichologists, Hair Transplant surgeons, and clinical aestheticians.
We employ a multi-pronged-360-degree approach to treating patients’ problems with advanced gold standard clinically proven treatment modalities that are safe, result-oriented, and reasonable combined with customized plans.
Our bevy of services constitutes Treatment for Acne, Acne Scar Removal, Skin Pigmentation, Hair Loss Treatment, Hair Transplant, Laser Hair Removal, Anti-Ageing Treatment, and Skin Tag under the consultation of eminent doctors- Dr. Preeti Raut, Dr. Bhavin Chothani, Dr. Shalthiel Sathe, Dr. Poonam Sathe, and Dr. Rajnikant Choudhary. Avail the best out of us!