As most teenagers know, acne can be a real problem on its own, and to add insult to injury, it can often leave deep scars in affected areas. Most often, this scarring is attributed to popping or scratching acne lesions that are healing, but if the acne is severe enough, scarring can occur in spite of proper treatment.
Acne scars are classified as one of three types based on appearance. “Icepick” scars are deep, narrow scars that look like the skin has been punctured. “Boxcar” scars are fairly shallow scars with a circular or oval shape and steep edges, and “rolling” scars are caused when the skin becomes conjoined with subcutaneous tissue and results in a wavy or undulating appearance.
To help prevent scarring, it is important to avoid exacerbating acne by leaving it untreated or attempting to pop deep subdermal lesions. Additionally, a visit to the dermatologist for cortisol injections may help reduce the swelling and pain of subdermal lesions and reduce or eliminate scarring. Spot treatments with creams containing alpha hydroxy acid can help prevent a lesion from forming completely, and daily regimens that include a face wash, benzoyl peroxide treatment or other over-the-counter treatments, and moisturizing can help prevent the progression or appearance of acne lesions. It is important to take note of what works for each individual, as the effectiveness of treatments varies, and in some cases these treatments can actually irritate the skin and aggravate the problem.
A number of options for treating acne scars that have already formed exist, but generally these options are only effective at treating a specific type of scarring:
Dermabrasion and laser resurfacing are good for treating shallow scarring, but can cost an average of $2000-3000, and multiple treatments may be necessary. In these procedures, the top layers of skin are removed and new skin is allowed to grow in its place, and the skin will appear reddish and scraped or burned for several weeks while healing.
Chemical peels also remove the top layer of skin with the use of chemicals, but are only effective for mild acne scarring, and typically cost around $700 per treatment. Recovery is slightly faster than dermabrasion and laser resurfacing, as fewer layers of skin are affected.
Punching and subcision are two surgical options available for deeper scars. Punching involves excising the scarred tissue using a small punch, and then the edges of the skin are stitched together again and allowed to heal. Subcision consists of separating the scar from the underlying skin and allowing tissue to reform and level out the appearance of the scar. Subcision may require multiple treatments to be effective.
Injections of collagen and saline may also be used to fill in the scarred areas and make them appear smoother. Multiple sessions of injections are usually required, but recovery time is quicker than other treatments. Collagen injections need to be repeated continually, as they are only a temporary cosmetic solution to the problem.
To choose the best options for scar treatment for each individual, it is beneficial to speak to a dermatologist and see what options will have the greatest impact.