Facing the Facts of Acne Scar Removal

Most people recover from a bout of acne without ever suffering any serious complications. Unfortunately, there are those who are more predisposed to having acne scars compared to other people. While contracting acne itself is already a source of concern and embarrassment, becoming disfigured with acne scars can be even more problematic for those beset by such scarring. There are several methods for acne scar removal that provide some hope and intervention to those afflicted by such scars.
Marks arising from acne are not necessarily scars. Most marks left from treated acne, also referred to as macules, will also fade albeit in more time than is preferred by most. Macules usually take 6 to 12 months to disappear entirely.
Real acne scarring however will show the signs of the infection indefinitely. For some, they can live with the scar. However, for most individuals having acne scars are an unacceptable situation. That is why there is a real demand for acne scar removal methodologies that would reduce or otherwise completely eliminate the scarring.
Causes of acne scars
Since acne is actually a bacterial infestation of the skin, the body would react appropriately to defend itself. White blood cells, our first line defense against infection, goes to work against the acne along with various other enzymes and chemicals in our bodies that are designed to fight off diseases. This defensive counterattack, however, may leave damaged tissues in the process. In the event of considerable tissue damage, the skin will leave an obvious scar.
Acne scars come in two varieties. The first is hyperthropic or keloid scars, meaning an outgrowth is present on the skin or there is a marked thickening of the skin. The other one is atrophic scarring, where there is a loss of tissue and the affected area develops a noticeable depression.
Furthermore there are several types of atrophic scars namely, ice-pick scars, depressed fibrotic scars, soft scars, follicular macular atrophy or atrophic macules. They are differentiated by their size, location in the body and severity.
Common acne scar removal methods
When acne scars are suspected in a patient, immediate dermatological intervention is necessary to lessen its impact. The scars may become impervious to the more simple treatments if the scarring is left untreated during the early stages.
Dermabrasion is one way to combat hypertrophic acne scars although it is not advisable for depressed scars. The process involves the use of an abrasive brush to remove damaged surface skin. This, in turn, promotes the growth of new skin. It is a rather painful procedure which is why a light local anaesthetic is used during dermabrasion.
The less painful version of the above, called microdermabrasion uses light abrasion via minute particles, thereby effectively exfoliating areas of the skin that has been scarred. It is comparable in effect to chemical peels which is also a prescribed method of acne scar removal. The skin regenerates after microdermabrasion and chemical peeling resulting in clearer, smoother skin.
For deeper or more severe cases of acne scar, laser therapy is the preferred mode of treatment. Fractional laser resurfacing is also described as microthermal wounding wherein the regenerated skin coupled with collagen stimulation promotes a less noticeable or even a scar-free look.
Acquiring scarring from acne is not a hopeless situation. Dermatological techniques such as those mentioned here are effective acne scar removal procedures. It is advisable to first consult with a qualified dermatologist to gain a deeper understanding of how to properly deal with acne scars.

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Your Quick Guide to Facts About Acne Scars

As a registered nurse, I have learned a lot over the years about acne scars, acne scar treatments, and acne scar removal.
Acne is one of most common skin conditions in the world, affecting more than 40 million Americans. Nearly 80 percent of people from ages 11 to 30 years old have acne, most often on the face, chest and back.
But acne isn't restricted to any one age group. Adults who are in their 20s, 30s and even into their 40s can get acne.
Most cases of acne do respond to treatment and clear up without leaving any scars. Healed acne leaves scars in some people however, and it isn't easy to predict who will end up with scars after an acne outbreak and who won't.
Severe, inflamed, cystic acne always leaves scars after healing. And in some people even superficially inflamed acne can result in scarring.
Whether acne scarring is deep or superficial, extensive or scattered, the end result can be less than desirable and even disturbing.
Acne scars can give the skin an aging look. Scars may also contribute to a person looking older than their age as the skin loses its elasticity over the years.
A number of treatments are currently available to remove or improve acne scars. The type and depth of the scars influences the choice of treatment.
Here are some basic facts about acne scars:
Facts about the types of acne scars: Acne scars result from increased tissue formation, response to the inflammation of acne and loss of tissue.
Facts about increased tissue formation: Scars caused by increased tissue formation are caused by a build-up of collagen in the skin. These are called hypertrophic and keloid scars.
Keloids usually are found among several family members. There is a genetic predisposition to form keloids after tissue injury. For example, African-Americans often are prone to keloid formation. Some families also tend to more so, form hypertrophic or thickened scars.
Facts about scars resulting from loss of tissue: Acne scars resulting from loss of tissue are more common than scars resulting from increased tissue formation.
There are several types. They are ice-pick scars, depressed fibrotic scars, superficial and deep soft scars, and atrophic macules.
Ice-pick scars get their name from the way they look. They may be superficial or deep, are usually small and have steep sides like an ice-pick wound. They may be hard or soft.
The soft scars are usually more superficial and the hard scars are usually deeper. The bottom of the hard scar under the skin may be wider than the scar at the surface of the skin.
Depressed fibrotic scars are usually large scars that have sharp edges and steep sides. They look very much like deep chicken pox scars.
Superficial and deep soft scars vary in size. They have sloping edges that merge with normal skin.
Atrophic macules are soft, flat scars that often have a bluish or violet color on white skin due to the underlying blood vessels. These macules tend to fade away over time and become less obvious.
Acne scars are an ongoing reminder of a common skin condition that can cause embarrassment and social isolation. Acne scars can also contribute to the appearance of premature aging.
The good news is that today, there are several types of treatments to choose from for acne scar removal,. See your dermatologist or dermatologic surgeon for the best acne scar treatment for you.

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Adult Acne - Facts and Ways to Deal With It

Research shows that nearly 50% women and 25% men have suffered from acne at some point of time during their life span. Generally this is observed during adolescence but in many cases acne simply refuses to go and even as adults you have to live with this frustrating skin condition. Adult acne can be of many types and the acne that continues irrespective of the age of the sufferer would be termed as 'persistent acne'. Some people may also be startled seeing the sudden acne breakout on their faces even though they have not suffered earlier; this is known as 'late-onset acne'. The reasons for developing adult acne can be various. Pantothenic acid acne is one that is caused by the deficiency of vitamin B5 in an individual. To cure this, acne vitamins have always played a major role.
Some women who were on oral contraceptive pills for some time may develop sudden acne when they stop those pills. Hormonal fluctuations in women during menstrual cycle, pregnancy, menopause and puberty also cause sudden acne breakouts during this time. Certain medications like corticosteroids, anticonvulsant drugs etc are also known to cause acne in people. Adult acne can also be related to your genetics. If you have a family history of acne, there are chances that you too would suffer from it.
The environment we live in also triggers acne. Pollutants, dirt, dust, grease and grime in the environment are detrimental for the skin and may cause acne. Along with these factors the high stress in the daily life is also known to cause acne breakouts. The relation between stress and acne has been explained scientifically. An increase in stress levels causes secretion of androgens in the body. This increase of androgens in the body causes an increase in the oil secretion by the sebaceous glands. This increased oil acts like food for bacteria to feast on and causes acne on the face.
Along with the surroundings and the atmosphere you live in, especially for ladies, the make-up they apply can cause acne many a times. Many products are oil-based and tend to block or clog the pores causing acne. It would be better to make a switch to water based make-up products so that you can do make-up but not at the expense of your skin. While picking products take care to read that they are 'non-comedogenic'.
You should not ignore the blackheads on your face as they are the beginning of acne. When pores get clogged with dirt and oil bacteria also attack them. On exposure to air and by regular touching, they become inflamed and cause acne. Scrubbing of blackheads is not advised as it may cause further inflammation. Exfoliants with alpha-hydroxy acids are good for acne skin. Benzoyl Peroxide is known to be quite effective in treating adult acne. Treatment of adult acne differs from that of a teen. Cleanse your skin with a mild cleanser with benzoyl peroxide and a salicylic acid exfoliation treatment two to three times a week would give you excellent results.
MIJ Sadique is specializing in skin issues and has made several studies about acne and acne remedies. He has more resources about scientifically proven vitamins for acne, including vitamin b5 acne treatment.

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