Acne scars – causes, types, treatment

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It can be estimated that up to 90% of people who have experienced acne later struggle with scars. So it’s good to know all about acne and its treatment, as well as preventing acne scars, which can be almost as difficult to eliminate as acne itself. We advise you on how to comprehensively care for skin prone to imperfections.

Acne scars – the essence and causes

Acne scars take the form of dimples and hollows, most often on the skin of the face, i.e. where acne lesions have appeared. These scars are usually irregular in shape, size and depth. Skin changes are the result of damage to the dermis, followed by replacement of its fragment with fibrous connective tissue.

It is best to prevent scars or start treating them as early as possible, as acne scars can worsen as a result of a person’s loss of collagen. Then the scars are more visible and their removal or reduction of their visibility is difficult and may require effective treatment methods, such as laser therapy.

To learn more about the causes of acne scars, you naturally need to understand the concept of acne.

Mostly adolescents are exposed to blackheads and pimples. This stage is especially difficult for young people, as teenagers often worry about their appearance to the point where even mild acne symptoms seriously affect their self-confidence. The good news is that in many cases, acne is completely curable or its symptoms may be alleviated to the point where it is almost invisible.

The most common cause of acne is male sex hormones known as “androgens”. They stimulate the development of the sebaceous glands responsible for the secretion of sebum. Increased production of androgens is most often observed in children aged 11-14 years.

Their role is very valuable, as the fats produced by these glands are needed to maintain a healthy and elastic skin. However, during adolescence, they produce too much fat, which causes clogging of the pores in the skin as the top layers of the skin do not exfoliate at the appropriate rate. This causes the condition in which the fat is unable to get out without oxygen from the air reaching the skin layers. In this way, a model environment is created for the bacteria called Propionibacterium acneswhich secondarily infect the skin.

Following the rules of personal hygiene is a priority, but it will not protect against acne. The fats produced in the sebaceous glands of the skin have a significant impact on the formation of acne, but remember that everything takes place under the skin’s surface. Another myth is that sugar and fatty foods are the main triggers of acne. Following a proper diet is important, but it does not guarantee the avoidance of imperfections in the facial skin.

Acne scars – types and appearance

Due to the fact that the scars are irregular in shape, size and depth, we can also distinguish several types of these skin lesions.

We distinguish scars:

1. hypertrophic – they can be recognized by the fact that the lumps on the skin of the face are convex, thick and hard; 
2. atrophic – such scars are distinguished by dimples and folds on the skin of the face; 
3. discoloration – as the name suggests, they take the form of spots on the skin, most often light brown or pink in color. 

The occurrence of scars is quite common and most often results from improper acne treatment or neglect of acne skin care. Some people repeat many care mistakes or give up this obligation completely, expecting that the acne will heal on its own.

Discoloration, or hypertrophic or atrophic scars, also appear from the squeezing or scratching of the pimples, so this should not be done. Then, a bacterial infection occurs, and the inflammation exacerbates and causes scars that are difficult to heal. Acne scars can also appear in people who have a genetic predisposition to the appearance of this type of skin lesions.

1. Cepan – a cream for scars. How to start applying?

Acne scars – how to prevent it?

It often happens that acne lesions go away on their own and the skin of the face looks much better after calming down the hormonal storm that is so characteristic of adolescence. However, it is worth including proper care in your everyday life, thanks to which you can keep your pores clean. They will be free of bacteria and inflammation will not be exacerbated.

1. Have plenty of washcloths on hand. Not only their quantity is important, but also the quality of workmanship, because terry cloth washers are especially recommended. You should wash your face several times a day, preferably using cosmetics that are fat-free. In turn, the task of the washer is to remove dead epidermis cells and impurities clogging the pores. 
2. Replace washcloths frequently. Extra washing can be a pain, but it’s definitely worth keeping an eye on. If we don’t, the bacteria that have been removed from the facial skin with the washcloth will end up there again. 
3. You should wash your entire face – from the hairline to the neck. Don’t just focus on acne lesions, as the bacteria causing these skin lesions will remain on your face. 

Find out more: A sponge is a bag of bacteria. Do not use it for washing – recommends a dermatologist

1. Choose good quality cotton pads. They are a good replacement for washers because they have a slightly rough surface and are good at applying liquid preparations to the skin of the face. When a person struggling with acne uses cosmetic pads during care and cleans their face with circular movements, it will effectively remove dead skin cells. 
2. Use a face scrub. Cosmetics of this type contain small particles whose task is to gently wipe the surface of the skin. Of course, you should remember about the appropriate frequency, because too frequent use of peeling may be counterproductive. Peels applied 1-2 times a week will help to unclog pores and remove impurities, while aggressive and frequent abrasion of the skin will irritate it, resulting in increased inflammation.  
3. Don’t touch your face with your hands. Under no circumstances should you squeeze out the pustules, because then the inflammation increases and the bacteria are transferred to other parts of the face. 
4. Choose shampoos and fat-free cosmetics. Most of the cosmetics that teenage girls use, such as foundation, blush, and other color cosmetics, clog pores. 
5. Check over-the-counter remedies. When choosing them, you should pay special attention to the composition. It is worthwhile when benzoyl peroxide is present in preparations of this type. It acts as an antimicrobial component, similar to salicylic acid. Glycolic acid is also recommended, which removes dead epidermal cells, thus clearing the pores, and this in turn leads to the release of greasy impurities accumulated under the skin. 

Are you looking for acne cosmetics? At Medonet Market, you can order a set of hemp-based cosmetics for the care of acne-prone skin.

Acne scars – natural remedies

If, despite following a healthy diet and all the rules of proper care, acne scars have developed, you can try home remedies to reduce the visibility of imperfections. For this purpose, natural substances are used with lightening properties and stimulating the epidermis to regenerate.

For example, avocado and lime juice masks, or honey and lemon juice are recommended. It is important to be systematic, as such a mask should be used approximately every 3-4 days.

Acne scars – cosmetic treatments

Natural methods are effective usually with minor changes, but if the acne scars are larger, have a lot of depth or there are many of them on the skin of the face, you can try professional cosmetic treatments and aesthetic medicine.

Examples of treatments that help combat acne scars include:

1. microdermabrasion,  
2. dermabrazja, 
3. ablative and non-ablative fractional laser, 
4. fractional microneedle radiofrequency, 
5. chemical peels, 
6. laser therapy. 

It is possible that a person suffering from acne scars will receive treatment for the use of pharmacological agents. Such preparations usually take the form of a cream, gel or ointment. They have soothing, moisturizing and regenerating properties and even out the skin tone. When choosing a specific cosmetic or pharmacological agent, pay attention to the composition. It is worth to include collagen or hyaluronic acid in it. Then you can count on satisfactory results in the treatment of acne and acne scars.