What Are the Causes of Acne Scars?
More than 40 million Americans suffer from acne, including 17 million adults. Thanks to a wide range of treatments, most types of acne can be cured, or at least greatly reduced. However, even after it has been treated, acne can leave long-lasting scars. On some people, the scars are barely noticeable. For the less fortunate, the scars can be an unsightly reminder of a past skin condition.
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Causes
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Acne scars remain long after the acne subsides. Like other scars, acne scars happen when the dermis is damaged. They are usually the product of a deep inflamed lesion. The pore swells, causing the follicle wall to break. If this happens close to the skin's surface, the lesion quickly heals. If it's deeper down, the infected liquid spills out into the dermis and destroys skin tissue. The dermis then tries to repair the damage by forming new collagen fibers. The result is an acne scar.
Scars Caused by Loss of Tissue
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There are two main categories of acne scars. The first is scars caused by loss of tissue. They are also known as depressed scars and are similar to chicken pox scars. Within this category, there are several types. Ice-pick scars are small and jagged-edged. They usually occur on the cheeks. They may be shallow or deep, soft or hard to the touch. Depressed fibrotic scars are large and deep, with a firm base. Atrophic macules are usually small and soft, with a slightly wrinkled base. Follicular macular atrophy look like white soft lesions. They commonly occur on the chest.
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Scars Caused by Increased Tissue Formation
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The second category is scars caused by increased tissue formation. They are also known as keloids or hypertrophic scars. These types of scars happen because of an overproduction of collagen, which results in a firm, smooth, irregularly shaped scar. These type of scars are hereditary. If other members of your family get keloids, there is a good chance that you will, too.
Prevention
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The best way to prevent acne scars is by reducing inflammatory breakouts. This is easier said than done. A dermatologist can prescribe antibiotics and other types of oral or topical medications that will reduce breakouts. While it's tempting to squeeze a pimple, it's not a good idea. It forces the infected debris further into the dermis, thereby increasing the chance of long-term scarring.
Treatment
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If left alone, most types of acne scars will fade on their own but may not disappear completely. There are also a a wide range of treatments than can minimize the appearance of acne scars. Collagen injections can be used to fill out some deep scars. The benefits last between three to six weeks. Dermabrasion is good for removing superficial scars, along with the top layer of skin. It is done under a local anesthetic. Microdermabrasion is a newer, less-invasive procedure that can also eliminate fine scars. Laser treatment is sometimes used to reduce redness and change the contours of an acne scar. In more extreme case, skin surgery is required to reduce the appearance of deep scars.
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