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Back acne is a skin condition that results from the overproduction of sebum, an oily material made by the body's oil glands. Acne does not pose a serious health threat but it can be distressing and, if left untreated, can cause permanent scarring.
There are two types of scars that can appear on the back. Hypertrophic scarring is an excess of scar tissue. Atrophic scarring, which is the more common type, is a loss of tissue. This can result in depressions in the skin. -
Always protect your skin from the sun. Sunlight can damage the skin in many ways, and that includes making acne scars worse and delaying healing. Staying out of the sun can help speed up the healing process.
Drink plenty of water, as water hydrates the skin. Without enough water, the body doesn't circulate blood as quickly which slows the healing process.
Get enough sleep. During sleep, the body restores cells. If the body doesn't receive enough time to rejuvenate and renew itself, acne scars may not heal as quickly or as well. -
Laser resurfacing is a procedure that removes the top layer of damaged skin so that acne scars are lessened. This is done by a dermatologist or a doctor and it reduces redness and other signs of acne scars.
Dermabrasion is another type of surgery used to remove acne scarring. The dermatologist uses a rotating wire brush to remove the top layer of skin which helps lessen the depth of the acne scarring.
Microdermabrasion is similar to dermabrasion, but somewhat less invasive. The dermatologist uses tiny crystals to remove the skin's outer layer. Microdermabrasion usually requires several treatments and is generally considered not as effective as dermabrasion.
Photodynamic therapy is a treatment traditionally used to treat cancer, but now is also being used for acne scarring. This treatment begins with a microdermabrasion to the skin, after which the dermatologist applies a photosensitizing agent. This allows the skin to be more susceptible to light. Then the skin receives a light therapy. These treatments work together to reduce acne scarring.
