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What are Acne Scars ?
Most people with mild or moderate acne will recover from the condition without serious scarring. In cases of severe acne, however, scarring is almost inevitable. But don't give up hope -- new acne treatments can minimize scarring and existing scars can be removed with a variety of techniques. This is especially true in more severe types of acne where the lesions are on the skin for longer periods of time than in milder forms. In cystic acne, the nodules or cysts can stay on the skin for weeks, or even months, and can leave behind very noticeable scars. Pimples form on the skin because of the presence of bacteria. The bacteria damages and inflames the skin. Once the acne has cleared up, the skin may appear discolored -- this is part of the natural healing process, and the discolorment will disappear after a period of time. Most pimples leave behind a small discolored patch of skin. This is not really a scar and will usually clear up by itself within one year. Marks or skin defects that remain longer than one year are considered to be scars and can be treated. There are different types of acne scars, and different treatments for each. They are classified in the following manner. Ice pick scars are characterized by the appearance of deep pits on the skin and are most common in a sign of classic acne scarring. Rolling scars give the skin a wave-like appearance. Hypertrophic scars are thickened scars, and may be associated with some of the more severe types of acne. To get rid of acne scars, seek treatment through a physician. A combination of treatments are available that show good results for many people. Treatment for acne scarring depends on the type of scars you have, as well as your skin type. Most of the success of treating acne scars has been for those on the face. It has been found that those on the back and chest do not respond as well to treatment.
Types of acne scars
There are two types of skin problems caused by acne that can be
recognized as acne scars, one is the red pigmentation that
appears after acne has healed. These contrary to popular
belief, are not scars, rather, these are post-inflammatory
lesions which occurs as the acne heals, and these can be
present for up to 6-12 months. If however the pigmentation that
you see lasts longer than the said period, you may be facing
acne scars. Acne scars can be prevented through a program of active treatment and self-control. One of the worst things you can do to pimples is to pick them. Some people try to squeeze or remove Blackheads or Whiteheads but this is the worst thing that you can do. Not only will the bacteria which causes acne spread, the skin can be damaged which leads to permanent scarring. This healing process can be sped up with the use of medications like Retin-A, Renova, and Alpha-Hydroxy Acids. Sunshine can damage the skin and thereby delay the healing process, so sunscreens should always be worn outside. Above all, avoid picking scabs that may form over old acne lesions. Scabs are a necessary part of the healing process and picking them off unnecessarily exposes the skin which extends the time necessary for scars to heal.
Risk Factors: Acne is characterized by the presence of comedones or blackheads, pimples, small superficial sebaceous cysts and scars. There are over half a dozen forms of acne. All of them are concerned with sebaceous glands or the glands connected with hair follicles. The most common form of acne is blackheads. The areas chiefly affected are the forehead, temples, cheeks, and chin, the chest and back. In rare cases, almost the entire body may be covered with black heads with extensive scarring. These are the various kinds of acne and some idea of just how prone they are to create future acne scars: Mild acne can usually be self treated, but severe cases are best left to health professionals like dermatologists. The most common type of acne is Acne Vulgaris which literally means 'common acne.' This type of acne can cause blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules, nodules and cysts. Blackheads - Blackheads occur in partially blocked pores. Sebum (the substance which causes oily skin), dead cells, and bacteria are slowly draining to the surface of the skin and the black color is caused by the pigments in the skin being exposed to air. Blackheads can take a long time to clear up. Whiteheads - Unlike blackheads, Whiteheads are contained beneath the surface of the skin. They are caused by completely blocked pores which trap the sebum, dead cells, and bacteria. Papules - These are small red bumps on the skin. They are tender and cause irritation, but it is important not to touch them or squeeze them. Doing so may cause scarring. Pustules - Pustules are what most people call pimples or zits. They appear as a red circle with a white or yellow center. Nodules - These are much larger than other forms of acne. They are hard lumps underneath the surface of the skin which can be painful and last for several months. This type of acne is particularly vulnerable to scarring, so it is advisable to have it treated by a dermatologist. Cysts - Cysts are similar to nodules except that they are filled with pus. They are painful and likely to scar if untreated. Like nodules, they should be treated by a dermatologist. Acne Conglobata - This is a relatively rare form of acne vulgaris but it is extremely disfiguring and can cause severe psychological as well as physical suffering. Large lesions form on the face, chest, back, buttocks, upper arms, and thighs and can be accompanied by numerous blackheads. It causes damage to the skin and permanent scarring. It is more common in males than females, and the condition can persist for several years. Acne Fulminans - This is a sudden appearance of Acne Conglobata accompanied with a fever and aching of the joints. It is usually treated with oral steroids. Gram-Negative Folliculitis - This condition may be caused by long-term treatment of acne with antibiotics. It is a bacterial infection which causes pustules and cysts. Pyoderma Faciale - This type of acne only affects females usually between the ages of 20 and 40. It causes large painful pustules, nodules and cysts on the face and may leave permanent scarring. It most often occurs in women who have never experienced acne before and usually clears up within a year. Acne Rosacea - This form of acne usually affects people over the age of 30. It causes a red rash on the cheeks, forehead, nose, and chin. There may also be pimples and other skin blemishes. It occurs more often in females than males, although men often have more severe symptoms. Prevention: Acne scars can develop as long as acne is present, so one good
form of prevention is actually preventing acne. However, Acne
scars can also be prevented even with the presence of acne. This is done by facilitating the healing of the acne, the
faster it heals, the shallower the acne scar will be, making it
easier to treat, or may need no treatment at all. Avoid sun exposure, this can cause even
more skin damage and may hamper the healing process of your
skin. Wear sunscreen that has SPF 15 or higher. Picking at
scabs never helped either. Never pick on acne as it heals; it
interferes with the healing process and might worsen the
resulting acne scar. There are two dermatologically tested ways to facilitate the
healing of acne, one is the use of Tretinoin, it's a form of
vitamin A, which speeds up the skin's healing and renovation
process shortening the inflammation period, thus preventing
Acne scars. The other treatment used by most dermatologists for Acne scar
prevention is the use of Aplpha-Hydroxy Acids of AHA's and
Beta-Hydroxy Acids or BHA's. These help the skins remodeling
process, with the right concentration and proper application;
these can also prevent acne scars. When to seek Medical Advice: Acne can cause physical as well as emotional suffering and can lead to permanent scarring if not properly treated. Acne scarring is an increasing problem among adults, but the reasons for this are not always clear. When acne is not responding to over-the-counter medications you should consult with a dermatologist for treatment. It is a good idea to prepare for your first consultation by writing down as much information about your acne as possible. The doctor will want to know the background -- how long you have had acne, what form it takes (blackheads, whiteheads, lesions etc.) and what you have done to treat it. You may also be asked if your parents or siblings had acne and how severe it was for them. Since the acne treatment may include oral medications you should be prepared to tell the doctor if you are allergic to certain medicines. Girls may be asked to describe their menstrual period and boys may need to say how often they shave. In some cases, the doctor will also physically remove blackheads or whiteheads and lance and drain pus filled nodules. The dermatologist uses surgical instruments which have been sterilized, so these procedures should never be attempted at home. Whether acne strikes during adolescence and lingers into adulthood, or simply strikes after the age of 30, the physical and psychological effects can be long-lasting and cause problems. Dermatologists say that adult acne is more likely to leave permanent acne scars because as the skin ages and loses collagen, it’s more difficult for it to bounce back and the acne scars are, therefore, often unable to heal as they would in younger skin. Physical scars aren’t the only ones left by adult acne. Psychological scarring from acne can be much harder to trace, and sometimes more difficult to deal with because of the misconceptions that accompany them. For example, it has been believed that the psychological effects of adult acne are easier to deal with because adults are able to accept the condition better than teens. In reality, the ramifications of these scars can be severe because acne has been perceived to be a condition specific to teens. Though we know this isn’t the case, many people are often afraid to admit they have adult acne and seek treatment. As perceptions are shifting, and more people are recognizing acne as a problem not only among teens, but also among adults, more people are going to dermatologists for treatment. Many adults are now seeking relief from prescribed medications as well as from over-the-counter products to treat the condition. Sales of these products have increased, along with the awareness of adult acne. Because adult acne is reported to be on the rise, doctors are now starting to consider the special causes and unique effects of this condition on older patients. As public awareness continues to increase, people may be more likely to seek treatment for acne scars. The wealth of information is now available about adult acne scars can also help people afflicted with this condition to better understand it and how to combat its problems. More care is also being given to the psychological effects of adult acne. Because adults, like teens, are often affected by what those around them think and how they are perceived, many often stray from attending social events. Understanding what is causing the adult acne is key to its treatment. If the physical problems are treated, the social and psychological ones can be as well. Treatment of scars left by an acne condition also comes in the domain of professional treatments. The treatment of scarring, if it is extensive, involves much time and patience which is why appropriate preventive care is so important.
Existing scars left over from acne can be treated in a number of ways. If scars are not too severe, a chemical peel can be applied to the skin. This effectively removes the microscopic top layer of the skin allowing the cells underneath to rejuvenate. More severe scarring can be treated with lasers or dermabrasion. Lasers remove the damaged layer of skin and tighten the skin underneath to raise the depression caused by the scar. The process can be mildly painful so the dermatologist may use an anesthetic to numb the pain. The healing process after laser treatment takes about 3 to 10 days. Dermabrasion removes scars by actually scraping away the surface of the skin where the scarring occurs. During the healing process a new layer of skin is formed to replace the scarring. Both dermabrasion and laser treatments can cause the skin to turn red, but this discolorment will disappear after several months. Punch Excision Laser Resurfacing Is Dermabrasion Right For Your Skin? Dermal abrasion, or surgical planning of the skin, is done in selected patients with facial disfigurements from scars resulting from acne, trauma, tattoo, nevi, freckles, and chickenpox or smallpox. The procedure involves the removal of the epidermis and some superficial dermis while reserving enough of the dermis to allow re-epithelialization of the dermabraded areas. Results are best in the face, because it is rich in intra-dermal epithelial elements. Surgical planning or dermabrasion is performed either manually with coarse abrasive paper, or mechanically with an abrader or a rapidly rotating wire brush. Patient Instruction and Preparation The primary reason for undergoing dermabrasion is to improve the appearance. Before the process will begin, the surgeon explains to the patient what he can expect from dermabrasion. The patient should also be informed about the nature of the postoperative dressing, the discomforts he may experience, and how long it will take before his tissues will look normal again. Normally, the extent of the surface to be planed will determine whether the procedure takes place in the surgeon’s office, the clinic, or the hospital. In most cases, a general anesthetic is used and the patient is hospitalized. The skin is thoroughly cleansed for several days before the surgery. Shaving is not necessary in the female, but with the males, it is important to shave their face on the morning of the surgery. In addition to general anesthesia, the use of a topical spray anesthetic for stabilizing and stiffening the skin may be desirable. The depth of planning can be readily gauged and the anesthetized area is momentarily bloodless. The superficial layers of skin are removed by an abrasive machine, usually known as the Dermabrader, or the sandpapering. During and after planning, copious saline irrigations remove debris and allow for inspection. Is It Right For Everybody’s Skin? Even if dermabrasion is one of the best surgeries needed to clear the skin from scars from acne and other skin problems, there are still some factors that need to be considered before jumping into conclusions. These factors are very important to take into considerations because not all skin type is created equal. Hence, the effects may vary. Here are some of the factors that need to be considered before applying dermabrasion. 1. The skin color People who have dark skins tend to have permanent discoloration or blotchiness after the surgery. Therefore, it would be better not to opt of dermabrasion if the skin falls under this category. 2. The skin’s condition There are people who are born with sensitive skins. This means that their skins will immediately experience allergic reactions to some chemicals or treatments that the skin cannot endure. In this manner, people who have sensitive skins should not resort to dermabrasions. 3. People who have acne that are on its active stage are not allowed for dermabrasion. If the person has acne that is currently on its active stage, it is best not to try dermabrasion. This is because there is the danger of infection due to the freshness of the open skin. Ruptured or open skin will be easily penetrated by bacteria that cause infection. This is also applicable for people who have burnt skin or those that have previously undergo chemical peel. 4. Be wary of people who perform dermabrasion. Dermabrasion is actually a safe surgical treatment. However, it requires expertise and familiarity on the process in order to perform it properly. Hence, dermabrasion should not be executed by people who still lack some of the required skills in the execution of the process. 5. There are skins that have the tendency to develop keloids or excessive benign growth of skin tissues. This simply means that for people who usually develop a scar or keloid whenever their skin is damaged, chances are, they would develop the same thing when they undergo dermabrasion. However, there are some treatments that can remove the scars and keloids, it would still be better to avoid such trouble of getting into another medication. Hence, for people who have skins that fall under this category, it is best not to try dermabrasion. All of these things are boiled down to the fact that dermabrasion is not appropriate for everybody. Like the other treatments available in the medical field, it should also be analyzed with utmost care before jumping into decisions. After all, it is the person’s skin that will be put at risk and not just their money, so, careful considerations is extremely important. Are Chemical Peels For You? Are you considering a having a chemical peel? Or are you considering any sort of facial treatment yet do not know which one is right for you? Then you have come to the right place! Chemical peels use solutions that will smoothen and improve skin texture and appearance. It does so by stripping away the damaged outer layers of the skin. By doing so, chemical peels can lessen, and in some cases, even eliminate blemishes, hyperpigmentation (or discoloration and darkening.) and wrinkles. They are even known to reduce acne scars and the occurrence of acne. It is very important that, first of all, that you get proper appraisal on your current skin condition. This will help understand better your skin’s needs and the proper treatment of such. Some people think that chemical skin peels are the ‘cure-all’ for their skin problems. This is far from the truth. There are many kinds of chemical peels, you may choose one according to your needs and circumstance. The available chemical peels are divided into three categories: Phenol, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), and alphahydroxy acids (AHA). Each of these categories differ in use, potency and inconvenience. Your dermatologist will help you decide which one is right for you. A dermatologist will help you determine which peel program is right for you. He may suggest a customized solution for you. Before actually agreeing to the procedure, make sure you understand what the dermatologist is about to do. If there is some point you need clarified make sure you have the dermatologist clarify it further. Alphahydroxy acids (AHAs) are the mildest of the chemical peels. They are typically made of fruit, glycolic, and lactic acids. These peels may not show as dramatic effects as the other peels; they are, however, best for those who do not have time to recover from the other peel procedures. These peels are applied weekly or periodically, depending on your dermatologist’s advice. But they do result in smoother, finer looking skin after a few treatments. There are also commercially available AHA facial care solutions that can be applied everyday. Some dermatologists will incorporate AHA into the daily skin care regimen of the patient. This may be in soaps, facial cleanser, etc. Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is the intermediate peel for those who wish to have the effects almost as dramatic as phenol peels yet cannot dedicate too much time to healing as in the case of those who prefer AHA peels. To achieve the desired effect more than one peel may be necessary. This treatment is ideal for medium depth peeling. It is also the ideal peel for fine lines, and blemishes that are not that severe. Phenol is the most potent of the chemical peels around and they take some time to heal. They are recommended in cases that feature coarse wrinkles and severe blemishes such as blotching, coarse skin, etc. Phenol is also a strong whitening agent and this may be a factor in considering whether to choose this sort of treatment. It must be remembered that this is primarily a facial treatment. Application to other parts of the body may result in scarring. Among the things to look out for are: the possibility of demarcation lines – lines that show which part of the face received treatment and which did not, redness, irritation, and other side effects. The redness and irritation is normal since that is the usual state of newly peeled skin. Your dermatologist will advise you on the care and upkeep of tender skin. For those who have undergone this treatment, it is generally recommended that they stay out of the sun for several months as to protect the newly formed skin. The procedure will cause stinging, redness and irritation. But that is to be expected from such procedures. All in all, chemical peels are safe, although they may cause some inconvenience. The risks for scarring are low. However, the procedure must be performed by a certified professional if to ensure safety.
The skin, covering the entire body, is a marvelous and intricate mechanism. It serves three main purposes; namely, protection of the inner organism, regulation of body temperature and elimination of cell waste and systemic refuse. The skin is directly connected with and intimately bound up with the working of the whole system. All skin diseases, including acne, are the outcome of malfunctioning of the body as a whole.
Vitamins and Minerals Water Exercise Rest Vitamin C And Your Skin Vitamin C and Melanogenesis A preparation can be used to clarify and even out the skin tone as it lightens dark spots and discolored skin acne scars.
Diet change strategies: The wonder being talked about here is the wonder that has always been there – your body. Your body has the ability to regulate itself, supply nutrients to various organs such as the skin and generally give it a healthy glow. The body also has the capability of improving how the skin looks. It can make the skin more supple, radiant, healthy, and youthful looking. Taking care of the body from the inside out has been grossly underrated. Caring for the skin in this way will result in a more natural glow. This method of Skin care in conjunction with other skin treatments will result in the optimal skin care. If this is the case, then why doesn’t it do that exact same thing to everyone, you may ask. Various factors will impair the body’s ability to do – bad diet, smoking, stress, lack of sleep and other factors make the skin that old, scaly, thing many people see in front of the mirror. But wait, there’s hope! With proper nutrition, proper care and maintenance, you can help your body improve your skin’s health and appearance. Think of it like this. Let’s say you have a green plant, and you don’t water it for sometime, and neglect to give it fertilizer, and plant it on poor soil, won’t the leaves wither and dry up? The same can be said about one’s health in general and the skin in particular. The exciting thing here is that it is becoming increasingly evident that it is not only what you apply on your skin that improves it, but what you put into your body as well. Studies are showing that vitamins, minerals, water, exercise and rest all play an important part in improving skin. Experts say that the skin is the benchmark for the body’s health. Healthy skin also an indicator of good health, so taking good care of your body not only gives you great skin but give you good health in general. Diet change strategies: Apart from all these home remedies, a healthy lifestyle should also be followed, with proper balance of food, exercise and sleep. All forms of acne have their origin in wrong feeding habits, such as irregular hours of eating, improper food, excess of starches and sugar, excess of fatty foods. Chronic constipation is another major cause of acne. If the bowels do not move properly, waste matter is not eliminated as quickly as it should be and the bloodstream becomes surcharged with toxic matter. The extra efforts of the skin to eliminate excess waste result in acne and other forms of skin disease. Yet another important cause of acne is a devitalised condition of the skin resulting from unhygienic living habits. Other causes of the disorder are excessive use of tea, coffee, alcohol or tobacco,
strenuous studies and sedentary habits which lead to indigestion and general
digestive disorders. To start with, your daily consumption of water should be a minimum of eight to ten glasses every day. This helps us to detoxify our system and kill harmful bacteria that cause acne. Too much oily food also leads to acne, so fried and spicy food should be strictly avoided. Including chromium in your diet also helps to cure acne. There should be a combination of right nutritional balance and proper skin care. Ensure you have a healthy liver that functions well to cleanse our blood of the dirt from excess hormones. And with our blood clean, consequently, our skin's condition will improve. Aloe Vera Juice For Acne Vulgaris Your body needs complete nutrition to promote healthy skin and to prevent acne. There are a number of vitamins and minerals that are powerful antioxidants capable of flushing out free radicals and toxins from your body. We wish you well in your search for solutions to this problem and your movement towards better health in all areas.
More Resources available about acne scars :
whiteheads Blackheads An open comedo, or blackhead, occurs when the plug enlarges and pushes through the surface of the skin. Its dark appearance is not due to dirt, but rather to a build up of the dark pigment of the skin called melanin. Blackheads are also a type of inflammatory acne. Natural Beauty Skincare A skin care program is the combination of skin care products and a routine that will be most beneficial to the skin. You will first need to consider your diet and type of life-style since these two factors play an important role in the health of a person's skin. Anti-Aging Skin Care Indeed, developing healthy habits can help you develop an effective anti-aging regimen that can help slow down the aging process. Experts advise that people should—as much as possible—treat their aging skin the natural way Age Spots Acne Vulgaris
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