Acne Scars: How to Prevent and Cure Them?

Acne scars can cause damage to one’s skin because of the intense, collagen damaging inflammation to the skin. Acne usually starts to disappear within a few days, but sometimes tends to leave scars. Atrophic, boxcar-shaped, and ice-pick shaped scars are all types of scars that can occur after acne goes away. Atrophic scars are mostly shallow, while ice pick-shaped scars are narrower and deeper.

There are some things that can make acne worse, including exposure to the sun, and picking and squeezing acne. When acne is exposed to direct sunlight, the scar it will leave can become darker and it will slow down the healing process. If you are going to be under direct sunlight it is best to use sunblock with SPF 30 or higher. Picking acne can lead to more inflammation, which will injure the skin adding to the discoloration and causing scarring. Squeezing acne will cause bacteria to go deeper into the skin damaging the collagen.

The best way to prevent acne scars is to have patience, don’t try to pick or squeeze acne, not touching acne you get, will prevent scars. However, if you already have acne scars, it can be treated by using cortisone in order to reduce the inflammation. For deeper acne scars, laser and filler treatments might be the best option. In order to find out what to do to reduce the appearance of acne scars, it is recommended to visit a dermatologist.

CO2 Laser Treatment for Atrophic Scarring

Deep acne marks also known as atrophic scars are characterized by pits or craters in the skin. This type of acne scar can leave the face disfigured and have detrimental effects on one’s self-esteem. Although this type of scarring can be very difficult to heal and improve, CO2 Laser technology is the best method for atrophic skin resurfacing and scar diminishment. It works by sending short, CO2 Laser Treatmentconcentrated beams of light to the area of skin while removing the skin in layers. The new skin that is formed during healing will appear youthful and tighter. This process takes about 2 weeks.

The newest advancement in laser technology is fractionated laser therapy or Focal Acne Scar Treatment known as F.A.S.T. This new method yields similar results to typical laser treatments, but the difference is that this method treats a fraction of the skin, meaning that the energy targets damaged cells, destroying them, while leaving other areas of the skin unharmed. This method delivers fast, lasting results due to the fact that the skin is removed fractionally. The advantages to this method are increased safety, increased comfort, and decreased healing time.

When choosing laser treatment, make sure to speak with your dermatologist about which option is best for you and your condition.