First a quick overview on how scarring occurs:
Acne scars are formed when a breakout penetrates the skin deeply and damages the tissue below. The body produces collagen to heal the tissue but if it produces too little or too much collagen, you will see a scar.
Before treating your scars, it is important to know which type of scars they are as each type responds to treatments differently and some treatments respond better to certain types than others.
Atrophic scars are the most common, particularly on the face. They sit below the surrounding skin and are formed when not enough collagen is made when the wound is healing. There are 3 types of atrophic scars: ice pick, boxcar and rolling scars.
- Ice pick: They appear as small, sharp indentations that are wider at the surface of the skin and narrow into a point as they reach down. They are usually more difficult to treat than the other types of scarring. Usually appear where skin is thin.
- Boxcar: Typically have sharp vertical edges and are wider than ice pick scars and rolling scars. They have a round or over indent in skin. Shallow ones respond well to treatment while deeper ones are a bit more difficult to treat. Usually appear where skin is thick.
- Rolling scars are common, and they form as acne heals. Rolling scars are pits in the skin with sloped sides. This scarring is more common in areas where the skin is thick, such as the lower cheeks and jawline.
Hypotrophic scars: Opposite to atrophic scars, hypotrophic scars sit as raised lumps of scar tissue where the acne once was. They are caused by too much collagen during healing and are most commonly found on the chest and back.
So, how can I reduce the appearance of acne scarring?
Watch Linda's and read on below for our top tips!
Our top tips:
Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid is beneficial for all scar types. It makes a good addition to a daily skin care routine for those who live with acne.
Sunscreen
It is crucial to wear sunscreen every day over scars as sun exposure can darken scars or make them more noticeable.
Murad InvisiScar Resurfacing Treatment
Instantly fills pitted scars and is clinically proven to minimize the look of scar size, depth, texture and discoloration in 8 weeks.
Microneedling (Collagen Induction Therapy)
Microneedling is the process of inserting multiple fine needles into the skin to stimulate the body to make more collagen and elastin. The collagen can reduce the appearance of scars by smoothing out the skin.
Dermal Needling at Home
Derma rolling is similar to microneedling but can be done at home. It also helps to increase collagen production and improve skin texture to reduce the appearance of both acne and scarring. Check out: Skinsmiths Derma Roller 0.3mm
And of course, our team of experts at Caci are always on hand to help with a personalised recommendation on skincare and treatments - just for you!
