Acne Scars 101: How to Treat Different Types of Scars Effectively

Do you know that nearly 20% of people who have experienced severe acne have to deal with acne scars? These scars may appear normal, but they are skin deep and impact overall beauty and self-confidence.

Generally, scars are formed when deeper layers of skin are damaged due to severe acne. This happens due to disruptions in the natural healing process. Several other factors, such as inflammation, severe breakouts, and delayed or incorrect treatment, impact acne scars significantly. Additionally, genetics can also make a person more prone to scars.

However, we have good news! These acne scars can be treated with advanced dermatological solutions, customized according to different scar types. These treatments might include laser resurfacing, microneedling, or retinoids and are available for everyone. Understanding the types of acne scars is the first step toward treating them.

In this article, we will learn about the types of acne scars, acne scar treatments, and lifestyle changes that can prevent acne scars.

Types of Acne Scars: Identifying the Issue

Let us understand the types of scars and the underlying issues leading to them. This will help us better treat them depending on their severity and the skin’s healing process.

The causes can be extremely distinct. While some scars result from tissue loss, others arise due to excessive tissue growth. Tailoring a treatment plan that best suits the type of scar ensures better results and smoother skin.

Here’s a breakdown of the most common types and their recommended treatments:

Atrophic Scars:

These sunken scars result from a loss of tissue and are divided into three subtypes:

• Ice Pick Scars: Ice pick scars are narrow and deep scars that resemble small holes usually caused by severe acne cysts. They result from the body not producing enough collagen during the healing process of a severe acne breakout, leading to deep pits in the skin. Due to their depth, ice pick scars are challenging to treat and require advanced treatments such as Trichloroacetic acid (TCA)
• Boxcar Scars: Boxcar scars are a common type of acne scar that appear as round or oval depressions across the skin. These are a few millimeters wide and have sharp edges with vertical walls. Their color is usually red or dark brown, similar to the surrounding skin. Boxcar scars appear when the skin doesn’t return to its previous condition after an acne breakout. The lost collagen isn’t replaced, often after a cystic or nodular acne. The treatments include derma rolling, laser therapy, punch excision, subsection, and TCA.

You can read more about ways to treat cystic acne here.

• Rolling Scars:

Rolling scars are caused by bands of scar tissue that form under the skin as it heals from acne. These bands pull on the outer layer of the skin and cause depressions. Rolling scars commonly occur where the skin is thicker, such as the jaw and lower cheeks. They may also become more noticeable with age as the skin begins to sag and lose elasticity. Treatments for rolling scars include dermabrasion, microneedling, or subcision.

Hypertrophic and Keloid Scars:

Hypertrophic and keloid scars occur when excess tissue develops during the healing process. They are itchy and might appear raised as well. Hypertrophic scars are usually bound to the original acne lesion, while keloids grow beyond it. These scars require cryotherapy or surgical treatments, which are specialized. These types of scars are common in people with darker skin or a hereditary keloid history.

Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH):

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is not a scar but is often mistaken for one. It is the dark red marks left after an acne breakout and after healing. Inflammation leads to excessive melanin production, which results in PIH. Despite not being true scars, these might take months without any treatment or sun protection. Daily use of an SPF sunscreen is recommended to fasten the PIH healing process.

Treatments for Different Types of Acne Scars

We have understood the types of scars and their causes in detail. We have also learned a few ways of treating each scar. Now, let us explore more about treating each scar type and ways to have healthier and smoother skin. Here are 5 ways to treat acne scars at home.

Atrophic Scars:

Medical Treatments:

• Microneedling: As atrophic scars appear due to collagen wear out, increasing collagen is a way to treat those. Microneedling is an acne scar treatment that helps stimulate collagen production for smoother skin. This helps improve skin texture and effectively treats atrophic scars like boxcars and rolling scars. These are caused by collagen loss. The procedure is safe for all skin tones and typically causes mild redness. The advantage is it requires minimal downtime.
• Laser Resurfacing: Laser resurfacing helps target scarred layers to improve texture. The two options are ablative and non-ablative lasers, which vary in treatment time and results. Fractional CO2 lasers are particularly effective acne scar treatment for deep scars.
• Chemical Peels: Chemical peels are a perfect choice for exfoliating the skin. The exfoliation helps replenish the healthier skin layers beneath the damaged skin. Stronger peels like TCA (trichloroacetic acid) are often used for more pronounced scars.

Home Remedies:

Apart from the professional treatment by dermatologists, there are specific remedies to treat the scars in the comfort of your home. They include:

• Retinoids: Retinoids promote cell turnover and reduce scar depth. Opt for prescription-strength retinoids like tretinoin. These are particularly effective and can also help prevent further acne lesions.
• Vitamin C Serums: Serums are a popular choice today. Serums enriched with vitamin C promote collagen production. Regular use of serums can help even skin tone and improve skin elasticity, particularly if paired with SPF.
• Silicone Patches: Proper hydration is required for treating acne scars correctly. Silicon patches hydrate and soften the tissue in the long run, gradually improving the scar texture. Silicon patches work great for fresh scars.

Hypertrophic and Keloid Scars:

• Corticosteroid Injections: These injections help reduce inflammation and flatten elevated scars. For best results, they are combined with other treatment methods.
• Silicone Gels: As mentioned earlier, silicon gel or patches help reduce the appearance of scars by promoting hydration. Explore more about their effectiveness here.
• Pressure Therapy: Pressure therapy is a long-term treatment that uses regular application to slowly flatten the keloid scars.
• Cryotherapy: Freezing techniques such as cryotherapy can shrink keloid scars. This treatment also shows the best results if coupled with other therapies.

PIH (Hyperpigmentation):

• Topical Treatments: Choose ingredients that lighten scars, such as hydroquinone, azelaic acid, and niacinamide. Combine them with exfoliants like glycolic acid for better results.
• Sunscreen: Sunscreen is an important part of skincare, whether you have acne scars or not. Applying sunscreen prevents darkening and promotes healing. Opt for a broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen to protect your healing skin.
• Chemical Exfoliants: Choose products with AHAs or BHAs, which can accelerate cell turnover and reduce pigmentation over time.

Consulting a dermatologist for advanced treatments is recommended for persistent scars or severe cases.

Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Acne Scars

Apart from dermatologist-approved treatments and home remedies, acne scars need holistic care. This means a healthy lifestyle and good hygiene habits that help you have acne-scar-free skin.

Lifestyle changes to prevent acne scars include:

• Avoid Picking Acne: Picking acne can leave lesions in the skin and worsen inflammation. These lesions leave marks that do not go quickly in the long run. Proper handling of acne is crucial to avoid scarring in the future.
• Daily Sunscreen Use: Use sunscreen to protect against UV damage and hyperpigmentation. Ensure that the sunscreen is a non-comedogenic formula to avoid clogging pores. Here are 10 recommended sunscreens for your daily use.
• Hydration and Skincare: Following a proper skincare regimen and enough hydration promotes healing.
• Balanced Diet: Choose foods rich in antioxidants like berries and omega-3 fatty acids like salmon. These foods help reduce inflammation and support skin health.
• Stress Management: Chronic stress can worsen acne and delay healing by disrupting hormonal balance. Practices like mindfulness or yoga can help in maintaining skin health.
• Consistent Skincare Routine: Every skin type is distinct, and using products suited to your skin type, including gentle cleansers and exfoliants, can prevent future breakouts and improve overall skin health.

Managing Expectations with Acne Scar Treatments

Patience is the key. Acne scars are deep and may take months to repair and heal. It needs consistent efforts and an open approach to trying multiple ways or treatments. Track the progress and consult a dermatologist regularly to better understand the process; this will result in positive outcomes. Learn about managing expectations effectively here.

Conclusion:

Take control of your acne scars and start by understanding their unique characteristics. By understanding the type of scars—whether they are atrophic, hypertrophic, or caused by hyperpigmentation—you can adopt the most effective treatment strategies. Remember, skin takes time to heal. Patience and consistent efforts are the formula for best results.

Various solutions are tailored to your needs, from microneedling to at-home retinoid use. You can choose any. However, blending one or more types of treatments is often recommended for best results, so do not shy away from having multiple approaches.

Choose the path to clearer skin with a commitment to proper skincare. Expert guidance is crucial, too. Consulting a dermatologist not only helps treat your acne scars but also guides you to healthy skin overall. Trust the personalized plan tailored according to your needs and stick to it. Your acne scar-free skin is just a few steps away—take the first one now!