Acne scars: a mini-guide

Acne scars are permanent marks left on the skin from inflammatory acne lesions such as comedones, papules, pustules, cysts, and fistulas. If acne is treated in a timely manner, it generally leaves no scarring because the skin tends to regenerate and naturally repair any previous skin damage. If, however, acne inflammation degenerates, lasts a long time, or is aggravated by infection, the skin is unable to replace the scarred areas, which will become pockmarked, with raised and hollowed patches visible on the epidermis.
The areas most prone to acne scarring are those that acne affects the most, namely the face, shoulders and presternal area. Obviously, scars are not symptoms of any pathology, but they can be a significant aesthetic concern, particularly as they begin to appear during adolescence and in young adults.

Description

Acne scars are the permanent marks left on the skin by the remission of acne inflammation, including furuncles, cysts, and abscesses. If acne has been particularly intense or prolonged, the skin’s ability to naturally regenerate and replace damaged superficial layers is compromised. When this happens, reliefs or depressions remain at the location of the inflammatory lesions, giving the skin an irregular pattern that can cause an aesthetic concern.

Causes

The causes of scarring include the inability of the skin to regenerate the outer skin layers that have been injured by inflammation. The skin’s production of collagen, the protein that makes up connective tissue, is impaired and this slows or completely prevents the regeneration of scarred areas.

Symptoms

Scars have no real symptomatology, and do not cause harm, but may be an aesthetic concern. Newer scars caused by recent injury or acne will appear red in colour, while older scars will be whitish. These differing colors, in addition to surface irregularities, exacerbate the appearance scarring.

Diagnosis

A dermatologist will be able to assess the scarring, in order to devise a suitable treatment to help minimize scars or help them disappear altogether.

Treatment

Treatments to resolve scarring include:

• surgical removal of scars
• lifting of depressions in the skin through surgery
• needling to stimulate collagen regeneration
• micropeeling to stimulate collagen regeneration
• fillers to plump depressions in the skin

Prevention

The following guidelines can reduce the risk of scars forming during or after acne:

• start anti-acne treatment as soon as possible
• do not squeeze pimples
• if abscesses form, treat them immediately with a form of antibiotics
• if the acne is inflammatory, consider pursuing photodynamic therapy