HOW TO PREVENT ACNE SCARS

Acne is already a pain, but having to deal with the scarring that occurs after the initial acne clears can be so discouraging! In this article we’ll discuss all the ways to prevent acne scars, the different types of acne scars, and how to get rid of them!

WHAT CAUSES ACNE SCARS?

Simply put, acne scars develop because of the damage that occurs during a breakout. Specifically, the damage to collagen.

Collagen is a naturally produced protein found in the body used to make connective tissue. Collagen is responsible for healthy skin, wound healing, joint health amongst other things.

The skin tries to repair itself by producing collagen. The amount of collagen produced determines which types of scars will develop.

During a breakout, damage and inflammation happen underneath the skin. Once the acne leaves, the natural healing process starts to take place. This is typically when the scar appears.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF ACNE SCARs

Acne scarring is not created equal and can show up differently on different people. The type of scar that shows up depends on how your skin heals. There are 4 main types of scars and 2 subcategories. Ice Pick Scar, Boxcar Scar, Rolling Scar, and Keloids. The deeper down the pimple is rooted into the skin, the worse the scar will be due to the skin tissues being damaged.

Each scar fits into 2 sub-categories; Hypertrophic & Atrophic. 

• Hypertrophic – Raised scar that heals on top of the skin. Caused by excessive growth of thick scar tissue. 
• Atrophic Scars – Indented scars that heal below the natural layer of the skin. Occurs when the skin is unable to replenish enough connective skin tissue. When the destruction of collagen goes deep into the dermis layer, atrophic scars form.

4 TYPES OF ACNE SCARS

• Ice Pick Scars – (Atrophic Scar) Narrow, deep, and pitted indentations on the skin. Considered to be the most severe of the scars, usually caused by cystic acne. Ice pick scars get their name because the marks look like an ice pick has been sticking you. 

• Box Car Scars – (Atrophic scar) Round or oval crater type of indent on the skin defined by their sharp edges. Wider than icepick scars and are typically red or brown in appearance. Any type of acne can produce box car scars and they can also develop after chickenpox.
• Rolling Scars – (Atrophic Scar) Measuring a few millimeters wide and defined by their “sloping edges.” Rolling scars are described as wavy, uneven, or rough-looking dents in the skin. Hence the name, rolling, since they look like waves. Typically caused by inflammatory acne.
• Keloid – (Hypertrophic scar) A keloid is a raised scar left on the skin caused by the body producing too much collagen. The size is what makes these scars stand out as they continue to grow past the original size of the wound. 

Hyperpigmentation

One of the most common post-acne marks is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Those are the flat dark spots that appear after the acne fades.

Most of us assume these are acne scars too since the discoloration sticks around for a while, but because the follicle doesn’t get damaged in the process, they’re not actually scars! 

Hyperpigmentation can be brown, black, tan, or red depending on your skin tone.  Darker skin tones usually show brown spots, while hyperpigmentation on lighter skin usually show up red.

Actual acne scars are either pitted or raised and not flat like post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

How to treat and prevent acne scars?

The first thing to note is that you have to clear your present acne before you treat the scars. 

However, the good news is that you can improve the appearance of acne scars. Eliminating your scars completely is possible, but usually requires a trip to the dermatologist for further treatment.

How long acne scars takes to heal depend on your skin and how deep the scar is. The options for healing range from over-the-counter products to different minimally invasive procedures. Make sure you first speak to your dermatologist to find the best option for you.

TOPICALS TO PREVENT ACNE SCARS:

SUNSCREEN – A broad-spectrum sunscreen helps to block the sun rays from penetrating your skin and making your acne marks darker. Using a broad-spectrum sunscreen twice daily, 50 plus or higher is recommended. 

VITAMIN C – L– Ascorbic acid aka, vitamin C is a great antioxidant for the skin with many benefits. (The Benefits of Salicylic Acid and Vitamin C) Vitamin C stops free radical production, builds up collagen, repairs cells, and lightens dark and sun damage.

RETINOID – Retinoid is a vitamin A derivative and is best known for being a great anti-aging ingredient. Retinol is great for treating acne scars because it increases cell turnover, increases collagen, improves the texture of the skin, and minimizes discoloration.

Retinol decreases the ingredient that produces melanin, thus decreasing the darkness from the acne scars. If you need a stronger version of retinol that is not available over the counter, you can ask your dermatologist to prescribe something stronger if necessary. Tretinoin is a commonly used prescription retinoid that can help with reducing acne scars.

Other Ingredients INCLUDE:

Other topicals that can help to prevent acne scarring are: Salicylic Acid, Niacinamide, Azelaic Acid, Glycolic acid and other AHA’s (alpha Hydroxy Acids.)

Further TREATMENTS:

Make sure to see a dermatologist or license professional when looking into different treatment options for your acne scarring.

LASER PROCEDURES – Using a wand like procedure the laser penetrates deep into the skin turning over cells for fresher skin. 

CHEMICAL PEELS – A chemical solution applied to the skin that exfoliates and eventually starts peeling off. The new skin revealed is fresh, smooth, and visibly shows the appearance of acne marks. Chemical peels remove dead skin cells, unclog pores, increase cell turnover, and increase collagen.

MICRONEEDLING – AKA collagen induction therapy. Microneedling is a minimally invasive procedure that uses tiny needles to prick you all over the face. In trying to heal the wounds from the needles, your skin produces more collagen which helps the overall look of the skin and acne scars.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER:

NO POPPING OR PICKING – When you start picking or popping your pimples you can end up driving the dirt and bacteria deeper into the skin. Thus, causing more inflammation and making the pimple and scarring worse.

GENETICS: Family history has a lot to do with your body’s makeup, including your skin. If your family members are prone to acne scarring, you will likely be too.

TIME: The longer you wait to treat the acne scar the harder it is to remove. So, act fast! 

HOW PERMANET ARE ACNE SCARS? 

Acne scars can last anywhere from a couple of months or years depending on the size, and depth of the scar.

In Conclusion

Acne scarring can be a pain to deal with, but luckily there are things we can do to prevent and heal them. What are some of the methods you use to prevent acne scars? Let me know in the comments below!