A permanent scar is a defect in the skin and is usually caused by some type of injury. In some cases, scarring can be a result of severe, or even mild acne. Though there is no way to tell if a scar will or will not form from an acne lesion, there are ways to prevent and treat acne scars.

Causes and Symptoms

The type of scar that forms depends on how the acne lesion was treated when it first appeared on the skin. Treating acne properly will make a huge difference in the way that skin heals and will reduce scarring occurrences.

In general, there are two types of acne scars:

Temporary Acne Scars

These marks really aren’t scars at all. They are simply temporary red marks that were left behind when the blemishes healed. The post-inflammatory redness can take anywhere from six to twelve months to go away completely.

Permanent Acne Scars

Permanent scarring develops as the skin tries to heal itself with new skin. The outer layer of skin (epidermis) grows inwards from the sides of the lesion to the center. When the lesion heals, a depressed pit is left on the skin.

Prevention

Acne scarring can be very unpredictable. Some people have sensitive skin, which is more prone to acne scarring, while others have skin that acne cannot scar. The only way to completely prevent acne scarring is by properly treating acne lesions as soon as they form.

Untreated or improperly treated acne can cause terrible and permanent scarring. The best thing you can do is to mitigate the problem with early treatment. This will help the skin to heal quickly, and will reduce the chances of permanent scarring.

Here are some other tips that may help:

·           Never pick at blemishes.

·           Do not over-squeeze blemishes.

·           Do not use harsh or irritating facial products.

·           Treat skin with a gentle cleanser twice per day.

·           Protect your skin and blemishes from sun exposure.

·           Reduce acne breakouts with a good skin care routine.

Treatment

There are various treatments that may eliminate or reduce the appearance of acne scarring. Here are some of the most common treatment options:

Fading Products

Products that contain AHA, BHA, or tretinoin can help to reduce post-inflammatory redness. Though the red marks will still take time to heal, these products can speed up the process.

Dermal Fillers

Deep and shallow acne scars can be filled with substances known as derma fillers. However, these fillers require repeated treatments and are not permanent fixes for acne scarring.

Chemical Peels

AHA, BHA, and TCA chemical peels can improve the skin and reduce the appearance of acne scarring. Though these peels work well on minimal scarring, they are not recommended for deep acne scars.

Microdermabrasion

Deep microdermabrasion treatments can be used to treat severe acne scars and will provide visible improvement. Microdermabrasion can also improve the skin’s overall texture, color, and appearance.

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