What are acne scars?
Many patients who have moderate to severe acne will have some degree of acne scarring. More severe, chronic and deeper inflammation is more likely to result in acne scars.
How are acne scars classified?
Acne scars can be classified into atrophic or hypertrophic scars.
Atrophic scars are the most common type of acne scars. These refer to scars that sink below the surrounding skin level. They can be further subdivided into ice-pick scars rolling scars or boxcar scars depending on their appearance.
Hypertrophic scars are scars that are raised above the surface. These tend to occur on the jawline, chest and upper back if acne occurs on these parts of the body. In some patients who have a tendency to develop keloids, these may also form over the same areas.
It is important to identify the type of acne scar as the treatment is different for different types of scars.
What types of treatment are available for acne scars?
Acne scars are best treated when your acne is under control. Different procedures are usually combined to give you the best results. Some examples of scar treatment include fractional laser resurfacing, fractional picosecond laser treatment, subcision and fillers.
How do you prevent acne scars?
Treating acne can help to prevent severe acne scars. There are safe and effective treatments for acne.
Are there any complications or side effects of acne scar treatment?
Acne scar treatment is generally safe. There may be a ‘downtime’ of 1-2 weeks, depending on the treatment modality. For example, there is usually redness and crusting for 1-2 weeks after fractional laser resurfacing. You will also need to avoid direct sun exposure for approximately 2 weeks after treatment.
If a prolonged ‘downtime’ is not possible, non-ablative laser treatment can be used instead. These typically cause redness of 1-5 days and do not cause crusting. However, more sessions of treatment are usually necessary to achieve optimal results.
What can I expect for acne scar treatment?
For more information, do refer to the following
