ACNE SCARRING

WHAT IS ACNE SCARRING?

Acne scarring develops as a side effect of acne. 

The main types of acne scarring includes:

• Ice pick scars – small holes that can be fairly deep and are similar in appearance to a puncture wound,
• Boxcar scars – round indentations on the skin’s surface that are often described as looking like a ‘crater’,
• Rolling scars – when the skin looks uneven in texture, often appearing as a rippled effect caused by damage to the underlying tissues. 

WHAT CAUSES ACNE SCARRING?

Acne scarring is primarily caused by damage that inflammation has inflicted on the skin and tissues. When the skin becomes damaged it triggers a natural response by the body where it wants to repair itself. With acne scarring, the body makes new collagen at the damaged site to knit the skin back together. As collagen is different in texture and tone to usual skin cells, it can give the skin an uneven appearance. It is often the case that despite the new collagen, acne has caused tissue loss, which results in the sunken appearance of pitted or boxcar scarring on the skin. 

HOW CAN ACNE SCARRING BE TREATED?

To effectively treat acne can help to reduce the development of acne scarring, as too can resisting the temptation to pick at spots. However, when scarring has occurred there are a number of ways in which its appearance can be improved. 

The Facebible can perform chemical peels to help resurface the top layers of the skin, encouraging a healthy new layer to grow, which is more even in texture and tone. Microneedling can also help to replenish the skin by encouraging the growth of new collagen for a smoother complexion. The Facebible can also perform the Clearskin acne and acne scarring treatment, a laser procedure that improves the overall quality and condition of the skin, both while acne is active and after breakouts have eased and minor scarring has been left behind.