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Acne scars are permanent changes on the skin that happen after acne subsides.They can be in the form of marks or depressions or raised lesions.

All forms of acne can result in scarring, it differs based on the

  • individual’s response of healing,
  • severity of acne,
  • Family history of scarring,
  • Picking or squeezing of acne,
  • with home remedies which can irritate the skin (eg: tooth paste, antiseptic solvents)

Types of acne scars

Acne can leave marks, depressions, raised/elevated, lumpy scars. This is because of differential collagen damage.

  • Marks can vary in colour such as pink,red, brown and black. They usually fade away with time to an extent, medical attention or treatment may be required for the rest.
  • Depressed scars(atrophic scars) are in the form of
    • Box scars – these scars are depressions with sharp margins
    • Rolling scars – these have rounded margin
    • Ice pick scars – these appear as small dot like scars, often confused for open pores.
  • Elevated scars are due dense deposition of collagen.

Treatment

Combination of treatments is always the best and gives the most desired outcome.

Peels – a few peels help in improving scars to an extent, but they require a good number of sessions. They work the best for ice pick scars.

Microneedling radiofrequency(MNRF) – advanced technique with almost no downtime. It also helps in shrinking open pores, improving fine lines and texture of skin.

LASERs – these help in redefining scars and promoting collagen regeneration.

Subcision – this procedure helps in breaking down the stubborn bands of fibres and improving scar depth.

Injections – in case of hypertrophic scars or keloids.