Just as there are different types of acne, there are different types of acne scars as well. But are the treatments for different types of acne scars unique, or does a "one size fits all" solution work? To be honest, I didn't know the answer to this question myself so I did a little research and here I am to report my findings.
First, let's brush up a little on what a scar is, and how an acne scar differs from a more traditional scar.
To keep things simple, let's just think of scars as the result after your body has healed a wound. To repair your body, your skin uses a protein called "collagen", and some people's bodies basically overreact and use too much collagen in the repair process. These people are more prone to scarring.
I know, it can be frustrating to hear that you are doomed to struggle with acne scars simply because of the way you were born. Believe me, I scar more easily than anyone I know. But we have to play with the cards we've been dealt by life, so let's just learn more about our condition and what we can do to treat it.
Acne scars differ from regular scars in that the acne "wound" occurs under the top layer of skin. Most scars result from wounds that are on the surface of the skin, while acne scars occur underneath.
This creates both a unique advantage and disadvantage when comparing acne scars to traditional scars. Fortunately, acne scars are less susceptible to the sun (sunlight can cause most scars to strengthen). On the downside, acne scars are harder (if not impossible) to treat with topical ointments and such because they are actually underneath the top layer of skin.
Next, I will cover four different distinct types of acne scars:
Rolling Acne Scars:
Rolling acne scars have to appearance of wide, shallow craters that get their name because they look like waves or "rolls" on your skin. You can feel the indentations with your fingers because of the wave effect.
Icepick Acne Scars:
This is perhaps the most common type of acne scarring. These scars are deep and narrow, and to me they look like you've been punctured by a bunch of needles. These are harder to feel with your fingers than rolling acne scars.
Boxcar Acne Scars:
This is another common form of acne scarring, especially on the cheek. They are often deep with well defined edges, and are easy to feel with your fingers. Boxcar acne scars are likely where the slur "crater face" comes from.
Hyperthrophic Acne Scars:
These are probably the most unsightly type of acne scar there is. A hyperthropic acne scar is raised and lumpy, and can look even more unattractive than the acne that caused it. Typically those who get hyperthrophic acne scars suffer from severe acne.
Keloid Acne Scars:
A keloid acne scar is actually a type of hyperthrophic scar, and is even worse. While a regular hyperthropic scar is typically contained to the site where the acne cyst or lesion was, a keloid scar can actually grow to be even bigger than the bump that caused it.
If you've ever tried any of those cheap drug store products that work for you, please let me know.
Most People Suffer From More Than One Type of Acne Scar
Yes, there are five distinct types of acne scars, but if you're confused about which you have, it is likely because most people actually suffer from a combination of at least two of these scars. Different types of acne and skin will often result in different scarring.
How to Treat the Different Types of Acne Scars
In general, scars will fade on their own over time. Unfortunately, in the case of acne scars, the "wounds" keep reappearing time after time, creating a cycle where you pretty much always have your scars.
Because of this, it makes more sense to start out by attacking your acne than it does to try and treat the scars first. If you do not already have your acne under control, consider trying things such as eating more healthy, treating your face with benzoyl peroxide and mousturizing it daily, and if all else fails, you can try a more extreme acne treatment such as Exposed Skin Care.
Once you've gotten your acne under control, it makes sense to attack the scarring. While some dermatologists do advocate treating the different types of scarring differently, in my opinion it is more worthwhile to pick a treatment based on the severity of your scarring.
How bad is your scarring exactly? Is it light to the point where you can only see it upon close examination? Can others see it from further away? Or are your scars the only thing you can really see when you look at your face?
Picking an Acne Scar Treatment
If you have money to burn, you should consult an acne scar specialist who performs laser surgery, dermabrasion, or skin peeling. These are advanced (but expensive!) techniques which will either cause your skin to shed its scars or attack the acne scars directly.
Some doctors will charge hundreds of dollars per scar. This is obviously out of the price range that most people can afford, so if you'd like something you can use at home for less money, here are some products for your consideration:
Zenmed Scar Treatment Kit - For more mild cases of acne scarring
Skin Culture Peel - Home skin peeling kit has different strength levels for mild and moderate scarring. Make sure to read the directions carefully
From what I've seen, these home products become less reliable when dealing with extremely severe acne. In that case, you will likely not be able to do as much about your scarring from home.
Good luck, and I hope you found this article informative!
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