Acne scars: causes and how to deal with them

Definition

What are acne scars?

Acne scars, whether red or black, are quite irritating and can reduce self-esteem. This skin condition that occurs after acne can appear more than once and in areas that are easily visible.

This condition is usually characterized by permanent changes in the texture and indentation of the skin. Unlike scar tissue, black or red spots due to severe acne can be treated, either from a doctor or with natural remedies.

How common is this condition?

Just like acne, acne scars are a fairly common condition and can happen to anyone. About 80% of people aged 11 to 30 have acne and one in five people in that population has scars.

One of the groups that most often experience this skin disease is adolescents. Even so, adults too can face the same problem because there are various factors that can increase everyone's risk of acne.

Type

What are the types of acne scars?

Generally, everyone who has acne scars has more than one type. Here are some types of acne blemishes that are known in the medical world.

Atrophic scars

Atrophic acne scars usually occur when there is skin tissue that is lost. This scar tissue will later be divided into three parts, namely as follows.

• Boxcar, a wide U-shaped pockmark with a firm side.
• Ice pick, acne scars that have a deep indentation in the shape of the letter V.
• Rolling, a pockmark that is wide enough with rounded and irregular edges.

Hypertrophic scars

In contrast to atrophic scarring, hypertrophic acne scars appear due to the production of too much collagen as the acne heals.

This results in an excess mass of tissue that is formed and slightly raised on the surface of the skin, or so-called keloids. Keloids usually appear on the back and chin area.

Macular scar (macular scar)

Macular scars are red acne scars that are usually seen on the cheeks and forehead area. This condition usually occurs due to scarring from sand acne (bruntusan).

These types of acne blemishes generally fade within 6 to 12 months without treatment. However, treatments such as vascular laser can sometimes be effective at removing these scars.

Cause

What causes acne scars?

Acne scars are caused by an inflammatory reaction that causes blood vessels to dilate. This is actually a normal condition and will go away on its own as the inflammatory reaction improves.

Even so, sometimes dilated blood vessels cannot disappear when the inflammatory reaction has subsided. As a result, the area around the pimple looks red.

Meanwhile, acne inflammation also results in damage to the basal keratinocyte cells which are part of the human skin structure. As a result, the body produces excess melanin.

Melanin is a substance that gives human skin its color. When produced in excessive amounts, melanin can lead to hyperpigmentation of the skin. Therefore, acne scars turn brown or black.

If left untreated, acne can cause serious inflammation, resulting in damage to the tissue structure that supports the skin.

This condition also causes the healing process of the skin in the area where the acne is growing disturbed, so the skin will curve inward and leave a scar.

In addition, there are some bad habits that can be a factor in causing acne scars as follows.

• Squeezing pimples can trigger inflammation and make acne scars last longer.
• Stop acne treatment too soon.
• Washing your face too often can cause dry and inflamed skin, making acne medications ineffective.
• Not using sunscreen risks causing skin hyperpigmentation.

Medicine and medication

How do you get rid of acne scars?

One of the myths you may have heard is that acne scars can go away on their own. The fact is not. This condition is likely not to return to normal like the original skin.

Even so, there are several ways you can do to get rid of acne scars, both red and black.

• Fractional laser to stimulate collagen growth and tighten skin.
• Laser resurfacing to remove the damaged top layer of skin so that the new skin can grow evenly.
• Dermabrasion to lift the outer skin area of ​​the face so that it is replaced with a new layer.
• Chemical peels with strong acid compounds to remove the top layer of skin.
• Microneedling which helps reduce the depth of acne scars.
• Corticosteroid injections which is suitable for hypertrophic scars.
• Dermal filler which fills the pockmarked skin tissue with products containing collagen.

Most of the above treatments have been shown to reduce the size and fade acne scars. Over time, this skin condition will fade to the point of being almost invisible.

Keep in mind that the results of treatment depend on the ability of your doctor or dermatologist and how diligent you are with the treatment.

Home remedies

Is there a way to get rid of acne scars that you can do yourself?

Acne blemishes, both black and red, can be treated with various treatments. Here are some ways you can get rid of acne scars at home.

Use an acne scar removal gel

Acne scar removal gels are a great way to deal with this problem. Of the many products in circulation, you can use the acne blemish remover gel that contains the active compounds below.

• Niacinamide
• Allium Cepa
• MPS (mucopolysaccharide)
• Pionine (Quaternium-73)

Some of the active ingredients above are considered quite effective in disguising dark spots and uneven skin texture due to acne. In fact, these active compounds can also help fight acne-causing bacteria so as not to trigger a severe infection.

Regularly use moisturizer

Apart from using gels, you can also support black acne scars by regularly applying moisturizer. The use of a moisturizer can help protect the skin and keep facial skin healthy and well hydrated.

You see, moisturizers work by locking in moisture and pulling moisture from the deeper layers of the skin to the outer layers of the skin. Try to choose a moisturizer with active compounds that are safe for your skin type.

Use serum

Serum is a skin care product that is useful for treating several skin problems, such as fading black acne scars. There are a number of ingredients in serum that need to be considered if you want to overcome this problem, including:

• vitamin C,
• arbutin,
• mulberry and licorice extract,
• kojic acid,
• retinol,
• alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), as well
• mandelic acid.

Prevention

How can you prevent this condition?

You can't completely prevent acne scars. However, there are several ways that can be done to reduce these risks, including the following.

• Immediately treat acne, either with drugs from doctors or those that are sold freely.
• Reduce inflammation with aloe vera for acne or compress the acne area with ice.
• Avoid picking at pimples, which can worsen the infection.
• Avoid removing the scab, which is the skin's natural bandage that protects the wound while it heals.
• Always protect your skin with sunscreen or sunscreen.

If you have further questions, consult a doctor immediately to find the right solution.

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