Active breakouts are annoying, and the scars that they leave behind can feel downright diabolical. Acne scars are quite stubborn and do not go away easily. They can be treated over time with home remedies, however, if they are highly intense, you should consider visiting a doctor to get an acne scar treatment.

The more you pop your acne, the more chances there are of getting a permanent acne mark!

Scars are formed when a breakout penetrates your skin and damages the tissues present beneath it. While some scars are temporary, others may be permanent. It is advisable to seek medical consultation or seek advice from a dermatologist for your permanent acne scars or frequent breakouts.

Types Of Acne Scars

1. Macules
   
   Macules are flat, red spots where an acne lesion was once located. They persist for a few weeks and fade by themselves over time.
2. Boxcar
   
   Boxcar is basically U shaped scars with sharp edges. They are wide and can be shallow or deep. The more shallow the scars are, the higher the chances of them getting completely treated by resurfacing treatments.
3. Rolling
   
   They have wide depressions with rounded edges and irregular shape.
4. Skin Discolouration
   
   Skin discolouration is one of the most common skin ailments people suffer from. It gives a patchy look with different shades of skin tone. A healed scar also leaves behind discoloured skin, which is known as hyperpigmentation. It remains for months after the acne lesion has healed.
5. Tissue Scars
   
   Some acne breakouts leave scars that appear as enlarged, wide tissues on the skin. These acne scars are also termed as keloid scars and caused by excess production of collagen in the skin. 

Types of Medical Acne Scar Treatment

Here are some of the most common, effective and reliable acne scar treatments which can help reduce your acne spots, discoloration or any hyperpigmentation in the skin:

1. Chemical peels

Chemical peel is one of the most basic and simple acne scar treatment. A dermatologist can recommend a suitable chemical peel acne treatment based on your skin type, acne scarring and severity of the marks.

A review conducted on patients who suffered from acne scars revealed that about 6 in 10 participants found 70% improvement in their scars after using a chemical peel called trichloroacetic acid (TCA).

Other chemical peels such as glycolic acid are less effective as compared to trichloroacetic acid. Chemical peels basically remove the first layer of your skin to remove blemishes, dark spots and acne scars. This treatment is often recommended for those suffering from deeper acne scars.

2. Laser Resurfacing

Laser resurfacing also removes the uppermost layer of your skin to reveal the younger, tightened and much fairer skin beneath it. This can help reduce the appearance of stubborn acne marks and dark spots as well.

The affected area gets healed quicker as compared to other resurfacing treatments but it needs to be covered with a bandage until completely healed.

Laser resurfacing is a good option for light-skin toned people. It doesn’t bring out much change in dark skin tones. However, it is not suitable for everyone and thus, one should consult a reliable dermatologist who is an expert in the subject before going for a laser treatment.

3. Microneedling

Microneedling is the process of inserting tiny needles into the skin which surrounds the acne scar to stimulate the body to produce more collagen. These needles are embedded in a roller like pen which is handheld by the doctor during the procedure.

Collagen is a natural chemical which helps reduce the acne marks.This treatment can take a time up to 9 months to show complete results as per the American Academy of Dermatology.

In a 2017 review, micro needling was found to be an effective method of reducing acne scars by about 31% to 62%. Though some patients have reported mild side effects like redness, itching, mild pain, there aren’t any severe side effects associated with this acne scar treatment and is mostly suitable for all skin types.

4. Derma filler

Fillers are used to even out the surface of the skin and fill in for acne scars. Dermatologists mostly use collagen based fillers which helps reduce the visibility of acne scars. Another option for fillers is removing fat from a part of your body and using the same to fill in damaged tissues.

Fiiller treatments for acne scars can also be done using commercial fillers such as hyaluronic acid (HA), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA).

Most temporary fillers last about 6 to 8 months after which they need to be redone. Some fillers also give permanent results where you don’t have to take such frequent treatment. Derma fillers are the ideal acne scar treatment for atrophic scars, small boxcar or even rolling scars.

5. Injections

There are many different skin injections available today which can help reduce acne scars easily. Medications can be injected into the skin on raised scars to help soften and smoothen them out. These injections may include corticosteroids and chemotherapy drugs fluorouracil (5-FU) and interferons as well.

They are usually performed as a series with one injection being used every week. This is the most recommended acne scar treatment for those suffering from hypertrophic and keloid scars.

6. Dermabrasion

Many people use microdermabrasion kits at home to remove acne scars. Dermabrasion follows the same principle as microdermabrasion, however medical experts use a wire brush or a wheel to deeply exfoliate the top layer of the skin and remove dead cells from it.

Dermabrasion is one of the most effective and common acne scar treatment. It is used for scars that are close to the surface like rolling scars or shallow boxcar. It also impacts on the deeper level acne marks if any.

7. Retinoic Acid

Medical treatments such as dermal fillers or medicated injections are not suitable for every skin type. Certain tissues can be treated and healed normally from acne scars by using retinoic acid.

A retinoic acid-based cream can be applied on the acne scars which helps reduce its appearance over time. This method is usually preferred in keloid scars.

8. Scar Subcision

Deep-seated scars can be treated by using a needle inserted in the fibrous tissue to

Takeaway

Acne scars can last long, it is better to opt for a medical acne scar treatment which promises results rather than waiting for them to disappear on their own. Seek medical consultation and talk to your dermatologist about your skin and how it behaves.

Refrain from itching, popping, picking or squeezing out any breakout as it can damage your skin tissues and leave permanent marks. Stay hydrated and hygienic, eat fresh vegetables and fruits which will help you keep your skin healthy in the first place without leading to any acne breakouts.