Acne – we’ve all dealt with it! In fact, the stats are overwhelming, with no fewer than 95% of all Australians dealing with pimples to some extent or another by the age of 30. And that’s a lot of pimples! But did you know that about 1 in 5 of those people will actually go on to face permanent acne scarring? In this piece, we’re going to take a deep dive into how to remove acne scars.
Basically, a pimple is caused by a skin pore getting clogged and then inflamed by oils, dead skin and even bacteria. Teenagers are particularly prone due to hormonal reasons, but adults also tackle acne due to the environment, stress, oily products and foods and even certain medicines.
Normally, a pimple clears up and heals seamlessly. But if those pimples are or become painful papules, pus-filled pustules, solid nodules and even deeply-rooted cysts, the inflammation can worsen, damage the pore and then spread into deep and permanent scars.
Don’t, however, get too downbeat about that word ‘permanent’. Why’s that? Because there are some very clever, innovative and effective acne scar treatment methods around these days that – depending on the scar severity and type – can really help:
Did you know simply putting sunscreen on every day is helpful to get rid of acne scarring? First up, it will help ensure that UV light doesn’t damage those scars any more, but those who apply it to their scars notice that the contrast between the scarred and unscarred skin is simply less noticeable when it’s on. Suncream containing Vitamin C also helps those scars, and there is a range of other medicated creams that are good, too.
When your body is trying to heal those scars naturally, it will produce more of the protein called collagen. You can ingest more collagen in the form of powders and pills – or even get it directly injected into the skin to nourish and plump up the area. Some people simply get fat or other fillers injected into the scars, but be aware that the effect eventually wears off.
You can be prescribed certain steroids to help with acne, but other steroids – or too much of it – can cause other side effects or even worsen the pimple problem. Extreme cases of acne can be treated by powerful corticosteroids, while the scars can be helped by direct injections of other steroid types – but usually only when the scars are raised.
Dermabrasion is the process of combing an ‘abrasive’ machine across the skin to take off the top layers of skin and is popular among those struggling with wrinkles, age spots and – yes – scars. However, it’s obviously only effective if the scars are in those top layers of skin – and in some cases doing too much dermabrasion can actually cause new scars or discolouration.
A little like dermabrasion, but with chemicals rather than an abrasive device. However, dark skin in particular can be discoloured by the process, and for deeper scars, it is definitely not recommended to do any more than a single deep chemical peel.
Again, it’s a little like dermabrasion – but the device is needle-studded and improves acne scars by stimulating your production of collagen. The results, however, can be disappointingly minor, and even when combined with some Botox injections will need to be constantly repeated.
A technique called punch excision – with variations called punch elevation and punch grafting – is where a doctor actually excises the scarred skin and replaces it with a stitched-in graft. While it can be effective, it’s very invasive for a lot of scarring and really only suitable for deeply indented scars.
When it comes to that age-old problem of how to get rid of acne scars, there’s a new kid in town – and its popularity is rising with every passing day. In fact, people are much more likely to try laser resurfacing in Sydney than harsh dermabrasion these days, because advances in laser technologies mean it no longer just removes the outer skin layers. Instead, deep stimulation of what lies below – the dermis and all of those connective tissues, blood vessels, glands and nerves – triggers natural collagen production and healing. As it all heals, the outcome is smooth, tight and better-looking skin.
And the best thing about laser resurfacing? No surgery, no drugs, a fast & comfortable technique, and faster recovery times than other acne scar treatment techniques. It’s perfect for all skin types, you’ll be back in action almost immediately after a treatment, and you’ll start to see the results in 1-3 sessions. Better still, it’s suitable for wrinkles, age spots and other problems with complexion – and the friendly team at Disappear Laser Clinic uses the latest and best acne scar treatment in the laser world with Picosecond technology, which is 100 times faster than traditional tech. Ready to book in? Get in touch today!
Get all the latest news and our exclusive offers straight to your email inbox.
