Acne is a common skin complaint; in fact, it’s estimated that 85 per cent of all teenagers experience acne at some point. Often, they will then continue to get acne into their 30s and beyond and some get acne for the first time as adult, known as ‘adult-onset acne’.
While the condition is usually mild, in severe cases it can leave behind visible scarring and acne scars can have a devastating impact on self-esteem and confidence.
What causes acne scars?
Scars are left behind when there is a deep break within the wall of the pores. As the pores fill up with excess oil, the walls lightly break and leave a visible mark. In mild cases of acne, the marks are light and will clear up quickly. However, when there is a deeper break in the wall, it allows infected material to spill out onto surrounding tissues.
This in turn creates a deeper lesion. As the skin tries to repair itself, it generates new collagen fibres. These make up the scars left behind. Picking or squeezing the pimples associated with acne will also increase the risk of scarring.
What are the different types of acne scars?
There are several types of acne scars and each may require a different treatment.
Atrophic scars include boxcar, ice pick and rolling scars. These present as shallow depressions on the top layer of the skin.
Keloid and hypertrophic scars are raised lumps, caused due to scar tissue build up. You will find hypertrophic scars are the same size as the acne pimples were. Keloid scars on the other hand, are larger than the original acne.
ASSOCIATED PROCEDURES: HydraFacial, Microneedling Skin Pen, ClearSkin Laser
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TREATMENT OPTION: HYDRAFACIAL
The HydraFacial is a deep-cleansing and exfoliating facial treatment and has been hailed as a big advancement on the traditional microdermabrasion.
HydraFacial can treat pigmentation problems, scarring and target many of the signs of ageing, producing a much brighter, more hydrated complexion. It’s also highly effective as an acne scar treatment.
Discover our HydraFacial treatmentsTREATMENT OPTION: SKIN PEN
SkinPen is a collagen induction therapy procedure for the treatment of ageing, wrinkles and scarring.
It creates thousands of controlled micro-injuries in the skin to trigger the body’s natural wound healing process. This process results in the formation and remodelling of collagen and is an effective procedure for lots of skin concerns including acne scarring.
Discover our SkinPen treatmentsTREATMENT OPTION: CLEARSKIN LASER
ClearSkin is the first technology to combine non-ablative lasers with simultaneous contact cooling and vacuum technology to treat all forms of acne vulgaris, including papules, pustules and nodules all while diminishing the appearance of acne scars by stimulating collagen renewal safely with no side effects, leaving longer-lasting results.
