From Breakouts to Clearer Skin: Treating Acne Scars and Marks
We understand if you’ve built resentment towards your skin when it doesn’t seem to be on your side. Firstly, breakouts have a mind of their own, coming and going as they please. Or so it seems. You’ve tried everything under the sun to prevent severe breakouts, but your skin doesn’t want to cooperate.
Then the worse part follows. Your skin missed the memo to go back to normal after the pimples have come and gone!
So, you’re left with marks and scars that make the surface of the moon appear smooth! You’re left with embarrassing craters, bumps and an uneven texture that is impossible to mask with foundation and make-up.
That settles it then:
Your skin has a personal vendetta against you and wants you to know it!
But…you’ve got us up your sleeve to combat and silence its ferocity!
What are acne scars and markings?
Most people don’t realise that there is a difference between scars and marks because the skin behaves differently under different circumstances.
Marks are usually represented in a colour change after inflammation has settled.
Red or pink marks are often post-inflammatory erythema (an abnormal redness of the skin or mucous membranes caused by capillary congestion).
Brown, grey, or darker marks are usually post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
The skin responds by leaving behind extra redness or pigment when a pimple is inflamed. Sun exposure can make the marks appear darker and linger for longer.
Scars, on the other hand, change the texture of the skin with either a sunken (indented) or raised scars. This is either caused by the skin not producing enough collagen, creating pitted scars, or the skin producing too much collagen, creating the raised texture. Scarring is more likely to occur when the acne is deeper and inflamed.
What causes acne scars and markings?
There are multiple circumstances that can factor into creating marks or scarring from acne breakouts and they include:
- Inflammation from the acne lesion itself
- Deeper or more severe breakouts
- Picking, squeezing, or popping pimples (which increases skin damage and inflammation)
- Delaying treatment (which allows acne to become more inflamed)
- Skin tone factors – darker skin tones are more prone to pigment changes after acne, and can also be more prone to certain scar types like keloids
The best prevention of acne scarring and marking is always to treat acne early before it becomes too aggressive and inflamed.
But, what if you have suffered from severe acne as a teenager and are left with scarring and marks? This is where we come in and assist your skin into creating new revitalised, even toned, and smooth skin!
What treatments can help reduce the appearance of acne scars and markings?
The treatments we provide will allow the skin to instigate its own healing process at a microscopic level, generating new skin cells, to plump and smooth the surface of the skin.
The treatments we mention here may or may not be utilised within your skin program, depending on your skin type and condition. Our professional skin clinicians will assess your skin in your initial thorough skin consultation to discern which treatments your skin will respond to most effectively.
PROCELL Medical Microchanneling improves texture, tone and elasticity and assists conditions including acne scarring, hyperpigmentation, and large pores. By creating microchannels into the skin, it stimulates the healing process, producing new collagen and elastin formation.
Laser Genesis is able to address both scars and lingering redness/texture after acne, depending on the severity. Laser Genesis helps treat large pores, uneven skin texture, diffuse redness and scars.
Rejuran Scar consists of bio-active DNA molecules that stimulate regeneration and repair damaged skin cells while reducing unwanted inflammation, it works from the deeper layers of the skin. It’s able to stimulate production of new skin cells and remove the damaged cells that are causing discoloration, resulting in seemingly bringing back to life dull appearing skin and improving fine lines, wrinkles, oil production, skin texture, elasticity, acne scars, and pore size.
EnerPeel Chemical Peels can help treat acne scarring and hyperpigmentation, and the peel range can improve collagen/elastin production and remove pigmentation.
Hollywood Carbon Peel is a supportive treatment for overall skin tone, oil balance, smoother texture and clearer-looking skin rather than the strongest scar-specific option. This is a great regular treatment to keep those acne breakouts at bay and maintain a strong skin barrier.
What products can I use to help my skin look healthy and smooth?
We suggest having a thorough skin consultation with one of our skin clinicians before purchasing any of the products we mention in this article. They will assess your skin and provide the best skin products that would suit your skin type and condition.
CIVONA’s Dermal DNA Repair contains retinaldehyde that helps to produce new collagen, remove scar tissue, and reduce acne congestion; perfect for preventing aggressive acne breakouts and reducing acne scarring that has resulted from previous breakouts.
Biretix Tri Active Gel 50mL helps to prevent and correct acne marks and spots, as well as improving skin texture, and corrects acne blemishes and scars. Containing retinoids, 2% salicylic acid, 15% glycolic acid, and niacinamide, makes it especially relevant for breakout-prone skin with leftover marks.
For more pigment-focused post-acne marks, Osmosis Perfection Pigment Corrector Serum 25mL is relevant. It helps brighten hyperpigmentation and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and its actives can reduce acne scars while improving skin tone and texture.
When can I start!?
Now that you understand the difference between acne scars and marks, and how to best treat them and manage your acne breakouts, we hope to see you in the clinic soon so we can help you along your journey to glowing, smooth skin.
If you found this article useful to addressing your acne scarring or marks, please forward onto someone else who will find this helpful!
We believe everyone deserves clear, beautiful skin and looking their best. Spreading the word of what treatments and products can help someone achieve healthy and glowing skin is what’s going to make this world radiate with beauty!