Throughout the teen years and even into adulthood, many people deal with acne breakouts. These can range anywhere from mild to severe and can be uncomfortable and embarrassing. However, for many people with more severe forms of acne, the effects can linger even after the acne has healed.
Acne scars are very common, and almost everyone will develop some scarring from their acne breakouts. However, if you have scarring that is affecting your self-esteem, we have ways that we can help at Perfect Skin Center. We offer treatments in both Tempe, AZ, and Scottsdale, AZ that can get you closer to having flawless skin.
What Causes Acne Scars?
Not all types of acne breakouts cause scarring. However, inflammatory acne, where bacteria gets into the clogged pore and causes tissue to become inflamed, can often leave behind a scar. The most common type of acne that causes scarring is cystic acne, but other types of inflammatory acne such as pimples and pustules can also result in scars.
When the dermis in particular becomes inflamed as a result of an acne breakout, enough tissue can be damaged in the area to cause a scar. Pus from an inflamed pore can cause damage when it ruptures into any of the surrounding tissue. When your body seeks to repair and replace the damaged tissue, it often creates too little or too much leading to pits in the skin or raised marks. Most acne scars on the face are concave in nature rather than raised.
Acne Scar Treatment Options
Radiofrequency Treatments
Radiofrequency energy can be used to reduce the appearance of acne scars. When RF energy is applied to the skin, it can stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. When new collagen is produced in the dermis, it can better support the skin. The tightening and collagen-producing effect of radiofrequency treatments such as Thermage® can make scars much less noticeable. This treatment can be used in areas where you need extra collagen and skin tightening.
Laser Resurfacing Treatments
Laser resurfacing can be one of the most effective ways to treat acne scarring on the face. At our practice, we use minimally invasive fractional lasers to help treat acne scars without the downtime. These lunchtime procedures including ProFractional™ and Fraxel® gently ablate the outer layer of the skin, prompting the creation of new tissue and additional collagen and elastin without the downtime of traditional CO2 lasers.
Fractional lasers work by targeting tiny pinpoints of skin with a laser. This type of treatment leaves much of the surrounding tissue alone which can speed up the healing process while still providing many of the same benefits. When these pinpoints of skin are ablated, the body will begin repairing the tissue, which can lead to smoother skin for individuals with acne scarring.
Microneedling Treatments
Microneedling is another acne scar treatment that promotes acne scar healing through the stimulation of collagen production. During this treatment, needles are inserted vertically into the skin using specialized devices. This creates microchannels that your body will begin healing. As your body heals these microchannels, it can begin the process of acne scar removal by restoring healthy tissue in place of scar tissue.
Microneedling is a non-invasive treatment that can aid with overall skin rejuvenation. In addition to skin that is free from acne scarring, you may also be able to enjoy skin tightening, the reduction of fine lines and wrinkles, and skin that has a more even tone. This is especially helpful for patients who have skin discoloration due to acne.
Spot Treatment for Single Acne Scars
Sometimes acne scar therapy is needed for only a few scars on the face. If you have a small number of acne scars that could benefit from scar therapy, we may recommend spot treatment. TCA CROSS is an acne scar reduction treatment that focuses on restoring tissue in individual scars. During this treatment, we insert Trichloroacetic acid into the scar. Your body will respond to the acid by producing more collagen in the area. As additional tissue is created, the scar can begin to fill in, leaving the area more smooth than it was before.
Choosing the Right Acne Scar Reduction Treatment for You
Choosing the right acne scar treatment option for you is a process that you can undertake with your doctor. There are many different types of scarring and each will respond differently to different scar therapy options. That is why your first step will be a consultation. We can determine what type of scarring you have, how severe the scarring is, and whether radiofrequency energy, TCA CROSS therapy, microneedling, or laser therapy would be better in your situation.
Depending on the acne scar removal method we choose, we may recommend treating acne breakouts first. Some of our treatments, such as Thermage, can also help to control acne breakouts by causing controlled damage to the sebaceous glands and limiting sebum secretion.
Acne Scar Treatments in Arizona
Acne Scars can be a frustrating problem that can make you feel self-conscious about your complexion. However, you don’t have to suffer from this condition by yourself. At Perfect Skin Center, we have many types of acne scar therapy to help our patients regain smooth and healthy skin. If you are looking for non-invasive treatments that will provide acne scar healing for your icepick scars, boxed scars, or rolling scars, call us today or go to our website and fill out an online form. We offer services in both Tempe AZ, and Scottsdale, AZ, and we look forward to hearing from you.
