Acne Scarring

Acne scars are usually the result of inflamed blemishes caused by skin pores engorged with excess oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria. The pore swells, causing a beak in the follicle wall, leaking sebum (oil) and bacteria into the skin, which leads to inflammation and skin damage.

Shallow lesions are usually minor and heal quickly. Rupture of the pore into the deeper tissues results in infected material spilling into the surrounding tissue, creating deeper and wider infection in the kin. The skin attempts to repair these lesions by forming new collagen fibers. These repairs usually are not a s smooth and even as the original skin, causing the appearance of scars.

Acne scars fall into two main categories: those caused by loss of tissue (atrophic scars), and those caused by an excess of tissue (hypertrophic scars). For atrophic scars, there are three main types: ice pick, box scar, and rolling.

Medical Treatment Plan
Acne scar treatment is aimed at improving the skin appearance, not complete reversal of skin damage. Most of the scar treatments require 3-6 months to see best results. The process may even take up to 12 months (or more) depending on severity of the scars. In general, the level of improvement is proportional to the amount of treatments you have.

We should only commence acne scar treatment after your acne is under control because of any breakout risks further scar formation. Scar treatment and response to treatment is different for everyone based on types of scars, severity of scars, age and skin type. Other variables include healing time and collagen synthesis will determine your individual outcome.

The good news is the improvement seen in the skin after treatment is permanent, as long as there are no further acne breakouts.

Dr. Ling will examine your scars to determine the most effective treatment plan for reducing or eliminating them.

The most commonly  recommended procedures for acne scarring include the following:

• CO2 Fractional Laser Resurfacting
• Secret RF
• Microneedling
• Chemical peels
• Microdermabrasion
• Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)
• Customized Home Care Regimen