Dealing with Acne scars
Acne scars on your face are very embarrassing and shameful. So you want to cure acne and scars simultaneously. Most often it is seen that even chronic acne was successfully cured but you were left with scars.
Anyone who is developing acne or scars should read this article. The article covers wide rang of aspects of scars. Here you will learn the causes, risk factors and different methods of treatment for acne scars.
What is an acne scar?
In your view, a scar is a mark left behind acne. Scientifically we will define it as:
The result of the formation of new fibrous tissues in the process of healing acne is known as a scar.
Causes of Acne scars:
Acne is one of the leading causes of scars. When sebaceous glands are stimulated by external or internal agents, they become inflamed as a result they produce excessive sebum. When sebum is continuously produced and on the other hand hair follicles become narrower, leaving no space to pop out sebum, it ruptures the hair follicles and penetrates deep into the skin layers. At this stage you feel burning sensation and pain. Thus, production and penetration of sebum cause deep infection. The deeper the infection, the longer it will take to heal.
How scars are formed?
Before we begin to explain how scars are formed, first you need to clarify what fibroblast cells are and what are their functions?
Fibroblasts:
Fibroblasts are connective tissue cells that form the infrastructure or a frame in which skin cells are filled, just like flesh on our skeleton.
So, you have understood what fibroblasts are? Now we will explain how scars are formed?
Normally, there is a constant rate of replication of skin cells and replication of fibroblasts. During hair follicle infection, these cells lose their constant rate of replication. Fibroblasts replicate faster while skin cells replicate slower creating an imbalance. Thus, fibroblasts form a frame or skeleton but there are still no enough cells to fill the wide space. The fast formation of fibroblasts is displayed as a rough bumpy area called a scar.
How scars look like?
They look like the bumps except that they are not infected like blackheads and whiteheads. Sometimes they are red while sometime they are black and it does not mean that scars contain dust and appear to be black. They look black due to color pigment accumulation called melanin.
Treatments of acne scars:
There are a variety of treatments depending upon the type and severity of acne and their scars. Some common treatments are:
Drainage and surgical removal of cysts
Systemic Antibiotics
Isotretinoin
Drainage:
In this method, cysts are removed from the scars. The method is a little painful, but perfect for those who have tried other treatments.
Systemic Antibiotics:
It is also seen that if you touch or press the acne more often, bacteria and sebum go deep into the skin layers resulting in acne and scar flare ups. Thus, you need suitable antibiotics for its treatment.
Isotretinoin:
It is specially formulated remedy for acne and scars and proved to be very effective. But do not use Isotretinoin without the prescription of your dermatologists. Remember, you have to take Isotretinoin for a year or more. If you stop the dose, you may develop scars again.
