Acne breakouts are common, and it occurs when your hair follicles start to become plugged with oil and dead skin cells, causing whiteheads, blackheads or pimples to form. Most common among teenagers and affecting people of all ages, acne can cause emotional distress and permanently scar the skin.
Here are the different kinds of acne:
- mild acne: whiteheads or blackheads that most of us get at some point
- moderate acne: this can cause red, inflamed pimples (called papules) and red pimples filled with pus (called pustules)
- severe acne: this causes bigger painful, pus-filled cysts or lumps (called nodules) under the skin
How are acne scars formed?
Acne scars are formed after an acne breakout. Shallow and less severe lesions which are usually minor, can heal quickly. However, if there is a rupture in the wall of the affected pore in the deeper skin layers, infected material can spill out into surrounding tissue, causing more inflammation and creating more extensive, severe acne lesions. The skin attempts to repair these lesions by producing new collagen fibres but more often than not, heals up by forming scars.
Some people are more prone to scarring while others recover without a hitch. If you are highly prone to scarring, it is best to see a doctor immediately to start a specialized acne treatment plan so as to minimize the risk of scarring.
Acne Scars exists in 2 forms:
- Depressed Acne Scar (indented): when there is a loss of tissue, resulting in an indentation in the surface of the skin
- Hypertrophic Acne Scar (raised): skin creates collagen to help to heal the wound but over stimulation of collagen will result in a raised scar form.
The illustration below shows the different types of Acne Scars that can form.
The following diagram shows that sometimes, it is not uncommon to be affected by more than one scar type.
Type of Acne Scars
Rolling Scars
Rolling scars have a varying depth, with sloping edges that make skin appear wavy and uneven.
Boxcar scars
Boxcar scars are broad, typically box-like depressions with sharply defined edges. Boxcar scars can be caused by widespread acne and chickenpox.
Ice pick scars
Ice pick scars are smaller, more narrow indentations that point down into the skin’s surface.
Ice pick scars tend to be very tough to treat and often require persistent, aggressive treatment.
Keloid/ Hypertrophic Scars
Unlike atrophic scars, Hypertrophic and Keloid scars form as raised lumps of scar tissue where the acne lesions once were. This happens when scar tissue builds up and manifests as thickened scar lesions.
Hypertrophic scars are typically formed within or close to the boundaries of the affected/ damaged skin – its’ surface area is usually of the same size as the acne lesion that caused them.
Keloid scars on the other hand typically create a scar larger than the acne lesion that caused them and grow beyond the boundaries of the original skin lesion.
Hypertrophic and Keloid scars are more common on areas such as the jawline, chest, back, shoulders and deltoid region.
Conclusion
Acne Scars are unsightly and it is a struggle amongst many to treat their acne scars. Take the first step by making an appointment with an experienced doctor in this field so that your skin can be examined thoroughly and a treatment plan tailored for you.
At M-Aesthetic Clinic, we have the full range of Acne Scar Removal Treatments to treat all kinds of Acne Scars. Dr Ho Rui Ming who has years of experience in treating Acne Scars has derived effective programmes to treat Acne Scars and has helped many patients improve their appearance, thus regaining their confidence.
If Acne Scars are something that you are struggling with, talk to us and we will be glad to help you.
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