How to treat acne & acne scars
Welcome to the La Belle Peau blog – I’m Kim, the founder and owner of La Belle Peau. Throughout my teenage years I struggled with acne every day. It inspired me to become qualified in Cosmetic Dermal Science so I could help others overcome the challenges I faced. While acne develops in approximately three-quarters of 11 to 30 year olds, I have found the most common sufferers are teenagers experiencing puberty. Though you might think there is only one kind of acne, there are a variety of acne scars that each require different treatment.
WHAT KIND OF ACNE SCARS ARE THERE, AND WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES?
MACULAR SCARRING
There are no indentations or raised scarring but it can be identified by flat areas of increased or decreased pigmentation.
BOXCAR SCARRING
These scars can be round or oval shaped from above, and have sharp edges on the cross section of the scar.
ROLLING SCARRING
This type of scarring is most often caused by the skin being tethered to an underlying structure, and it gives the appearance of undulations in the skin.
DIVOT SCARRING
Due to the loss of subcutaneous tissue, these scars are deep and produce a divot appearance on the skin.
ICE-PICK SCARRING
Though the scars caused by Ice-Pick Scarring are smaller, there are still deep holes in the skin.
HYPERTROPHIC SCARRING
This is a raised scar that is often pigmented.
KELOID SCARRING
This type of scarring occurs when the size of the scar is raised and is disproportionate to the size of the initial acne wound – it is often red or purple in colour.
These scars range from Grade 1 to Grade 4 on a scale of severity, with Grade 1 being harder to see and able to be covered with makeup, and Grade 4 being difficult or impossible to conceal.
Like I mentioned before, each case of acne scarring is unique and not one treatment can fix all types. However, there are a range of acne scarring treatments available.
WHAT TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE?
SKINCARE
Acne commonly causes changes to skin pigmentation – especially on olive or darker skin. Hyperpigmentation – an inflammation caused by acne – and hypopigmentation – a loss of pigmentation – sometimes resolve themselves once the acne has subsided. To quicken the process, many people use Retinoids to smooth the skin and calm blemishes.
PEELS
Peels are a popular choice of treatment for acne that is more superficial and less invasive. They range from mild peels, which have a lesser effect but minimal downtime, to deep peels, which require a longer recovery period but greatly improve the skin. If you think peels may be the right option for you, contact me today to discuss your treatment.
MICRODERMABRASION
Microdermabrasion is a recommended treatment for those dealing with a milder case of acne. The treatment itself is painless – in fact, it doesn’t feel too different to having a facial, but 6-10 session are recommended to achieve the best possible results.
DIRECT NEEDLE THERAPY
Direct Needle Therapy is a non-invasive procedure that uses a micro-needle device to deliver small injuries to the skin, which are then filled with collagen. It is one of the safest way to remove acne scars, and it can take from as little as a few minutes to up to an hour. The sessions are tailored to your needs – with some cases only requiring two sessions.
TCA CROSS
TCA Cross is most commonly used to treat small, indented acne scars. This simple treatment works by trichloroacetic acid being placed carefully into specified areas, meaning that only the areas that require treatment are affected. The acid stimulates collagen production, which in turn lifts the indented scars back to their normal level.
DERMAL FILLERS
Dermal Fillers are a great options for treating all different kinds of acne scars, and they are extremely safe to use. As every individual’s scars are different, dermal fillers are different for each treatment – meaning the amount of filler used will be specified to your needs. The process itself requires a fine needle to inject the dermal filler into the skin, bringing it back to regular skin level.
I know how vital it is to feel secure and to go forward with the treatment which is the best for you, which is why La Belle Peau offers a wide range of treatments for acne scarring. If you’d like to discuss which treatment is best suited to you, contact us today on 08 6361 1500 or email info@labellepeau.com.au.
Best wishes,
Kim