Overview
Virtually every teenager gets acne; according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), acne-driven pimples plague as many as 85% of teens each year. In most cases, those pimples clear up eventually, leaving behind new-looking skin. But for those predisposed to acne scars or those who had severe inflammatory acne, the pimples might leave behind acne scars. Dermatologists can make those scars look better with a variety of different techniques.
Significance
It’s not quite clear what causes acne, although scientists suspect hormonal surges, common in the teenage years, play a large role, according to the Mayo Clinic. And likewise, physicians aren’t sure exactly what causes some people to develop acne scars, although genetics clearly play a role; if your close relatives have scars from teenage acne, it’s likely you’ll get them too. But regardless of cause, the AAD urges anyone who feels like their acne scars limit their social or professional opportunities to seek treatment.
Function
Dermatologists treat three different types of acne scars, including depressed scars (the most common type, sometimes referred to as “pock marks” or “boxcars”), raised scars (also known as keloids, these can be painful) and colored marks. The colored marks or dots, which appear in place of pimples as the lesions heal, aren’t really scars because they will fade eventually. But they can be noticeable for months or even years, and many sufferers want to take steps to fade them quickly.
Medications
Acne scarring treatment can involve over-the-counter or prescription medications, or physical procedures such as surgery, according to the AAD. Initially, many people try over-the-counter products that include glycolic acid or vitamin C as the active ingredients. However, the AAD notes that these products have only a minimal effect on most scars. Dermatologists may try prescription-strength creams containing hydroquinone to fade colored spots, or use gels that contain tretinoin (Retin-A) as the active ingredient to treat raised acne scars and possibly depressed acne scars. But those patients with severe acne scar problems likely will need physical procedures.
Physical Procedures
In physical procedures, dermatologists either remove the acne scars completely and graft in new skin, or resurface the top layer of skin to make the scars look shallower, the AAD says. Common physical procedures include punch graft surgery, laser skin resurfacing and dermabrasion. Dermatologists may also recommend chemical peels, which use a strong acid to peel the top layer of skin, revealing better-looking skin underneath. And, it’s possible to inject collagen fillers under the skin to plump up depressed scars, although this technique produces only temporary results.
Considerations
Acne scars can be stubborn to treat, and treatment plans need to be individualized, according to the Mayo Clinic. Effective treatment often involves more than one procedure or prescription medication, especially if a patient has two different types of scars. In addition, treatment can take time; dermatologists often recommend a series of several laser treatments, for example, and surgery requires significant healing time before the results are obvious. But patients who undergo treatment for their acne scars report significant improvement and satisfaction with the results.
