Woman examining face in mirror

And How You Can Make Them Go Away

Pimples. Everyone hates them. But, if you’re an acne sufferer, you can be especially hateful of these skin irritators. Aside from the stress of a breakout and the frustration of finding your triggers, acne can leave behind scars that are visible long after the pimples have gone away.

So, how do these acne scars happen and what can we do about it? AlluraDerm MD shows you how acne can scar your skin, how you can prevent it, and most importantly – how you can escape from acne scars with specialized skincare.

The Causes of Scarring

Acne scars have two major causes: picking and inflammation. In both cases, the extent of scarring depends on your skin type and the quality of your skin care.

Picking

While some of us have the self restraint to patiently monitor pimples and keep our fingers away from the inflamed skin, most of us go into panic mode when we feel a breakout coming on. But, an acne breakout usually means that there’s more than just a couple pimples to pick at. With more blackheads and whiteheads to squeeze, your skin may create scar tissue when it heals from the prolonged irritation.

The best policy for any acne sufferer is to refrain from picking (even though it is tempting!). If you absolutely need a pimple to be popped, schedule an appointment with a medical professional who knows how to proceed without scarring.

Inflammation

When a pore or hair follicle is blocked, it swells and expands. With acne, this happens on a larger scale, causing stress to the skin for prolonged periods of time. During a breakout, skin is already starting the healing process, creating scar tissue at the base of the skin to promote healing.

Longtime acne sufferers usually have scars from this prolonged inflammation, as their skin has essentially healed in this state.

In general, acne scars form because of an increase or decrease and scar tissue. A decrease of scar tissue creases depressions in the skin, often known as “ice-pick” and “box-car” scars. An increase of scar tissue can cause “rolling” and raised acne scars.

How to Get Rid of Acne Scars

Acne scars do not have to be a permanent feature. With the help of skincare regimines and treatments, it is easy to improve the appearance of acne scars. At AlluraDerm MD, we have a full range of treatment options, including:

  • Fraxel DUAL re:store laser treatments. These treatments stimulate collagen and elastin, helping skin regenerate and fade acne scars.
  • Chemical peels encourage skin’s natural regeneration processes.
  • Medical microdermabrasion can help smooth out skin and scar tissue over time.
  • Physician recommended skincare products will help to treat acne and control breakouts, as well as decrease pigmentation.
  • Juvederm® can be used to lift scars for 12 months at a time.

Say goodbye to your acne scars and contact us today to schedule your consultation! We are the only medical spa in Albuquerque with the Fraxel DUAL re:store laser!