As soon as puberty touches us all, many start dealing with a common skin problem- acne. While some people suffer from acne for just a few years, others may suffer for an extended period. Additionally, some people suffer from a different problem even after their acne is gone: acne scars.
According to the American Academy Of Dermatology, acne scars are a part of the healing process. It occurs because after acne has cleared, our skin tries to correct the damage by producing collagen. And when too little or too much collagen is produced, those acne scars appear. But despite the positive side of having acne scars, we don’t like them on our faces because acne scars make us feel self-conscious as acne itself.
On the one hand, many people don’t pay heed to those acne scars. On the other people have spent sleepless nights thinking about what they can do about them. And if you belong to the latter group, the next thing we will tell you will trigger your serotonin and bring back your peace of mind- acne scars can be reversed with the proper treatment.
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We know you are already on cloud 9, jumping around and dancing. And your mind continuously asks many questions like, what is the treatment? How to get it done? Where to find the hello treatment? How to start the treatment? And more.
Take a chill pill, sip some water and read this article carefully till the end, as we will not tell you only one treatment but all the available treatments so that you can choose what works best for you.
Understand What Are Different Types Of Acne Scars
After the acne is gone leaving some marks on our face, we address those marks as acne scars. But like there are different types of acne, different types of acne scars are also there.
Different types of acne
The acne on our face can be mild, moderate, or severe. In severe cases, acne can be painful and puss-filled. Many people who suffer from moderate acne also face red bumps and puss-filled pimples, and people suffering from mild acne experience blackheads, whiteheads, or pimples without puss.
Most of the time, the marks left by mild and moderate acne clear up over time on their own. But since severe acne brings about other painful symptoms, the marks they leave are permanent and become more prominent as the acne heals.
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Some lucky people don’t experience acne scars even after severe acne. But more than 70% of people deal with acne scars at least once in their lifetime. The type of scarring depends on the type of acne you develop and the treatment module you prefer.
Different types of acne scars
Atrophic Scars:
If your face has accumulated flat and shallow depressions, they’re atrophic scars. If your face has those cars, we can bet that you have recently suffered from severe cystic acne. However, other types of acne can also cause them. The appearance of atrophic acne scars can be different in different people. And there are three types of atrophic acne scars including:
- Boxcar Scars– This type of atrophic scar creates box-like depressions with sharp edges. Boxcar scars can be caused by widespread acne and even chicken pox. A varicella virus causes red and itchy blisters and leaves box car scars on your face. You will most likely experience these scars on the lower cheeks and jaw, where the skin is thick.
- Ice Pick Scars: These types of scars are more minor in size, narrow, and pointed down into the skin surface. You are more likely to have these scars on your cheeks. Ice pick scars are more challenging than other scars and often require aggressive and persistent treatment.
- Rolling Scars: when your skin accumulates rolling scars with varying depth and sloping edges, your skin will appear uneven and wavy.
Keloid Scars
Unlike atrophic scars, keloid scars appear as raised lumps of scarred tissues where the acne occurred. Keloid scars happen when the scar tissue builds up from previous acne spots. Keloid scars are more significant than the acne and grow surrounding the original acne spot. Keloid scars are more common on areas such as the chest, back, shoulders, and jawline. And people with darker skin tones are more prone to developing keloid scarring.
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Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation
After your acne heals, you might notice a dark and discolored patch on your skin. This is not scar and will subside on its own by following a good sun protection regimen. We call it post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation which generally occurs when our skin is damaged by severe acne or when we prick and pop the acne. But again, after a certain period, our skin returns to its natural color with proper sun protection. There are two kinds of people who experience post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation: people with dark skin tone and people who pop or squeeze the acne.
Some Treatment Modalities To Get Rid Of Acne Scars
Since there are different types of acne scars, including atrophic, keloid, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, you need to pick up different treatment modalities for different scars. The first step in choosing the suitable treatment modality is understanding what kind of acne scar you have. I will tell you different treatment options for all types of acne scars.
Treatment For Atrophic Acne Scars
The treatments we will mention below are applicable for all types of atrophic scars, including ice pick scars rolling scars, and boxcar scars.
Chemical Peels:
A chemical peel is one of the most popular methods in treating acne scars. Patients undergoing chemical peel treatment claimed they achieved smoother texture and tone, lightened spots, and prevented future breakouts. The working mechanism of chemical peel treatment is that it removes the top layer of the skin and allows new and healthy skin to come out. Overall chemical peel treatment helps in rejuvenating the skin.
Chemical peels are way more effective than physical exfoliators as the chemicals used in chemical peel treatments have the power to kill and remove the dead skin cells at the skin surface and also stimulate collagen production to fill in the scars.
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However, picking up the right chemical peel is necessary and is not an easy task. But remember, you may face severe side effects if anything goes wrong. The most common chemical peels used by dermatologists for treating acne scars include:
- Glycolic acid is suitable for oily and normal skin types and exfoliates the skin.
- Salicylic acid is the best fit for oily and acne-prone skin and helps lose the dart from pores.
- The lactic acid is perfect for all skin types and helps fade dark spots.
- Phytic acid is suitable for sensitive skin types and treats blemishes and hyperpigmentation created by acne.
- Mandelic acid is suitable for all skin types and tones, especially for treating large pores.
During a chemical peel treatment, the dermatologist applies a chemical solution containing the best choice of acids. Whether your skin needs a specific acid or a combination of a few, your dermatologist is the sole decision maker. After applying the chemical solution, the doctor will leave it for 20 minutes or more, depending upon your skin condition. You might feel a bit stinging sensation during the procedure. Your doctor will apply a neutralizing solution or remove the chemical solution with a damp cloth. The procedure ends by applying moisturizer and sunscreen to your face.
Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion is a skin resurfacing procedure done with the help of a rotating device that effectively removes the outermost layer of the skin. And after the removal of the top layer, the skin that comes out is usually smoother. Dermabrasion treatment is suggested to many patients, such as people with fine lines, age spots, and wrinkles, alongside patients suffering from acne scars. Your dermatologist can perform Dermabrasion alone or in combination with other cosmetic procedures according to your unique condition.
Dermabrasion is typically an in-clinic procedure. On the day of the treatment, your doctor will thoroughly wash your face and move the motorized device across the skin with gentle yet constant pressure. The device used in Dermabrasion has an abrasive wheel or brush that sands out the outermost skin layers. Dermabrasion can take up to an hour, depending upon how much skin needs to be treated. If your acne scars are profoundly rooted or you have a large amount of skin to be treated, you might need several sessions of Dermabrasion.
Dermal Fillers:
Dermal fillers can help raise the depressed areas of acne scars and stimulate collagen production. Many options are available, including hyaluronic acid, Poly methyl methacrylate microspheres with collagen, poly-L-lactic acid, and more dermal fillers for treating acne scars. Dermal fillers are generally safe for acne scar treatment. However, it is necessary to undergo thorough skin testing to check if you are allergic to any component used in dermal fillers. Nowadays, dermal fillers are made from sugar which is gentle on the skin and does not cause any allergic reaction.
Dermal fillers are known for effectively reducing the appearance of acne scars, and many patients to date are satisfied with the results of dermal fillers. According to studies, dermal fillers can improve acne scars by more than 50%.
The amount of filler you need is decided by your dermatologist, and all the types of fillers we mentioned above lift the skin and make the indented scars less noticeable. The dermal fillers containing collagen provide structure and support to the skin as they allow more collagen to develop.
Before going for a dermal filler treatment, your doctor needs to know about your medical and allergy history. The doctor will also perform an in-office allergy test to confirm that you are not allergic to the fillers. Once it is confirmed that you are not allergic, you can proceed with the treatment, and your dermatologist knows precisely where to inject those injections.
Micro-Needling:
Micro-needling is an effective acne scar treatment procedure involving using fine needles to prick your skin. The pricking aims at producing more collagen in your skin to heal the minor wounds created by the needles. Micro-needling smoothens the appearance of the skin by helping to fill in the. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, micro-needling is the best treatment for depressed acne scars. It is a minimally invasive procedure and safe for all skin tones.
Punch Grafting
The punch grafting technique is proven to improve the appearance of depressed acne scars. Once you meet the dermatologist for punch grafting, the healthcare provider will numb the area with an anesthetic so that you don’t feel any pain during the procedure. A unique cookie cutter-like small punching tool is used to cut out the scar, and minor skin taken from behind your ears is carefully placed at that void. And that is how this treatment works. To hold the graft, the doctors use sutures and steri-strips.
Laser Therapy:
Laser treatment is one of the most proven techniques for acne scars. Laser therapy minimizes the appearance of scars. During the laser treatment, focused light on the top layer of the skin destroys the scarred tissues and encourages healthy skin cells to grow. Though several sessions are required, laser therapy can successfully remove acne scars, and you will experience a reduction in the scars after just a few sessions of laser therapy. You are a good candidate for laser therapy regardless of skin type or tone. But it is necessary to consult a dermatologist to rest assured that you will not face any severe consequences after the treatment.
Laser therapy removes the top layer of the skin where this car is formed so that your skin appears smoother and brighter. In laser therapy, heat and light work together to encourage new and healthy skin cells to grow.
The most common types of Laser used for acne scar treatment include:
- Carbon dioxide lasers
- Nd: Yag lasers
- Pulsed dye laser
Treatment Options For Hypertrophic And Keloid Scars
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy has been proven to be the most effective treatment for hypertrophic and keloid scars. Since keloid scars involve the risk of recurrence, radiation therapy works best compared to surgical excision of keloids. Radiation therapy is done under doctors’ supervision or by an expert dermatologist who ensures optimal radiation timing. Different radiation prescriptions are used for different patients, and that recommended total radiation dose ranges from 12 to 20 Gy. However, in many cases, radiation prescriptions are delivered at a dosage more significant than 30 Gy.
Before undergoing radiation therapy for acne scar treatment, your dermatologist needs to plan the treatment procedure depending on the site of the scar, the radiation dose needed, etc. Different forms of radiation are used to deliver the correct dosage, including electrons, X-rays, and Iridium, using surface applicators or implants.
Laser Treatment:
Laser treatment is probably the best-fitted treatment for any acne scar. And therefore, the treatment of hypertrophic or keloid scars also includes laser therapy. In the treatment, the dermatologist or skin care provider uses a laser to flatten the keloids, and this method helps ease the itchiness brought about by keloid scars. In general, 4 to 8 sessions are required to reverse the keloid scars. And the doctor might recommend a combination of laser therapy and other cosmetic procedures to bring out the best possible results. Laser therapy is effective for any skin type alongside different skin conditions like blistering, crusting, hyperpigmentation, and hypopigmentation.
Treatment Options For Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation
Steroid Injections:
To reduce the inflammation and swelling of cystic acne and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, the dermatologist may suggest you inject a diluted corticosteroid into the cyst. This treatment is possible only if you have tender and swollen acne nodules or cysts that are not responding to other acne therapies. Steroid injections can be used on the face and body, and the injections generally include a small amount of triamcinolone, a potent anti-inflammatory.
Your doctors might inject multiple injections in one session in different areas, and you must wait for up to 6 weeks between injections in the same spot. Steroid injections are not used as regular acne treatment.
On the other hand, tranexamic acid injections are also administered to treat post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, as those injections are considered the safest options available. After the treatment, patients can have blemish-free skin with a healthy radiance. Doctors sometimes combine steroid injections with chemical peels, laser treatments, and other prescription creams to treat post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Laser Therapy:
As we mentioned earlier, laser therapy is probably the best possible solution for any acne scar treatment. The number of sessions required varies depending on the acne scar on your face. However, the dermatologist also decides the type of laser used to treat the skin condition you want to reverse.
The Cost Of Acne Scar Treatment In Hyderabad
The cost of acne scar treatment depends firstly on the type of treatment your dermatologist has suggested. Moreover, the cost of the same treatment can be different in different parts of Hyderabad. Numerous factors impact the total cost of acne scar treatment in Hyderabad, including the clinic’s location, dermatologist’s expertise, number of sessions required, the severity of your condition, and more.
However, in the table below Have mentioned the tentative cost of acne scar treatment in Hyderabad for your reference:
| Name of the treatment | Cost per session in Hyderabad |
| Chemical peel | 2500/- |
| Laser therapy | 5500/- |
| Dermabrasion | 2000/- |
| Punch grafting | 9000/- |
| Micro needling | 10000/- |
| Dermal fillers | 13000- |
| Steroid injections | 4000/- |
Conclusion
If you have mild acne scars, you can start natural treatment options such as applying black seed oil, rose hip seed oil, honey, and aloe Vera. Most of the patients get to benefit from those natural remedies. However, even after trying so many options, visiting a dermatologist is the best you can do if your skin does not show any visible changes. We suggest that patients suffering from acne scars not go for non-medicated facials and facial treatments as they can worsen the condition. If you are looking for dermatologists or skin care clinics that offer chemical peel laser therapy, micro-needling, Dermabrasion, or other acne scar treatment in Hyderabad, choose.clinic is here to help you. We do all the necessary assessments to give you many options of dermatologists and clinics to choose from in different locations in Hyderabad. Visit our website, and book an appointment today with the best-suited dermatologist in your area.
