In the weeks and months following an acne outbreak, a host of skin problems may appear. The most common problem after an acne flare up is post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (darkened spots) and acne scarring. Both of these conditions happen as the skin reacts to the microscopic damage that the acne blemish has caused to the outermost layers of the skin. Before you learn how to remove acne scars, it’s good to know how they actually form.
How Darkened Acne Spots Form
Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) becomes an issue when the skin produces extra melanin following the microscopic injury, turning the mark darker than the surrounding skin. These darkened marks take years to fade if left untreated. When the skin is damaged further by the larger acne pimples or cysts, an actual scar will usually form.
These acne scars come in a number of shapes, sizes and types, including ice pick and crater scars, etc. These larger scars create more damage and then take even longer to heal- usually from five to ten years’ time. Many people wonder how they can remove these acne scars without invasive procedures. One state of the art option for these people is laser skin resurfacing.
Currently the best method of removing acne scars that is quick and permanent is through laser skin resurfacing. Lasers and chemical peels can penetrate much deeper into the skin than ever before and certainly better than over- the-counter products producing much better results.
Chemical Peels to Remove Acne Scars
There are several chemical peels that can also aid in the removal of acne scars, helping to plump skin, and refine any rough texture. For simple dark spots, a superficial lactic or salicylic acid peel would help. For acne scars, however, a medium peel such as the TCA or Mélanage peel is needed. Deep peels performed at a dermatologist’s office would help remove even the deepest acne scars. As these peels are both strong and potentially dangerous to use at home, an medical esthetician (not a day spa esthetician) or dermatologist should always be the one to apply them.
Laser Treatments for Acne Scars
Two lasers that are used to remove acne scars are an Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatment and a laser skin resurfacing treatment known as a Pixel facial. Both treatments penetrate into deeper layers of the skin and help promote and stimulate the production of collagen. Collagen will heal many of the acne scars naturally over the course of five to ten years, but most people do not want to deal with the marks for that period of time. Laser treatments help greatly speed up the healing with the additional production of collagen, allowing the skin to heal in a much shorter amount of time.
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