Acne Scars

Acne scars can be a problem for people who have had acne.  There are many causes of acne scarring and many ways to avoid it.

What is Acne?
Acne is a skin disorder.  It causes rash-like symptoms.  It is not physically dangerous, however, it can be mentally dangerous.  It can cause anxiety, withdrawal from friends and social situations, as well as depression.  Acne can be very embarrassing for the person who suffers from it.

Who Can Develop Acne?
Acne is very common in adolescents boys and girls.  The reason for this is the change in hormone levels.  This is the number one cause of acne.  When a woman menstruates each month, her hormone levels rise and fall.  This can cause acne in both adolescent and adult women.  Many people believe that acne is just a problem for teenagers and young adults.  This is not so.  Acne is also possible in adults.  It is possible for an adult to develop acne as old as fifty and sixty. 
There are many factors which can cause acne.  Hormones, as mentioned above, is one of the main factors.  Another factor is medication.  There are several types of medications which can cause acne.  Certain psychiatric medications, seizure medications, and medications containing iodine can all cause acne.

Are There Treatments for Acne?
There are many different treatments that can help prevent acne as well as help it to go away faster.  There are two types of medications.  One is over the counter (OTC) medications.  These are medications that can be bought in the store without a prescription.  There are many types of over the counter medications.  There are gels, lotions, washes, and pads.  Over the counter acne medications should be used for mild to slightly moderate cases of acne. 
For cases that are moderate to severe, it is necessary to use a prescription strength medication.  These are medications can only be purchased if you have a prescription from your physician or dermatologist.  These medications are much stronger than the over the counter medications. 

Can Acne Cause Scars?
It is possible for acne to cause scarring, even the slightest pimple can cause a small scar.  It is not only the severe acne that can cause scarring, however the more severe types of acne can cause more severe scarring much more easily.
         -Types of Severe Acne
 Acne Conglobata is and example of a very severe type of acne.  It occurs most commonly in men between the ages of eighteen and thirty.  This type of acne is widespread, sometimes interconnected.  It also consists of several blackheads spread all over the acne.  This type of acne is found on the face, neck, shoulders, back, buttocks, and upper thighs and arms.  This type of acne can cause severe, disfiguring acne scars.  It can also cause severe and irrevocable damage to the skin.
It is not known how acne conglobate is caused, however there are treatments for it.  Accutane is the best medication for this type of acne.  This is a powerful medication, when used by women she should be on a foolproof method of birth control.  This medication can cause severe birth defects.

Can Acne Scarring be Prevented?
It is possible to prevent acne.  In some cases something as simple as not popping the pimples will prevent scarring.  Using medications as directed can also prevent the scarring.  If the acne sufferer wants the pimples to be popped and drained, it should be done in a dermatologist’s office.  These doctors have the proper tools and medications which can prevent acne scarring as well as infection.
If you suffer from severe acne, getting the available treatment as soon as possible can also prevent acne.  It is wise to begin treatment immediately following an outbreak.

Can Acne Scarring be Treated?
There are several treatments for acne scarring.  Although none of them can make the skin exactly like it was before the acne, there are treatments available which can make the acne scarring look better.
               -Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are a solution in the treatment for acne scarring.  Dermal fillers are when something is injected into the hole left by the acne in order to make the appearance of the skin look smoother.  There are a few different fillers that can be used for this treatment.  Fat, collagen, human collagen, and bovine are among the most popular materials used.  Because these dermal fillers will not permanently smooth out the acne scars, future injections will be necessary.
              -Punch Excision
This is a treatment that is used on severe, deep scarring such as deep icepick scars or deep boxcar acne scars.  In the procedure, the doctor will use a punch biopsy tool which is like a round, sharp cookie cutter.  It comes in different sizes from 1.5 mm to 3.5 mm.  The size is measured by the size of the scar.  Under a local anesthesia, the punch holes are excised and the edges are sutured together.  The scars from these sutures usually fade.  For the ones that do not, punch excision now makes it much easier to do resurfacing techniques.