Many of us may have struggled with acne at some time in our lives. Perhaps we had severe spots in our teenage years or developed acne in our early twenties. The fact is, if you’ve ever suffered with any kind of skin problem, you may find yourself dealing with the aftermath of acne as an adult in the form of scars and pigmentation. Acne scars can be stubborn and hard to treat. They vary greatly, in size, depth, length and type. This can be frustrating and make it hard to know where to start.
You might be feeling anxious or confused about the best treatment for pock marked or pitted skin. Should you try treatments at home or turn to an aesthetic salon for specialist help? Our blog takes you through the best treatment for acne scars, addresses any concerns and explains what you can expect at The Salon at Maxy Farm, making it easier to know how and where to start your healing journey to smoother, clearer skin.
Different types of acne scars
Let’s start by identifying the type of acne scars that you may want to treat. Understanding your scarred skin will help you consider the best treatment. There are two main types of damage caused by acne. The first and most common type are atrophic scars which present as depressed, sunken, pitted scars on the skin. These are caused when the body fails to make adequate collagen when it starts healing, resulting in a loss of tissue beneath the skin. Acne, as well as chicken pox, can cause this type of scarring.
Atrophic scars
There are three distinct types of atrophic scars. If you are diagnosed with atrophic scars, our aesthetic practitioner, Dr Phoebe Carr, may mention these different types of scars to you.
- The first are ice pick scars which refer to the small, narrow and deep scars usually less than 2mm deep. Ice pick scars, as the name suggests, look as if they were caused by a metal pick creating a hole in your skin leaving an even narrower base.
- The second type of atrophic scars are rolling scars, which by contrast, are much wider and shallower, usually around 4-5mm long in size and resembling a wave just under the surface level of the skin.
- The third and final type of atrophic acne scars are boxcar. Boxcar scars are shallower still, u-shaped and wider than ice pick scars, appearing like a crater or dent in the skin, with a thicker, more defined edge.
It’s crucial to note all three types of scars leave a depression in the skin due to the destruction or loss of collagen. Dr Phoebe Carr can advise you on a variety of different regenerative treatments using the latest medical aesthetic procedures to stimulate collagen production revitalising your skin from within and address your personal scar type.
Hypertrophic scars
The other main type of scar associated with acne are hypertrophic scars which develop when the body creates excess collagen during the healing process, resulting in the growth of scar tissue.
These scars tend to be elevated, and less common than atrophic acne scars. They often happen on the body and occur with darker skin types. They don’t extend beyond the original lesion but appear raised due to excess collagen and fibrosis tissue growth which can occasionally become discoloured.
This type of acne scar requires different types of treatment, and one of our personal aesthetic practitioners will be happy to advise you.
Pigmentation scars
For some clients their acne scarring takes the form of changes in skin pigmentation in addition to pitted or raised scars making their uneven skin more noticeable. You can find out more on the variety of additional treatments for acne pigmentation including DermaQuest chemical peels and our Lira Skincare for improving pigmented skin in our best treatment for pigmentation in the face blog.
The best aesthetic salon treatments for acne scars
All acne scars are upsetting and problematic when all you desire is a smooth, flawless complexion. While over-the-counter options exist, professional clinical aesthetic treatments offer stronger exfoliation and resurfacing treatments needed to impact stubborn acne scarring.
Our DermaQuest range of facials and professional-grade peels using ingredients like glycolic acid, salicylic acid and lactic acid will actively penetrate the deep layers of the epidermis. Specifically, our DermaQuest chemical peel aggressively exfoliates and eventually peels the top skin layers to treat stubborn acne scarring with a resurfacing effect that reveals clearer, smoother skin. This can dramatically improve the skin tone and texture of acne damage, offering impressive results for deeper scars and pigmentation.
Lira Skincare range for improving acne scars
Following consultation many clients choose our professional range of Lira Skincare for treating acne scars. Lira dermaplaning blades are used for exfoliation and micro-needling devices for the ultimate collagen stimulation which can help fill the depressions created by atrophic acne scars.
The difference between Chemical Peels & Skin Boosters
Both treatments are a great way to treat acne scarring however, they differ in the method they target. With Chemical Peels, as the treatment peels off the top layer of your skin, they are used to treat your whole face in its entirety.
However, when it comes to skin booster treatment, these can be used to target specific problem areas and treat scarring on a particular part of your face. A skin booster will also provide a way to improve the appearance of acne scarred skin by using deep hydration with concentrated serums and specialised techniques to plump, hydrate, and brighten the skin.
How do I get the most out of my treatment
Most treatments require multiple sessions for optimal results and a stringent aftercare regime including sunscreen to protect your healing skin and ensure optimal results. Take your aftercare to the next level with Dermaquest and Lira homecare treatments available at The Salon.
Book your acne scar treatment today
At Salon Maxy Farm, we take pride in delivering an award-winning experience at our aesthetic beauty clinic. Get in touch with us today to book your treatment for acne scar issues and we will be delighted to assist you with personal recommendations for your skin.
