Acne is a skin condition which affects 80% of people during their teens and twenties, and 5% of older adults. While most people can recover from acne without the permanent effects, others are left with ugly disfiguring acne scars.
To reduce appearance of scars, there are topical skin care medications and products like Dermefface FX7 which can greatly improve mild scarring. To get rid of acne scars that are more severe, treatment may involve some surgical procedures combined with skin resurfacing.
After the healing of an acne lesion, a red or hyper pigmented mark can form on the skin. This is not a scar; instead, it is a post-inflammatory change. Redness or hyper pigmentation can be observed as the skin goes through a healing and remodelling process, which usually takes 6-12 months to complete.
If no more acne lesions can be seen in that area, the skin will heal normally. If a colour change or skin defect persists after 1 year, then the discoloration would be a permanent scar or defect.
Scars form when skin experiences trauma. The greater the severity of the injury is, the more likely the scar that will be formed will be prominent. Aside from acne, some common causes of scars are chicken pox, burns, injury, surgery and child-birth by caesarean section. The striate, which is also known as stretch marks, is caused by pregnancy.
To effectively reduce appearance of scars, it is important to understand the healing process of the skin. When the skin is damaged, it goes through a healing process in four-stages:
- Haemostasis formation of blood clots over the wound.
- Inflammation at this stage the body removes foreign particles, bacteria and damaged cells found in the wound.
- Proliferation at this point, skin cells spread and covers the wound.
- Remodelling this is when the scar forms, where new collagen matrix are formed and cross-linked.
The description of the four stages is just a simplified story of the scarring process. These stages may overlap at different points. And depending on the origin of the injury and its severity, a scar may take two years to develop.
The best way to avoid post-inflammatory changes that are caused by acne is to stop acne lesions from forming. Post-inflammatory changes on the skin caused by acne are considered part of the natural healing process of the skin. While physical scarring is rarely considered a major health concern, it can greatly affect the confidence of a person.
A good scar treatment cream like Dermefface FX7 can help reduce appearance of scars, including scars that are still forming and those that are well-established. A developing scar stands the best chance of significant fading if it is treated during the first six months of a wound.
It helps to treat a wound or acne while it is still recovering. To reduce appearance of scars, you may apply a scar removal cream, such as the Dermefface FX7 Scar Reduction Therapy. Applying this cream on the scar area within first three months of the injury can greatly reduce appearance of scars.
Scars tell a story of a damaged skin and an event which caused such trauma to the skin. The scar formation indicates that the wound has finally healed. With that said, your body is telling you that it is time to put the past behind and that it is now time for you to move on.