When you look in the mirror, are you faced with unsightly reminders of the acne-plagued years you suffered as a teenager? Acne is a stubborn and embarrassing skin condition, especially for a socially-conscious adolescent. However, many patients don’t outgrow their frustrations with acne. Even after pimples stop emerging, acne can leave behind disfiguring scars for adults. These scars can be deep or depressed and often have a crater-like appearance – much like the texture of an orange peel. Your adult acne scars may even be red or pink in color, making them even more noticeable and embarrassing. The good news is that there are a variety of procedures to help you regain a smooth and confident complexion, despite your previous battles with teen acne.
What Causes Acne Scars?
When an acne cyst forms on the skin, the pore swells with bacteria, cells and sebum and causes a break or rupture of the follicle wall. If the pimple is minor, this shallow lesion heals quickly and inconspicuously. However, if there is a deep rupture of the pore wall, the infected material can leak out into the surrounding tissues, creating a deeper lesion. Naturally, the skin will attempt to repair itself. However, as new collagen fibers are quickly produced and an inflammatory response is forced, the area of skin repair may not be as smooth as the original skin. This may lead to a crater-like acne scar or jagged “ice pick scar.” Less common on the face is excessive scar tissue formation which results in a keloid scar.
To make matters worse, the natural aging process can make acne scars even more visible. This is due to the fact that after the age of 40, we lose up to 1% of our dermal collagen on a yearly basis. The extra loss of collagen along with poor skin tone makes acne scars harder to conceal.
Treating Acne Scars
First and foremost, choose a board certified dermatologist to treat your acne scars as an adult. At Olansky Dermatology, we offer the latest and most proven therapies to reduce or eliminate stubborn acne scars. Since no two complexions are the same, we can offer one or a combination of the following types of acne scar treatments at our Atlanta office:
- Rejuvanpen Microneedling
- Fraxel Dual Laser Treatments
- Chemical Peels
- Dermal Fillers
Ready to learn more about how you can put your acne years behind you for good? Call Olansky Dermatology. We understand how acne scars can lower your self-esteem and even compromise your skin health as an adult. Let us help!
