Acne is common, but the marks and scars left behind can sometimes remain long after the active acne has disappeared.
If you have noticed pits, depressions, uneven texture or dark marks on your cheeks after acne, you may be dealing with post-acne scarring.
At Sahawas Skin, Hair & Laser Clinic, Karvenagar, Pune, acne and acne scars are assessed individually because not every scar is the same and not every scar responds to the same treatment.
What causes acne scars?
Acne scars develop when inflammation from acne damages the deeper layers of the skin.
During healing, the skin produces collagen to repair the injury. If collagen production is insufficient, excessive or irregular, the repaired skin may develop an uneven surface.
Deep, inflamed acne lesions such as nodules and cysts have a greater tendency to leave permanent scars.
Other factors that can increase the likelihood of scarring include:
- Severe or prolonged acne
- Repeated inflammatory breakouts
- Picking, squeezing or scratching pimples
- Delayed treatment of moderate-to-severe acne
- Individual tendency to develop scars
- Repeated inflammation in the same area
Importantly, dark spots after acne are not necessarily acne scars. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is a colour change, whereas atrophic acne scars involve structural changes in the skin.
What are the different types of acne scars?
Most depressed acne scars are classified into three major types.
1. Ice-pick scars
These are narrow, deep scars that look like small punctures in the skin.
Because they extend relatively deeply, ordinary creams generally cannot completely correct them.
Treatments such as TCA CROSS, punch techniques and selected laser or resurfacing procedures may be considered depending on the scar. TCA CROSS is particularly used for narrow ice-pick scars.
2. Rolling scars
Rolling scars produce a wave-like or undulating appearance.
They are often associated with fibrous bands underneath the skin that pull the surface downward.
Subcision is particularly useful for selected rolling scars because it releases these fibrous attachments beneath the scar.
3. Boxcar scars
Boxcar scars are broader depressions with relatively defined edges.
They can be shallow or deep and may require different approaches depending on their depth.
Possible treatments include:
- Microneedling
- Fractional laser
- Radiofrequency microneedling
- Subcision in selected cases
- TCA CROSS for selected narrow scarshttps://sahawasskinclinic.com/tca-cross-for-acne-scars-is-it-the-right-treatment-for-you/
- Punch elevation/excision for appropriately selected scars
The treatment approach should therefore be based on the type, depth and distribution of the scars, rather than simply treating the entire face with one procedure.
Why do some people develop more scars than others?
Two people can have similar acne but very different degrees of scarring.
Factors such as the severity and duration of inflammation, genetics, skin healing response and acne-picking behaviour can all contribute.
For Indian skin, treatment also needs to account for the possibility of post-inflammatory pigmentation, particularly after procedures that intentionally create controlled skin injury.
Can acne scars be completely removed?
It is important to have realistic expectations.
Acne scar treatment generally aims to reduce the depth and visibility of scars and improve overall skin texture rather than promise completely scar-free skin.
A systematic review of acne-scar treatments found that different procedures produce varying degrees of improvement, and there is no single definitive treatment that works equally well for every scar type.
When should you consult a dermatologist?
Consider seeing a dermatologist if:
- Acne keeps recurringhttps://share.google/VHgEtHprqzMman3wl
- You have painful or deep acne
- You are developing pits or depressions
- Acne marks are becoming darker
- Over-the-counter products aren’t improving your skin
- You are unsure whether you have pigmentation or true scarring
Early treatment of active acne is important because preventing new scars is easier than correcting established scars.
Acne Scar Treatment in Kothrud & Karvenagar
At Sahawas Skin, Hair & Laser Clinic, acne scars are evaluated according to their type and severity before a treatment plan is recommended. The clinic is located in Sahawas Society, Karvenagar, and serves patients from Karvenagar, Kothrud, Warje, Sinhagad Road and surrounding Pune areas.
Book a consultation with Dr. Mukta Tulpule to understand which acne-scar treatment is appropriate for your skin.https://sahawasskinclinic.com/acne-scars-treatment-pune/
