What could be more frustrating than breaking out? Seeing various types of acne scars all over your face long after the pimples are gone! Unfortunately, even with the most careful skin care routine and effective acne treatment, you may develop these unsightly marks.
The good news is that acne scars can be treated. While over-the-counter products aren’t powerful enough to benefit anything besides hyperpigmentation, there are procedures that can noticeably improve the look and texture of your skin.
Difficult to treat at home, acne scars require professional help to see the real results. Luckily, at IGBeauty Skin & Laser Clinic, our skin care experts are knowledgeable and experienced with specific treatments for any acne scar, from post-acne hyperpigmentation to deep indented scars.
Various Types of Acne Scars
The term “scarring” refers to a process, in which new collagen is produced in the skin in order to heal an injury or an inflamed blemish, in the case of acne. When you get a pimple on your skin, the skin pore swells, causing the break in the follicle wall. If the break is particularly deep, the infected material spills from inside the pore into the surrounding tissue. As your skin attempts to repair the damage, it forms new collagen fibres, which are often not as flawless and smooth as the original skin.
Hypertrophic and Keloid Scars
Hypertrophic scars caused by acne appear as discoloured and raised parts of skin, most often found on the torso, especially in men. They form when your body “accidentally” produces too many cells trying to heal a breakout or a wound.
Keloids are similar to hypertrophic scars, but are more severe - they grow even larger than the original wound and can continue growing long after the original wound has healed.
Icepick Scars
Icepick scars can be described as deep and very narrow scars that extend far into the dermis; they appear to make a thin, but deep hole into the skin. Sometimes, such scars may look like a large, open pore. Icepick scars develop when an infection from a deeply inflamed blemish works its way up to the surface, destroying the surrounding skin tissue on its way.
Rolling Scars
Rolling scars, are depressions across otherwise normal-looking skin. They aren’t sharply defined and appear as “waves”, making the skin look uneven. Like other types of acne scars, rolling scars result from long-term inflammatory acne and can become more obvious and severe with age, when the skin loses its natural elasticity and tightness.
Boxcar Scars
Boxcar scars can be described as round or oval depressions with sharp vertical edges. They are wider than icepick scars and give the skin a pitted and uneven appearance. Boxcar scars result from inflammatory acne, when the collagen is destroyed, and the skin tissue is lost.
Post-Acne Hyperpigmentation
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or a dark spot left on your skin after a pimple has healed, appears when the skin produces too much melanin in the process of healing. These spots aren’t exactly types of acne scars, as they are neither raised nor depressed. Hyperpigmentation could range in colour from pink to red, brown, purple, or black, depending on the skin type. Luckily, such spots tend to fade away with time and can be treated with over-the-counter topical creams somewhat effectively.
Try Cutting-Edge Acne Scar Treatment Technologies from IGBeauty
Acne Treatment with Lumenis® Intense Pulsed Light Photofacial
Lumenis® Intense Pulsed Light (or IPL) laser treatment for acne scars has proven effective with a variety of skin types and all types of acne scars. IPL uses intense flashes of light to activate a biochemical response in the skin, thus killing acne bacteria at the source. Furthermore, the treatment reduces inflammation, helping the skin to heal faster.
For most clients, our skin care specialists at IGBeauty will recommend anywhere between 4 to 6 IPL treatments with a 4-week “recess” period between them. IPL is non-invasive, and, while some clients may experience slight skin redness after the treatment, you will be able to resume your routine daily activities immediately.
Acne Scar Treatment with Lumenis® ResurFX™ Technology
Lumenis® ResurFX™ is a non-invasive skin resurfacing technology that has proven to be both safe and effective in treating acne scarring for laser scar removal. This advanced laser system helps to minimize the visibility of acne scars, as well as soften the appearance of scars after lesions heal. ResurFX™ works by stimulating collagen regeneration in targeted areas, and, after just a few treatments (typically 3 to 5), you will notice a significant improvement in skin tone and texture. However, it is still recommended to have a 4-week interval between sessions for optimal results.
After an individual treatment, most of our clients resume daily activities on the same day. While you may experience slight skin redness and minimal swelling, these symptoms quickly fade. It is important to stay out of the sun and wear SPF 25 sunscreen when going outside.
With Lumenis® ResurFX™ technology, skin care experts at IGBeauty can offer a skin rejuvenation protocol with truly outstanding results – particularly, when treating most types of acne scars.
Choose IGBeauty for Professional Laser Acne Scar Treatment
Indeed, acne scars can cause a lot of frustration and insecurities and are difficult to treat at home. When you decide to pursue a laser acne scar treatment, it is important to choose a true skin care professional and a skilled laser technician. Luckily, at IGBeauty, we know all the “ins” and “outs” of acne scars and use only the latest cutting-edge technologies to achieve the best results. As such, the Lumenis® lasers used at IGBeauty Laser & Skin Clinic are approved by Health Canada and are widely used by professionals around the world. They have proven to be effective with a variety of skin types and a broad range of conditions. With regular treatments, you can be sure to see measurable improvement with all types of acne scars.
If you are finally ready to show your skin some love, contact us today to find out more about our acne scar removal options and to book a free consultation. Visit https://www.igbeauty.com/service/acne-treatments-toronto or call us directly at 416-484-4884.
