Types of Acne Scars

1. Atrophic or Depressed scars

Depressed or atrophic scars are pits or shallow dents on the skin due to the loss of tissue. The loss of collagen prevents the skin from repairing the indentation. There are three main types of depressed scars such as rolling scars, icepick scars and boxcar scars.

• Rolling scars: These are broad and shallow depressions in the skin. They have rounded or sloping edges. Rolling scars may be rough in texture and appear wavy. They are a result of damage under the skin.
• Boxcar scars: These have steep, defined edges. They are similar to chickenpox scars. In addition, they are quite deep.
• Ice pick scars: These are deep and narrow. They appear as a large sunken pore on the skin. Moreover, these are very difficult to cover up with makeup.

2. Raised scars

Raised scars are a result of inflammatory acne. They appear as uneven bumps on the skin surface. Moreover, raised scars are a result of excess scar tissue formation on the skin.

There are two types, keloid scars and hypertrophic scars.

• Hypertrophic scars: These occur when the skin creates excess collagen during the healing process. They appear as a thick, wide and raised scar. They may be itchy and painful.
• Keloid scars: These occur when the scar tissue grows over the boundaries of the original wound. They appear as a puffy, round protrusion. They mostly appear on the chest and back.

Causes of Acne Scars

• Inflammation:

  Acne is caused when the follicles or pores get clogged with excess oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria. This gets inflamed and eventually the follicle wall ruptures. The higher the inflammation, the higher the chances of scarring.

• Deep acne breakouts:

  If the follicle ruptures close to the surface of the skin, the wound heals quickly and may not scar. However, if the inflammation has damaged the deeper layers, the skin forms new collagen fibres to repair this damage. This causes scarring.

• Long healing period:

  The chances of scarring are higher if the inflammatory acne takes a long time to heal. This happens because the infected material spills out into the dermis and destroys healthy skin tissue.

Treatments are available for all types of acne scars and are based on the type and severity of the scars.

Treatments of acne scars

• Inflammation:

Acne is caused when the follicles or pores get clogged with excess oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria. This gets inflamed and eventually the follicle wall ruptures. The higher the inflammation, the higher the chances of scarring.

• Deep acne breakouts:

If the follicle ruptures close to the surface of the skin, the wound heals quickly and may not scar. However, if the inflammation has damaged the deeper layers, the skin forms new collagen fibres to repair this damage. This causes scarring.

• Long healing period:

The chances of scarring are higher if the inflammatory acne takes a long time to heal. This happens because the infected material spills out into the dermis and destroys healthy skin tissue.Treatments are available for all types of acne scars and are based on the type and severity of the scars.​

Treatments of Acne Scars

Dermatologists treat acne scars according to their type and grade. Moreover, the dermatologist assesses the scars under indirect lighting and from different angles. In fact, dermatologists use different treatment modalities for various types of scars. 

ClearSkin provides a multitude of treatment options for the removal of acne scars in Pune. Here are some of the major treatment modalities used in the treatment of acne scars to remove any visible scarring and restore healthy, glowing skin. 

Treatment for Mild Scars

The treatment modalities are procedural. Basically, they are not laser treatments. 

• Chemical Peels: The type of chemical peel is decided based on the severity of the scars and the skin type. Various agents and acids are used to dissolve the scarred dead skin and expose the new cells beneath.
  Microdermabrasion: This is a non-invasive non-chemical procedure done by mechanical abrasion of the superficial skin layers. This method of exfoliation also stimulates collagen production.
  
• Dermaroller or Dermapen: This minimally invasive procedure involves the piercing of the skin with micro-needles to stimulate the production of collagen. This collagen will reduce the appearance of the scars by smoothing out the skin.
  
• TCA CROSS: CROSS is the Chemical Reconstruction of Skin Scars (CROSS) done by TCA, which is an agent used in chemical peeling. It is a safe and inexpensive procedure done for atrophic scars, though it is not always successful. TCA or trichloroacetic acid is deposited in small amounts and high concentrations over atrophic scars to cause a local inflammatory reaction. This further causes the production of collagen to resolve the depression. 

Moreover, dermatologists may do Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy in combination with some of these treatments. These treatment modalities are laser therapies. 

• IPL
• Q switch ND YAG MILD SCARS 
• Long pulsed ND YAG laser 1064 
• Endymed RF Skin tightening

Treatment for Moderate Scars

• CO2 Laser: Fractional CO2 laser for acne scar removal is non-invasive and non-surgical. It is most effective for depressed atrophic acne scars and uneven skin. It is also very effective against wrinkles, enlarged pores, sagging skin, and aids in skin rejuvenation. Laser Treatment for Acne Scars Cost in Pune is decided based on the type of laser treatment required, the degree of acne scars, and the number of sessions required.
  
• Erbium Glass (non-ablative) Laser: The erbium laser is suited for the repair of acne scars, sun damage as well as mild to moderate wrinkles. This laser works on the deeper layers of the dermis without affecting the superficial layers of the skin.
  
• Microneedling Radiofrequency: Once tiny needles have been inserted into the skin, high intensity radiofrequency is released onto the target tissue to stimulate collagen production and tighten the tissue.
• PRP or Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy for Acne Scars: This is usually recommended as an add-on therapy after laser or excision therapy for the best possible results. The patient’s own blood is introduced back into the skin to stimulate the process of regeneration of skin cells and collagen.

Surgical Treatments for Moderate and Severe Scars

• Subcision with Dermal Fillers or Fat Transfer: Subcision is a minor surgical procedure where a hypodermic needle is inserted into the scar to break the fibrotic bands that attach the scar to the underlying skin. Dermal fillers containing hyaluronic acid, collagen, gelatin matrix, and other fat implants are then injected to add volume and fullness at the site of depression.
  
• Excision with PRP: This minor surgical procedure involves removing the portion of skin containing the scar, followed by injection of the patient’s platelet-rich plasma into the wound site for better regeneration of skin cells.
• Punch Elevation with PRP: This procedure involves the use of a punch tool instead of a scalpel to elevate a depressed scar and even out the skin surface. Injecting platelet-rich plasma enables better wound healing.

Why choose ClearSkin for Acne Scar Treatment in Pune?

When you think of an acne scar removal Clinic in Pune, think ClearSkin. Our in-house team of highly experienced dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons use top-of-the-line FDA approved equipment and holistic treatment modalities to help treat even the most complex skin conditions.