Acne Scar Treatment In Dubai

What are Acne Scars?

Acne scars result from acne lesions (pimples, blemishes, or cysts) caused by inflammation in skin pores that get clogged with bacteria and other impurities. As a result, the walls of those pores rupture, and the contents inside spread to the nearby tissues.

A rupture near the skin surface causes a minor lesion that quickly heals. However, a crack deep within the pore can cause the inflammatory substances to spread under the skin, resulting in deeper lesions and skin damage.

When the skin heals from these lesions, it attempts to repair itself by producing collagen – a supportive protein that binds skin tissues into a structure. Acne scars are formed when too much or too little collagen is produced.

What are the Types of Acne Scars?

If you have acne scars, there is a significant chance that you have more than one type of those. It is rare for an individual with acne scarring to have just keloid scars or boxcar scars.

Here are the types of scars that occur after an acne breakout.

Atrophic or Depressed Scars

These scars occur when your body produces insufficient collagen after the acne blemishes are gone. Essentially, this type of acne scarring happens due to tissue loss, resulting in indentations or depressions in the skin.

Atrophic scars are further divided into the following types

• Ice pick scars: These scars are wider at the skin’s surface and narrow to a point at a particular skin depth. These are the most common acne scars and are usually the most challenging ones to heal. They generally appear on the upper cheeks and forehead.
• Rolling scars: These scars are identified by their sloping edges that make the skin look uneven and wavy.
• Boxcar scars: These scars are depressions with sharp edges and usually go deeper into the skin. They occur on the jaws and lower cheeks.

Hypertrophic or Keloid Scars

These acne scars protrude above the skin due to collagen overgrowth after a breakout. They usually develop on the shoulders, back, chest, and jawline but can occur anywhere on the body and are usually painful or itchy.

Acne Scar Treatment

Acne scar treatment is provided based on the following fundamental principles:

• The best treatment for acne scars is to prevent their occurrence. The practitioner will provide adequate local and systemic acne care to ensure the outbreak doesn’t leave behind scarring.
• If the acne scars cannot be prevented, they are treated in the earliest stage 
• For fully established acne scars, proper treatment is provided to make them less noticeable.

Your dermatologist will determine the most suitable option for treating your acne scarring. They will analyze the type and location of the scar and examine whether you have tried other techniques to reduce the scar.

Several solutions and methods are available to treat acne scars. Dubai Cosmetic Surgery offers the following procedures and solutions.

Laser Treatment

Lasers principally heat the skin to remove its top layer. This skin peeling leads to the emergence of a newer, smoother skin surface with a reduced scar appearance. The heat and light from the laser stimulate skin cells and collagen. This process targets blood vessels in the target area, reducing inflammation.

Your dermatologist will choose from ablative and non-ablative laser resurfacing options, depending on the acne scars type and skin type.

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are one of the promising options for reducing acne scars. However, your practitioner will analyze your skin type and the type of acne scar to determine the most suitable peeling solution.

Microneedling

Microneedling is considered an ideal treatment for depressed acne scars. This is because depressed acne scars are formed due to insufficient collagen production during recovery from a breakout, and with micro-needling, collagen production can be boosted in the target region. As a result, the pits and depressions are filled, reducing the scar appearance and smoothening the skin surface.

Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion uses a specialized device with a rapidly rotating head. The side of the head that comes in contact with the skin has an abrasive element or a brush, which removes the top skin layer. As a result, a smoother skin surface comes on top with a reduced acne scar appearance.

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is a milder version of dermabrasion. It uses a handheld device that sprays tiny crystals onto the skin or uses an abrasive element that gently removes the top skin layer. Not only does this treatment reveals a fresh, youthful skin surface, but it also enhances collagen production in the treated region.

It is imperative to note that microdermabrasion is more suited for individuals with flat or depressed scars. However, it doesn’t usually treat ice-pick scars.

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are an injection-based treatment that fills the depressed areas of your acne scars. This raises those areas or stimulates collagen production, leading to a smoother skin surface. The most common dermal fillers used for treating acne scars include:

• Bellafil
• Restylane or Juvederm (Hyaluronic acid)
• Sculptra (poly-L-lactic acid)

Autologous Fat Transfer

Autologous fat grafting or transfer is similar to dermal fillers, but instead of synthetic solutions, it uses fat from your own body. During this procedure, a surgeon harvests fat from fat-rich areas of your body, processes and purifies it to remove impurities, and injects viable fat cells into the depressed areas of acne scars.

Once injected, those fat cells redevelop, smoothening the skin. But the percentage of redeveloping fat cells may vary from person to person. Some people may need multiple sessions of autologous fat transfer to achieve the desired results.

Risks of Acne Scar Treatment

Acne scar treatments are generally safe with minimal risk of infections or other side effects. However, some complications might still occur, such as

• Minor discomfort during and after the procedure
• Swelling
• Change in skin color (hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation)
• Side effects may vary from person to person, depending on the procedure, skin type, and other factors.