Summary of "HOW TO TREAT ACNE SCARS | DOCTORLY"
Key Wellness Strategies, Self-Care Techniques, and Productivity Tips for Treating Acne Scars
1. Treat Acne First
- It is critical to treat active acne before addressing acne scars.
- Acne is easier to treat than scars; preventing scars by managing acne is the best approach.
2. Understand Types of Acne Scars
Pigment Changes (Non-structural)
- Post-inflammatory erythema: Red spots after acne.
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation: Dark spots, more common in darker skin tones.
- Hypopigmentation: Light spots due to pigment cell damage, often difficult to treat.
True Scars (Structural)
- Atrophic scars: Sunken or punched-out scars (ice pick, boxcar, rolling).
- Hypertrophic scars: Raised or elevated scars.
3. Treatment Approaches by Scar Type
Post-inflammatory Erythema (Red Spots)
- Usually resolves on its own with acne treatment.
- To hasten healing:
- Use products with green pigments (e.g., Dr. Jart Tiger Grass Camo Drops) to mask redness.
- Use retinoids (like adapalene) which help reduce redness and improve skin texture.
Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (Dark Spots)
- Can last months to a year; frustrating especially for darker skin tones.
- Strategies to speed up fading:
- Increase cell turnover with retinoids.
- Exfoliate skin regularly.
- Use ingredients that inhibit pigment production.
- Important to use sunscreen, preferably tinted with iron oxides.
- Effective ingredients include:
- Retinoids
- Azelaic acid
- Tranexamic acid
- Niacinamide
- Vitamin C
- Hydroquinone
- Thiamidol
- Soy
- Recommended products:
- Paula’s Choice Discoloration Repair Serum (niacinamide, tranexamic acid, bokuchiol)
- Topicals “Faded” (blend of multiple brightening ingredients)
Hypopigmentation (Light Spots)
- Result from pigment cell damage.
- Can be permanent or fade slowly.
- Limited treatment options; melanocyte transfer by specialists may be needed.
- Presence of pigmented hair follicles nearby can indicate better chances of repigmentation.
Atrophic (Sunken) Scars
- Caused by deep inflammation destroying skin layers.
- Topical treatments like retinoids have limited effect due to depth.
- Dermatologist treatments include:
- Microneedling (stimulates collagen; professional devices better than at-home versions)
- Chemical peels (medium to deep peels like TCA cross target scars)
- Laser treatments (ablative lasers like CO2 and erbium YAG are most effective)
- Non-ablative lasers and LED red light therapy can stimulate collagen with less downtime.
- Subcision, punch excision, dermal fillers, and dermabrasion as additional options.
- Over-the-counter options:
- Retinoids and chemical exfoliants (e.g., The Ordinary or Paula’s Choice peeling solutions) can help but with limited efficacy.
- Set realistic expectations: deep scars are hard to fully remove without professional treatment.
Hypertrophic (Raised) Scars
- Caused by excess collagen production.
- At-home treatments have limited effect.
- Dermatologist options:
- Steroid injections to reduce collagen production.
- Silicone gels or sheets (e.g., ScarAway, Strataderm) may help flatten and soften scars over months.
- Laser treatments to resurface and remodel scar tissue.
- Products with onion extract (e.g., Mederma) have no proven benefit.
4. General Advice
- Always use sunscreen to prevent worsening of pigmentation.
- Tailor treatment to scar type for best results.
- Consult a dermatologist for deep or complicated scars.
- Avoid relying on viral or commercial “miracle” cures; set realistic expectations.
- Home treatments can help mild cases but professional care is often necessary for significant scars.
Presenters / Sources
- Dr. Maxfield
- Dr. Shaw
- Dr. Lee
Category
Wellness and Self-Improvement
