Acne and Acne Scars

Acne is a skin condition that occurs when your hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells, which then causes whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, bumps and cysts. Acne is primarily a hormonal condition which typically become active during the teenage years. Sensitivity to such hormones, combined with bacteria on the skin, and fatty acids within oil glands, cause acne. Common areas for acne to develop are: face, chest, shoulders, neck, and back.

Studies show that over 40% of adults have persisting acne, which can be painful and damaging to your skin. Acne can be irritating and stressful with recurrent outbreaks of redness, blackheads, and pimples that can lead to permanent scarring and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Acne may be mild (few, occasional pimples), moderate (inflammatory papules), or severe (nodules and cysts). Treatment depends on the severity of the condition.

Acne Scarring & Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation

Acne scarring and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can both occur after a breakout.

Atrophic acne scars result from a net loss of collagen, possibly caused by inflammatory processes leading to degradation of the collagen fibers and subcutaneous fat beneath the skin. They appear flat or sunken, and sometimes look like a hole in the skin, making the affected skin look textured. With atrophic scars, the icepick type represents 60%–70% of total scars, followed by boxcar (20%–30%), and rolling scars (15%–25%).

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is those dark marks or spots left behind after an acne heals. It is a form of skin pigmentation (or discoloration) which occurs as a result of trauma to the skin. Darker skin tones are more prone to hyperpigmentation because of the higher levels on melanin in the skin.

Get Acne Under Control

If medications do not provide you with sufficient relief, there are a multitude of new treatments to help combat your acne.

It’s important to keep in mind that no over-the-counter topical solutions can raise atrophic acne scars once they have sunk. While atrophic acne scarring may seem like a permanent problem, advances in technology and science have lead to the development of treatment options that can reduce or even eliminate their appearance. Acne scarring can be addressed by using a combination of techniques & injections to smooth-out and reduce the appearance of acne scars.

At Medical Spa Club in Richmond, B.C., we offer effective acne therapy to help you fight acne and acne scars. Visit our Acne Clinic for more details on the variety of acne treatment solutions.

Book Your Consultation

Call us at 604-284-5501 for any questions or book online for a consultation with our doctor to discuss your needs and options. No obligation to proceed with any treatment or service – just information so you can decide when you want to make an enhancement of your natural beauty. We are all happy to help you every step of the way.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How Can Acne Be Prevented?

To prevent acne and reduce its damage to your skin, follow these tips:

Choose a cleanser specially formulated for acne. These products often contain salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, which help to clear acne sores.
Clean your face gently. When washing your face, use your hands or cotton pads, as any terry cloth or other scrubbing material may cause acne sores to rupture.
Use light, non comedogenic moisturizers, which do not aggravate acne.
Avoid heavy makeup or other cosmetic products that block pores.

How Do I Avoid Acne Scarring & post-acne pigmentation?

Acne scarring is due to touching and squeezing spots, especially if they are picked at before they are ready, or too aggressively. This damages small veins, glands and tissues surrounding the spots which creates scarring. Avoid acne extraction and picking on your own can greatly decrease the chance of acne scarring from forming.

Darker skin tones are more prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation because of the higher levels on melanin in the skin. Good news is that it isn’t considered a true form of scarring (“pseudo scarring”) and will usually fade on its own over time, but there are several options that you can utilize to speed up the process, such as a medical facial.

Does Diet Play A Role In Getting Acne?

There is no strong correlation between acne and diet; however, some claim that high sugar diets can make acne worse.

Does Stress Cause Acne?

Yes, there is a link between stress and acne. Stress causes an increase in stress hormones, which contribute to getting acne.

Is It Bad To Pop Your Blemishes?

Yes. Squeezing blemishes may cause the pimple to rupture into dermis, sending the infected material deeper into the skin, resulting in more inflammation and possible scarring.

Can Acne Scars Be Treated?

Acne scarring can be addressed by using a combination of ablative, non-ablative, or fractionally ablative laser and RF resurfacing techniques, acid peels, (micro) dermabrasion, and intra-lesional injections to smooth-out and reduce the appearance of acne scars.

Acid Peels involve use of weak acids which can be brushed onto your skin for a strictly controlled time interval, and then neutralized or removed. This is used to safely dissolve the superficial layer of dead skin cells, thus stimulating deeper layers of skin to produce collagen and new cells, giving your skin a younger and more clear appearance. Acid peels are used for treatment of acne, to tighten skin pores, to decrease wrinkles, and to reduce skin blemishes.