Tag: Acne Scars

Ice Pick Scars

These are deep narrow scars giving the look as if something sharp pierced the skin. They usually develop after a cystic infection or deep inflammation which works its way to the surface. An atrophic scar, it is marked by the destruction of the skin tissue leaving a slender column like scar.

Ice pick scars begin as comedones (referred to as blackheads or whiteheads in layman terms). These comedones if left uncleaned, block the pores and as the bacteria in it multiplies, pus starts getting formed. The pus thus, builds up pressure which takes the inflammation to the deeper layers of the skin. This inflammation damages the skin and effects the collagen formation. This loss of collagen further allows the acne inflammation to sink deeper resulting in ice pick scars.

Two of the best treatments for ice pick scars include skin needling and fractional laser treatment. These techniques can both be performed in the comfort of a skin specialist’s office.

Box Scars

Box scars are usually round depressions with vertical sides. For easier imagination, imagine a hollow hemisphere put over a cylindrical bottle, hollow side up. They are wider than ice pick scars and give a pitted appearance to the skin. Another example of atrophic scars, these are formed when an inflammation destroys the collagen in the skin tissue. The depth of the scar varies in proportion to the tissue destruction.

Because box-scar scars have steeper edges than the other scar varieties, it is more difficult to smooth them out and blend them into the surrounding skin. Laser resurfacing, particularly ablative laser resurfacing (eg. Er:YAG, Nd:YAG, CO2) often produces good results. When box scars are too deep or resistant to laser resurfacing, plastic surgery for acne scars can provide a more targeted and permanent solution.

Rolling Scars

Rolling scars which appear as wavelike undulations on the skin are caused when fibrous bands of tissue develop between the skin and subcutaneous tissue below. The bands in turn pull the epidermis to the deeper structures of the skin.

Laser resurfacing (ablative and non-ablative), chemical peels, microdermabrasion, needling, subcision and even red light phototherapy can produce significant results in case of rolling scars.

Keloid Scars

When scar tissue forms in great excess, it can become a large nodule of dense, rubbery scar tissue that is known as a keloid. The development of hypertrophic and keloid scars is less common in acne patients than the development of depressed scars. A number of factors can potentially be involved in the process, including acne severity and duration, genetics and secondary infections.

Ablative laser resurfacing and microdermabrasion can produce satisfactory results in case of keloidal scars. Keloidal scars can also be surgically removed but are generally less responsive to treatments like chemical peels, because the scar tissue is much more resistant to the ingredients in a chemical peel than healthy tissue.

Discoloration and Pigmentation Scars Discoloration of skin is a natural response of the skin to the inflammation caused on account of acne. It usually appears as colored patches ranging from pink to red, brown or black depending upon the skin tone and depth of discoloration. In many cases, this discoloration usually fades with time however, in some cases medical intervention is required.

Hyper-pigmentation occurs when melanocytes begin to proliferate at the site of injury, or when an existing population of melanocytes begins to produce excess amounts of melanin. Hyper-pigmentation is often treated with light and laser treatments that specifically target melanin, such as KTP Lasers, Pulsed Dye Lasers (PDL), and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy.

Hypo-pigmentation occurs when melanocytes are depleted from the injury site or lose their ability to produce melanin. This is often the case in areas of skin that have been replaced with scar tissue, which tends to have a light, pinkish appearance. Hypo-pigmentation is generally more noticeable in those individuals with darker base skin tones.

That was all we had to share for now. Any additional information, well we will have another blog for that.

Hope you had a happy and useful reading!

Keep Shining!

Kosmoderma Skin, Hair & Lasers Clinics are dedicated to medical excellence in the field of Cosmetic Dermatology with international accreditation and facilities.
We offer scientifically proven treatments using US FDA approved technology. All our products have undergone extensive research and trials in USA, Europe and India. We pride ourselves in offering safe, effective and affordable treatments with high standards of quality. Kosmoderma gives personalized consults with skin care and uses facial analyzer and 3D imaging of the skin to analyze and personalize the treatments and skin regimen.

Let’s talk about food & acne. How food that you eat may cause or aggravate those red bumps on your skin. Most people need a combination of the right diet and other acne treatments. One thing the right acne prevention diet can do is to supply your body and immune system with nutrients to fight acne.

If you try and incorporate the following nutrients in your diet along with proper treatment from a professional and a home care, you can keep acne at bay.

Focus on vitamin A: This fat-soluble vitamin is necessary for healthy skin and a study in Clinical and Experimental Dermatology suggests that vitamin A supplementation can improve acne conditions in patients. Fill up on sweet potatoes, kale, spinach, and carrots to reap the benefits.

Limit dairy: One hotly debated hypothesis says that dairy can aggravate acne; there are strong opinions on both sides. In patients who have no genetic background for acne, dairy plays no role whatsoever. It may not give them acne. But for those who have a propensity for acne and are susceptible to the effects of dairy, it may make their acne much worse.

Add up Zinc: Deficiencies in minerals such as zinc have been linked to acne in some sufferers. Zinc is vital for the structure and function of cell membranes. Good sources of zinc are meat, eggs, mushrooms, whole grain products, and oysters.

Avocado: This tasty green fruit, rich in vitamin E, can also increase your skin’s vitality. Avocado is also a good source of vitamin C, which can reduce skin inflammation and naturally moisturize the skin.

Fatty Fishes: Fish like salmon, mackerel and sardines fight blemishes. Fish is a great source of essential fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6. These acids help reduce inflammation in our bodies that can trigger the cells to clog pores and potentially cause acne.

Brown Rice: Brown rice is a rich source of vitamin B, protein, magnesium, and several antioxidants. For acne, vitamin B acts as our skin’s stress fighter, which will help regulate hormone levels and prevent the likelihood of breakouts.

Pick the right carbs: Try to avoid refined grains and white flour in breads, pastas, muffins and sweets that can cause a quick spike in blood sugar, which may contribute to acne.

Alfalfa Sprouts: Yes, they may look a little like grass, but these sprouts are packed with valuable, skin-clearing nutrients. Alfalfa sprouts contain live enzymes, which help fight inflammation.

Antioxidants: Besides the above given tips, include lots of fresh veggies & fruits and green tea in your diet that has anti-oxidants. You may take a supplement if you are not sure whether you are eating a balanced diet.

Water & Fibres: Last but not the least, drink plenty of water & include lots of fibers in your diet to flush out toxins that will help in balancing of hormones that plays an important role in acne breakouts.

So be conscious about what you eat for optimal skin health. It’s very tempting to indulge in junk food, but you may suffer the side effects on your body and skin for a long time. That doesn’t mean you have to avoid junk food entirely but try and eat smart and live a healthy life.

Kosmoderma Skin, Hair & Lasers Clinics are dedicated to medical excellence in the field of Cosmetic Dermatology with international accreditation and facilities.
We offer scientifically proven treatments using US FDA approved technology. All our products have undergone extensive research and trials in USA, Europe and India. We pride ourselves in offering safe, effective and affordable treatments with high standards of quality. Kosmoderma gives personalized consults with skin care and uses facial analyzer and 3D imaging of the skin to analyze and personalize the treatments and skin regimen.

Whatever may be the reason, it’s usually a blockage of glands giving rise to black heads, white heads, boils and pimples. Furthermore to add to the agony is its trail of scars, pigmentation and open pores!

Studies have shown that there are several cures for acne, from local home remedies to modern scientific ones. Traditionally people used to go to a beauty parlor to treat acne. Even though facials hydrate the skin and brightens it for about a week, a series of harsh facials eventually may cause dehydration and scarring. Lasers and peels on the other hand, help correct the issue from the roots and give results*.

Conventional acne treatments don’t always work for everyone. They can also cause side effects ranging from skin irritation to damage. For example, tea tree oil is an essential oil extracted from the leaves of a small tree native to Australia. In 1990, researchers studied 124 acne patients. Some were treated with 5% tea tree oil in a water-based gel, others were treated with 5% benzoyl peroxide. Tea tree oil did not work as quickly as benzoyl peroxide, although its use resulted in a similar reduction in acne lesions after three months. But because the results are very slow, severe acne may result in pigmentation or even scarring if not treated soon enough.

Modern treatments of acne have come a long way and is evolved towards not only reducing the number of acne but also duration of each episode so as to prevent scarring and pigmentation.

The whole idea of treating acne is to kick start your skin’s immunity and ability to fight the bacteria and rebuild the skin texture. This is best done with chemical peels and LED lights which work on desquamating and re-epithelization of the skin, that removes a few dead layers of our skin so as to start production of new skin layer which is more healthier.

Patients often have this question that if chemical peels exfoliate the skin, why can’t we use a scrub to exfoliate? Scrubbing is not uniform and removes only dead skin superficially. Black heads and white heads cannot be removed completely by scrubbing. Harsher scrubs are more damaging to the skin and gives skin a patchy feel. On the other hand, peels help remove black and white heads along with giving your skin a kick start to produce newer and healthier skin.

Modern laser technologies help treat red boils with ease. They help treat acne that does not respond to oral tablets and creams. They work on reducing the inflammatory phase of acne and thereby reducing scarring. Acne scars, the next phase of challenge is more treatable with the advent of modern lasers.

These are called ‘weekend procedures’ as these also have very less down time, which allows one to get back to work within a day.

It’s alright to try out the traditional methods to treat mild acne but its not advisable to DIY (Do It Yourself) when it comes to severe acne and too many blackheads & whiteheads. So if you have any term symptoms of acne, it is important to consult a dermatologist before starting on any medication or treatment.

Kosmoderma Skin, Hair & Lasers Clinics are dedicated to medical excellence in the field of Cosmetic Dermatology with international accreditation and facilities.
We offer scientifically proven treatments using US FDA approved technology. All our products have undergone extensive research and trials in USA, Europe and India. We pride ourselves in offering safe, effective and affordable treatments with high standards of quality. Kosmoderma gives personalized consults with skin care and uses facial analyzer and 3D imaging of the skin to analyze and personalize the treatments and skin regimen.