Can topical treatments alone fix acne scars permanently?

0
87
Can topical treatments alone fix acne scars permanently?


Tackling breakouts is difficult enough, throw in the aftermath of acne scars and you’re left with a constant reminder of your skin’s traumatic past. Whether you’ve dealt with the ‘periodic’ pimple or have fought a daily battle, the collateral damage acne does to the skin can leave quite the mark (literally). There is a silver lining though, scarring can be treated. However, here’s where the confusion sets in—can it be treated by topicals alone? Yes and no. Dr Madhuri Agarwal, dermatologist and founder of Yavana Aesthetics dives into the trenches of acne scars, the best ways to treat them, and whether the topical only approach is more of a gimmick than the truth. 

Acne scars 101

Scars come in different shapes, sizes, and severities, and it’s important to classify them in order to understand how to treat them. “In medical terms what we call scars, people term them as marks or blemishes. When we look at scars, they are technically classified into multiple types. First, there are flat marks—this is hyperpigmentation or red marks that are left behind after acne. Next, we have something known as depressed scars—these are pits or holes on the skin. Lastly, there are hypertrophic scars—these are raised marks left behind post acne,” says Dr Agarwal.

The different types of scars:

  1. Ice Pick Scars: Deep, depressed pitted like scars that have a narrow base and a wider surface. It gives off a  ‘V’ shape-like appearance. This is the most common type of atrophic scar.
  2. Rolling Scars: Shallow depression with sloping edges and a wide width of more than 4-5mm.
  3. Box Scar: A round to oval depression with sharp demarcated vertical edges. The width of the surface is clinically wider than icepick scars and it has a wide base.
  4. Hypertrophic: Hypertrophic scars are seen as firm elevated scars frequently seen in the jawline area of the face and back. 

Signs of skin trauma

If you’ve ever skinned your knee as a child or even burnt yourself accidentally, it usually left behind a mark, right? Any sort of wound causes tissue breakage and scarring is part of the body’s natural healing process the moment it’s damaged. Protein aka collagen is released to help build, heal and strengthen the tissue damage. Acne follows the same process. “Acne is a form of pore congestion where the dead skin cells, oil accumulate. That paired with bacteria triggers a chain of inflammation causing damage to the skin, i.e. tissue breakage and your collagen starts breaking down. If there’s continuous inflammation if you’re picking at your acne or you’re not treating it right, it builds up on the damage. Instead of healthy collagen forming in that area, there are strands of scars that pull down your skin,” explains Dr Agarwal.

Treatment plan: topical vs in-clinic treatments

Active ingredients are a Godsend when it comes to instantly working multiple skin woes. Ingredients such as retinols, vitamin C, niacinamide, glycolic and kojic acid, all play an integral role in calming, healing, and nourishing the skin. Whether it’s oil control, speeding up skin cell renewal, or even fading away hyperpigmentation left behind by breakouts, these active ingredients are definitely worth every penny. Even chemical peels really help exfoliate the skin, lighten blemishes, and reduce redness from previous breakouts. But, here’s the catch. Depending on the severity of scars, they’re a great +1 to your routine, but aren’t the be all and end all of fixing them.



Source link