Acne Scars 101
some acne scars known as 'ice pick' scars are characterized by little holes in the skin.
In simple terms, a scar is what forms after an injury to tissue. In other words, an acne scar is the visible reminder of the body’s response to a plugged skin pore. Everyone gets them. We see them as blackheads or whiteheads. The scars that form after the acne eruption can go deep into the skin or they can sit on top of the skin. You’ve probably heard the scars on top of the skin referred to as keloid scars.
The scarring occurs when the body seeks to repair itself. White blood cells rush to the site of the acne eruption to repair the damaged tissue. This sometimes results in scarring, depending on the individual. Heavy scarring can lead to psychological distress and maybe even depression, caused by the ongoing attempts to get rid of the acne and or the acne scars themselves.
It is almost impossible to predict who will suffer acne scars, because no one has figured out who is likely to get acne in the first place. It is simply not true that acne is a rite of passage from childhood to adulthood, brought on by puberty. Acne scars can happen in children and in older adults, as well. Doctors tell us the only sure way to control the problem is to treat it early and often, by limiting the amount of inflammation that occurs in an outbreak.
When treating acne scars, doctors are concerned, primarily with two types of situations, the loss of tissue or the formation of tissue. Increased tissue formation, or keloids are caused by an excessive amount of collagen created by the body to deal with the skin injury. Keloids may diminish in size over the years. Keloid scars are also genetic in nature. In other words, if you have relatives who have raised scars, there is a very big likelihood that you will have them, too.
Acne scars caused by a loss of tissue are more common. These scars resemble the scarring that sometimes occurs following a bout of chicken pox. There are several types of tissue loss scars, including “ice-pick” scars, depressed fibrotic scars, soft scars, atrophic macules, and follicular macular atrophy scars.
Ice-pick acne scars usually occur on the cheek. The others can occur elsewhere on the face with the last one generally occurring on the body, mainly in the chest area. Seeking treatment can go as little as paying for over the counter medications all the way to expensive treatments prescribed by a dermatologist. When making a decision to get help decide first how the acne scars are affecting you.
In other words can you live with them until they go away? Or are there so many that they are doing damage to your psyche and you need to rid yourself of them quickly? If you determine that the scarring is disfiguring to you either physically or emotionally, then it is time to see a doctor for an expert opinion.
