Acne scarring is a common concern for many of our clients at Clinetix. Acne scars can affect not only your skins texture and appearance but also your confidence!
But did you know that there are actually different types of acne scars?
Boxcar Scars
Boxcar acne scars are broad depressions which have steep and defined edges. These scars often resemble chicken pox scars and mirror the print left on the skin from pushing a finger nail into it.
Rolling Scars
Rolling scars are similar to boxcar scars however they are broad depressions with shallow indentations in the skin. They are rounded with sloping edges and often have a rough texture. Rolling scars can give the surface of your skin a bumpy and uneven appearance. Rolling scars are the result of damage caused underneath the skin.
Ice Pick Scars
Ice pick scars are very narrow and deep scars which give the appearance of an empty pore on the skin. These scars often make the skin look like it has been punctured. Unfortunately these scars often catch the majority of light and therefore are the most obvious and difficult to cover up.
It’s great to understand the difference, but I know what you’re thinking, what can I do to improve the appearance of my acne scars?
There are a large number of treatments we can perform to improve the appearance of acne scars. The treatment chosen would be dependent on the severity of your acne scars so we would suggest coming in for a quick chat to discuss what would be the best option for you.
Chemical Peels
Many people are often scared when they hear the words ‘chemical peel’ but there is nothing to be afraid of! Chemicals peels remove dead cells on the surface of the skin to reveal healthy, smoother skin.
At Clinetix we perform two main types of skin peels – superficial peels for mild acne scars and hyper-pigmentation and medium peels for deeper acne scars and uneven skin tone.
Superficial peels do not require much downtime as they will likely only cause a little bit of dryness on the skin. It is unlikely to have any significant redness or skin peeling with a superficial peel. To improve the appearance of moderate acne scars you may require around 6 superficial peels between two to four weeks apart. After this course of peels you may require a maintenance peel every few months. Clients often find superficial peels give a tingly or hot sensation but this quickly subsides.
Medium peels will achieve faster results with less treatments however they do require a longer downtime and preparation prior to the peel. Medium peels will initially result in a flushed appearance and skin peeling that typically begins around three days after the peel. Your skin will continue to peel for around an additional 6 or 7 days. To reach your desired outcome you may need between 1-3 medium peels. Medium peels may give your skin a tingly sensation and may feel quite hot. At Clinetix we give you a cooling fan to ensure that you are comfortable throughout the entire treatment.
Microneedling (Dermaroller)
Microneedling is a skin rejuvenation technique that utilises the skins own ability to regenerate and heal itself naturally and safely. The treatment will result in smoother, brighter, healthier and younger looking skin. Microneedling is great if you have hyperpigmentation, acne scars and even some burn scars. It is suitable for all skin types and there is often little to downtime.
Microneedling uses a roller with a number of micro-skin needles passed across the skin causing small micro punctures. After the first day you will notice your skin will look a little plumper and firmer. The rejuvenation process underneath your skin will continue for a further 6 weeks. Throughout this time you will notice a the skin has began to tighten and skin tone and texture has gradually improved. Most importantly acne scars will appear smaller and shallower.
Typically most clients will require between 3 and 6 treatments dependent on the severity of your acne scars and skin texture.
Laser Skin Resurfacing
For more severe and deep acne scars we would recommend Laser Skin Resurfacing. We use fractional laser technology to even out the skin surface and in turn increase the formation of new collagen. This new collagen can help to fill in your acne scars. CO2RE laser resurfacing works by targetting a proportions of the skin and allowing it to regenerate a new and healthier skin.
Dependent on the depth of the treatment there can be fairly signifcant downtime following laser skin resurfacing. After a light treatment your face is likely to be red for a few days and typically for about a week with a deep treatment. In the days that follow you will notice that your skin is smoother, tighter and more even. As laser skin resurfacing creates new collagen results will continue to develop over the weeks and months after the initial treatment.
Dependent on the severity of your acne scars you may require multiple treatments. Results from laser skin resurfacing are essentially permanent. Basically we can rejuvenate your skin to an extent but it will still continue to age as normal!
Microdermabrasion
Medical microdermabrasion is a great technique to rejuvenate your skin. We use microcrystals over the surface of your skin to remove a layer of dead and damaged cells. Microdermabrasion is ideal for clients with rolling acne scars and other shallow scars. The removal of dead and damaged cells through exfoliation will leave your skin feeling fresher and softer. With microdermabrasion there is little downtime as the skin will temporarily be flushed but will fully recover within 24 hours.
As microdermabrasion provides subtle changes you will require multiple treatments to see significant results.
If you have any other questions about treatments to treat acne scars please contact us on info@clinetix.co.uk. If you would like for us to design a personalised treatment plan to treat your acne scars then book a complimentary consultation by clicking on the links below.