Scars and Acne Scars

In general, scars are the products of the healing process of the skin tissue.

Producing too much or too little collagen during the healing process causes a scar.

Acne scars are scars resulting from the inflammation of acne blemishes, i.e., from the swelling of the acne pores and the breakdown of the wall of the pores.

Give us a call, visit our website, shoot us an email or directly book your acne scar treatment or skin consultation appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan online.

SkinCarely skin care clinic Donvale, Melbourne is OPEN MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY!

Types of Acne Scars

The scars resulting from small acne blemishes are not deep and, therefore, heal more quickly. In case the contents of acne blemishes bleed into surrounding areas, the scars will be deeper.

However, the type of acne scar depends on the amount of collagen produced by your body:

Depressed or Atrophic Acne Scars

Depressions or pits form when your body makes too little collagen while the skin heals.

Atrophic scars sit below the surrounding skin area and, more often than not, appear on the face.

Types of Atrophic Acne Scars

• Ice Pick

Ice Pick acne scars are

• Are V-shaped
• Are narrow
• May look like small oval or round holes
• Resemble chicken-pox scars
• Can go deep into the skin

Due to their capability of going deep under the skin surface, ice picks are the hardest scars to treat.

• Boxcar

Boxcar acne scars

• Are U-shaped
• Have sharp edges
• Can be deep or shallow
• The shallower ones respond better to resurfacing treatments
• Microdermabrasion and light peels work great on boxcars of nearly all skin types

Read more about microdermabrasion at SkinCarely here.

Laser resurfacing may not always be the best option because it may result in pigmentation, e.g., post-inflammatory pigmentation, and further scarring in darker skin tones.

Consult with Dr Farah Rahravan, your dermal therapist at SkinCarely, to decide which resurfacing treatment is best for YOU.

• Rolling

Rolling acne scars

• Are wide depressions
• Typically have round edges
• Have an irregular and rolling shape

Raised or Hypertrophic Acne Scars

Otherwise known as hypertrophic, raised acne scars are developed when your body produces too much collagen while the skin and its underlying tissue heal.

Raised (or hypertrophic) acne scars are more common among individuals with a skin of color, e.g., among Asians, African Americans and Hispanics.

Hypertrophic acne scars

• Most commonly form from producing too much collagen during healing of back and chest
• Stand above the surface of surrounding tissue.

Give us a call, visit our website, shoot us an email or directly book your acne scar treatment or skin consultation appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan online.

SkinCarely skin care clinic Donvale, Melbourne is OPEN MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY!

How to Determine Whether or Not a Pimple Is Acne

What Is NOT Acne

Be sure to ALWAYS consult a dermal therapist, dermatologist or healthcare professional before starting ANY dermal treatment, including treatment of acne scars,

Your dermal therapist can help determine what kind of a dermal issue you have based on your condition, your medical history and your skin type.

Leaning on science, they can make sure that your condition is actually acne scarring, as opposed to other issues.

For example, only your dermal therapist or dermatologist can realise that

• Discoloration after a blemish has cleared is NOT an acne scar.
• The brownish, purple or red marks will go away within a few months, needless of any treatment.

Give us a call, visit our website, shoot us an email or directly book your acne scar treatment or skin consultation appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan online.

SkinCarely skin care clinic Donvale, Melbourne is OPEN MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY!

Causes of Scars and Acne Scars

What Causes Acne Scars

In general, scars are the products of the healing process of the skin tissue.

Producing too much or too little collagen during the healing process causes the formation of a scar.

Once the acne clears, your body starts repairing the damage to the skin tissue and healing it by producing collagen, which serves as a support to the skin.

The scars resulting from small acne blemishes are not deep and, therefore, heal more quickly. In case the contents of acne blemishes bleed into surrounding areas, the scars will be deeper.

Give us a call, visit our website, shoot us an email or directly book your acne scar treatment or skin consultation appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan online.

SkinCarely skin care clinic Donvale, Melbourne is OPEN MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY!

How to Remove Acne Scars

Can Acne Scars Be Treated?

Thanks to science and technology, there are many new ways of treating raised (hypertrophic) and depressed (atrophic) acne scars.

Medicines to Remove Acne Scars

• Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA)
• Exfoliates the outer layer of your skin.
• Helps fade discoloration and eliminate rough skin texture.
• Can make your acne scars less noticeable.
• AHA is best for all types of acne scars.
• Lactic Acid
• Can improve the texture, pigmentation and appearance of your skin.
• Can lighten acne scars.
• Lactic acid is best for all types of acne scars.

Note: In case of skin sensitivity, lactic acid may lead to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

• Retinoids
• Smooth your scars.
• Speed up your cell regeneration.
• Improve your skin texture.
• Help reduce discoloration.
• Make scars less noticeable
• Retinoids are best for atrophic depressed scars.

Note: Retinoids can make your skin particularly sensitive to the sun. Therefore, regular use of sunscreens while using any retinoid-containing product is essentially important.

Be sure to ALWAYS consult your dermal therapist, dermatologist or a healthcare professional before using retinoids.

• Salicylic Acid
• Is considered one of the best treatments for acne scars.
• Is present in all but every sort of acne treatment.
• Reduces redness and swelling.
• Clears pores.
• Exfoliates the skin with topical applying.
• Salicylic acid is best for all acne scars.

Note: Salicylic acid make take a few weeks to show results. It can also cause irritation or dryness. Be sure to ALWAYS consult your dermal therapist, dermatologist or a healthcare professional before using salicylic acid.

• Sunscreen
• Is vital to wear daily over scars.
• In its absence, i.e., sun exposure can make scars more noticeable by darkening them.
• Sunscreen is best for all acne scars.

Note: In order for at-home treatments to work effectively, you may need consultation with your dermal therapist or dermatologist to choose a suitable sunscreen for YOU.

Give us a call, visit our website, shoot us an email or directly book your acne scar treatment or skin consultation appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan, pharmacist and dermal therapist online.

SkinCarely skin care clinic Donvale, Melbourne is OPEN MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY!

Treatment of Acne Scars with Dermabrasion

• Dermabrasion
• Is a common and among the most effective treatments for facial scars.
• Works considerably more efficiently when your dermal therapist administers it using specialised tools and technology than with at-home kits.
• Is capable of exfoliating the top layer of your skin more deeply.
• Dermabrasion is best for shallow boxcars, rolling scars and any scar close to the surface. Scars in deeper layers can become less noticeable after dermabrasion.

At SkinCarely skin care clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC, we provide super-modern dermabrasion treatment with an array of benefits and applications, called Hydro Microdermabrasion:

• Hydro-microdermabrasion

For acne, acne scars, brightening your skin, reducing stretch marks and fading signs of aging. Read more about Hydro-microdermabrasion and book your appointment here.

IMPORTANT: Hydro Microdermabrasion may not be safe for those who are on certain acne medications or in pregnancy.

Consult with Dr Farah Rahravan, your dermal therapist at SkinCarely before getting Hydro Microdermabrasion.

Treatment of Acne Scars with Peeling

• Chemical Peels
• Are administered by using a strong acid for exfoliating the top layer of your skin.
• Aims to eliminate or reduce deeper scars by exfoliation.
• Are safer and more effective when given by a dermal therapist or healthcare professional.
• Chemical Peels are best for all types of acne scars and used for deeper scars.

Note: Chemical peels use strong acid for exfoliation. Be sure to ALWAYS consult your dermal therapist, dermatologist or a healthcare professional before doing chemical peels.

Give us a call, visit our website, shoot us an email or directly book your acne scar treatment or skin consultation appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan online.

SkinCarely skin care clinic Donvale, Melbourne is OPEN MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY!

Treatment of Acne Scars with Skin Resurfacing

• Laser Resurfacing
• Removes the top layer of your skin, just as in dermabrasion and chemical peels.
• Typically heals in a shorter time than other exfoliating treatments.
• Mandates covering the treated area with bandage until healing is complete.
• Is not good if you are still getting acne breakouts.
• Is not as effective if you have a darker skin tone.
• Laser resurfacing is best for all acne scars and skins of lighter tone.

Give us a call, visit our website, shoot us an email or directly book your acne scar treatment or skin consultation appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan online.

SkinCarely skin care clinic Donvale, Melbourne is OPEN MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY!

Treatment of Acne Scars with Skin Needling

• Microneedling
• Is a modern treatment
• Uses a hand-held pen with tiny needles on the tip to puncture the surface of the scars.
• Induces your skin by puncturing to make collagen while healing.
• Helps reduce the depth of your acne scars.
• Microneedling is best for depressed or atrophic acne scars.

At SkinCarely acne clinic in Donvale, Melbourne, VIC we provide microneedling service with super-modern technology and tools:

• Skin Needling

For acne scars, large pores and wrinkles. Read more about Microneedling at SkinCarely acne clinic and book your appointment here.

Treatment of Acne Scars with Injectable Drugs

• Injections
• Can be done for raised scars to help flatten them.
• Contain medications including corticosteroids and chemotherapy medications.
• Are administered as a series – not single shots – with one injection in a couple of weeks.
• Injections are best for raised scars.

At SkinCarely skin care clinic Donvale, Melbourne, VIC we do not do injections but mainly provide and focus on safe, effective and non-invasive treatments to avoid any risks associated with injections or infections associated with cosmetic surgery.

At SkinCarely, we offer an array of non-invasive treatments that aim to induce YOUR OWN SKIN TO TREAT ITSELF. Consult with Dr Farah Rahravan, pharmacist and dermal therapist, for YOUR custom-designed treatment plan for acne scars.

• Fillers
• Are essentially injected by a healthcare professional.
• Fill in acne scars and help even out depressed scars.
• Can be made of your own fat, a commercial filler or collagen.
• Fillers are best for individuals with few rolling scars or boxcars.

Note: Fillers usually last 6 to 18 months and, more often than not, need to be redone.

At SkinCarely skin care clinic Donvale, Melbourne, VIC we do not do injectables (including fillers) but mainly provide and focus on safe, effective and non-invasive treatments to avoid any risks associated with injections or infections associated with cosmetic surgery.

At SkinCarely, we offer an array of non-invasive treatments that aim to induce YOUR OWN SKIN TO TREAT ITSELF. Consult with Dr Farah Rahravan, pharmacist and dermal therapist, for YOUR custom-designed treatment plan for acne scars.

Who Gets Acne Scars

We should all keep in mind that

1. Acne is a common condition.
2. Acne is very much treatable.

That means pretty much anyone can get acne and, as a possible result, acne scars.

However, some people are more probable to get acne scars as their acne clears. The likelihood of getting acne scars raises when an individual

• Has the genes.

For example, someone, who has blood relatives with acne scars.

• Develops inflammatory (painful, reddish, swollen) acne.

That includes acne nodules and acne cysts and is more likely than not to penetrate deeper layers of the skin – which leads to damages to the skin tissue.

• Does not pursue treatment of inflammatory acne or delays it.

The risk of getting acne scars in these cases grows with time.

• Picks, pops or squeezes their acne pimples.

These increase the inflammation which, respectively, increases the scarring risk.

Give us a call, visit our website, shoot us an email or directly book your acne scar treatment or skin consultation appointment with Dr Farah Rahravan online.

SkinCarely skin care clinic Donvale, Melbourne is OPEN MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY!

Before & After Photos Scars and Acne Scars