How to get rid of Acne Dark Spots
Acne is a very common, often worsening condition that can result in scarring and dark spots.
While acne scars will not disappear on their own, there are several methods for energizing or reducing their appearance.
Most of these strategies take time to work, so if you need a quick fix, concealer is your good option.
Here's a closer look at the different types of acne scars, the best ways to treat them, and what causes them in the first place.
Time taken by acne scars to be faded
What is acne?
Acne is a skin condition that most commonly affects teenagers and young adults.
It started developing when hair follicles get clogged with oil and dead skin cells. Acne can manifest itself as blackheads, red bumps, or whiteheads.
Acne can be caused by a variety of factors, including hormonal imbalances, medical conditions, lack of sleep, and others.
Acne Scars: What Are They? Types of Acne Scars
Acne scars emerge in a variety of shapes and sizes. They come under one of the following categories mentioned here:
When the skin heals, there is a loss of collagen, which results in depressed acne scars. Examples include:
Acne scar symptoms vary in appearance based on the size, shape, and depth of the scar.
Ice Pick
Scars with narrow pitted shapes in the skin are known as ice picks. Because they are the deepest in the skin, they are the most prominent sort of acne scar.
Cystic acne lesions that form deep within your pores are frequently the cause. These scars frequently do not respond to home therapies.
Boxcar Scars
Boxcar scars are crater-like depressions in the skin.
They're a little bigger than icepick scars, but not quite as big as rolling scars.
Home treatments can help with shallow boxcar scars, but deeper scars are more difficult to remove.
Rolling Scars
Rolling scars are wide with rounded edges, giving the skin's surface a wavy and uneven appearance.
Hypertrophic Scars
Hypertrophic scars have raised skin.
Excess tissue forms in attempts to heal the original acne lesion, resulting in a raised scar.
Raised Scars (hypertrophic) :
When the skin heals from acne, it can produce an excessive amount of collagen.
This results in the formation of raised scars. They are mostly found on the chest and back in general.
Spots of darkness (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation)
While dark spots aren't technically scars, they do serve as a visible reminder of acne.
Acne's inflammatory process can cause hyperpigmentation or darker coloration where acne has healed.
Treatments for acne scars can also cause hyperpigmentation, especially in people with darker skin.
Those with lighter skin may experience post-inflammatory redness instead.
Dark Patches (Dark Spots) (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation)
While black patches aren't technically scars, they nevertheless serve as a visual reminder of acne.
Acne's inflammatory process can cause hyperpigmentation, which is a darker color where the acne has healed.
Treatments for acne scars can sometimes cause hyperpigmentation, which can be a transient adverse effect, especially in persons with darker skin.
People with lighter skin may feel post-inflammatory redness instead.
Best treatment available to get rid of acne scars?
Depending on the sort of acne scars you have and how bad they are, there are many ways to get rid of them.
Treatment shouldn't start until the acne has completely healed.
Dermatological treatments
• Resurfacing techniques.
Laser therapy, dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels can all help to improve the appearance of shallow acne scars.
They all involve the removal of layers of skin cells in order to stimulate the skin's production of new cells.
If you have darker skin, you should avoid dermabrasion, which can cause scarring and discoloration.
Some laser therapies may also do this, but Nd: YAG lasers are typically safer for darker skin.
• Fillers.
Shallower scars can be filled in with substances such as hyaluronic acid, collagen, or your own fat, according to your dermatologist.
Although some fillers are permanent, the results usually last a few months.
• Microneedling.
If you have a lot of depressed acne scars, this procedure is also known as collagen induction therapy.
Micro-needles are placed into the scars to stimulate collagen production.
To stimulate collagen formation, the pen is pressed into depressed acne scars.
Micro-needling stimulates collagen synthesis, which helps to rejuvenate the skin and reduce acne scarring.
When this happens, new skin cells grow over the scar, smoothing out the texture of the skin.
• Skin tightening with radiofrequency.
Deep icepick and boxcar scars can sometimes be efficiently treated with this treatment.
Radiofrequency will be used by a specialist to tighten the skin and make depressed acne scars less obvious.
• Laser Treatments
One of the most popular techniques to decrease scarring or deeper scars is to use laser treatments.
The scar tissue has formed on the top layer of skin, which is removed by the laser.
Your skin will appear smoother once the laser scar has faded.
New skin cells are encouraged to proliferate as the scar tissues break apart, making scars appear less elevated and red.
• Subscription.
This method entails inserting a sterilized needle under your skin and disrupting fibrous scar tissue in order to "loosen" depressed scars.
• Injections.
Repeated injections of corticosteroids, for example, can flatten and soften elevated and deep scars.
• Surgery.
To reduce the appearance of depressed acne scars, surgery involves raising or breaking up tissue.
Your doctor can perform a couple of procedures to permanently remove scars.
The first procedure is known as punch excision, and it involves removing the individual scar and repairing it with stitches or a skin graft.
The second procedure, a subcision, involves your doctor inserting needles under your skin to loosen the scar fibers and improve the appearance of the scar.
Cryosurgery removes raised acne scars by freezing them, but it is not recommended for people with darker skin.
• Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion is a procedure in which your dermatologist smooths out your skin by rapidly rotating a device against it.
The procedure removes the top layer of your skin gently, allowing healthier, smoother cells to grow.
Dermabrasion typically works best for rolling and boxcar acne scars that lie flat against the skin and can be easily buffed out.
At-home treatment
Salicylic Acid
As one of the most common ingredients in anti-acne products, salicylic acid works to prevent acne and can also help with scar removal.
It moisturizes the skin, clears the pores, and exfoliates it.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids
These acids are strong and exfoliate the skin.
They can help to reduce the looks of scars and improve the rough texture of your skin through exfoliation.
Lactic Acid
Lactic acid can be used to lighten dark scar tissues and as a peel to remove dead skin cells.
When used as a peel, it helps to reduce scars and smooth the skin's overall texture.
However, because lactic acid can cause hyperpigmentation and darken skin spots, even more, it is important to test how your skin reacts to it.
Retinoids
Retinoids are very effective in treating newer acne scars.
They can help to remove discoloration and improve skin texture.
When a scar is in its early stages, retinoids work to clear out the pore and reduce the outbreak, making a scar less likely to form.
Sunscreen
Applying sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 to your acne scars every day will protect them from the sun.
Scars can darken, get inflamed, and become more apparent when exposed to UV light.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels remove the top layer of your skin, revealing fresh, healthier skin beneath.
Discoloration and superficial acne scars are eliminated during the peel, revealing new, healthy skin.
Conclusion
Acne scars form when the skin heals and produces too little or too much collagen.
Acne scars come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including icepick, boxcar, rolling atrophic, and raised scars.
Acne can also cause dark spots known as hyperpigmentation, as well as redness, especially in people with darker skin.
While acne scars will not disappear on their own, a variety of treatments can help to improve their appearance.
This includes dermatological procedures performed in the clinic, such as laser or microdermabrasion resurfacing, fillers, micro-needling, skin tightening, and surgery.
At-home chemical peels containing ingredients such as retinoids and salicylic acid can promote skin cell turnover and thus reduce scarring.
Consult a doctor for advice on the best treatment plan for your type and severity of acne.
FAQ : Acne Scars treatment
How long does it take to get rid of acne scars?
Acne scars do not totally fade away on their own.
Depressed acne scars become more visible as the skin loses collagen.
There are, however, a number of treatments that can make acne scars less visible.
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or redness may fade on its own over time.
However, for some people, it may take years to disappear without treatment.