There are many reasons why you might want to remove acne scars on your face. For example, it could be because you squeezed pimples, had acne, or sustained other skin injuries such as cutting yourself while shaving. Scars form in different ways and can also appear on the body after surgery, wounds, or injuries. Some scars are more visible than others and may never disappear, while others fade over time.
A scar is by definition the result of the skin using connective tissue cells to heal an injury in the deeper skin layers (dermis) instead of simply forming new skin cells. This gives the scar a different texture than the surrounding skin. It is, of course, good that the skin heals this way, as it protects us from complications, but the result is often not aesthetically pleasing. Here we go through our best tips for treating your scars.
Remember that it can take a while before you notice results, depending on the type of scar and how many treatments are required, but the result is well worth the effort!
How scars form
Scars form as a result of the skin being damaged and trying to heal itself as quickly as possible. First, a scab forms. The scab acts as a protective layer so the skin can repair itself undisturbed. It does this with the help of Collagen, which is an important building block in the skin.
Why scars become uneven or pitted
The scar tissue that forms differs from the rest of the skin. Because the damage must be repaired quickly, the Collagen is not laid down in the same structured way as in the surrounding skin. There are raised scars, pitted scars, discolored scars, and more.
It can be compared to repairing a pothole in the road with new asphalt. While it fixes the hole in the road, you can see a distinct difference between the original pavement and the filler. It is not just the scar's appearance that differs, but also the skin quality.
Discolored scars
Discolored scars are caused by the skin overproducing the pigment melanin. This is called hyperpigmentation and occurs especially if the scar is exposed to sunlight. Therefore, you should protect your scars with clothing or sunscreen with a high SPF. Scar tissue is more sensitive to the sun and lacks hair follicles and sweat glands.
The older you get, the greater the risk that scars become more visible and permanent. This is because the skin's healing ability decreases with age, as does Collagen production. Collagen production slows down after age 25.
Hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation
If a scar lacks pigment, it is called hypopigmentation. The scar then becomes white, often slightly raised from the surrounding skin, and is due to the scar tissue not producing any pigment at all – the opposite of hyperpigmentation. This is most common in light-skinned individuals.
People with dark skin tones often experience heavier scarring than those with light skin tones. Scars can either be discolored or lack pigment.
Acne scars – The most common type of scar
Acne scars occur after severe acne has healed. Acne scars can fall into the category of atrophic scars (described below) but can also leave behind PIH (Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation), which is characterized by red discolorations on the healed area.
These scars occur when the skin is damaged by inflammation from pimples or cysts, and can appear as pits, dark spots, or uneven skin texture. To reduce the visibility of acne scars or scars from breakouts, we recommend Skinroller PRO as a scar treatment.
If you have PIE (Post-Inflammatory Erythema), you can combine your microneedling treatment with Retinol or Vitamin C serums to reduce redne