An Acne Scar Primer
Sunday, August 15th, 2010Before we get too carried away with the ways of removing acne scars, we should know a bit more about them!
No matter how careful we are with our skin, zits can happen, and leave their marks behind!
Not all acne scars are created equal. Generally, acne scars can be divided into two categories: Atrophic, or scars where tissue is lost; and hypertrophic where too much tissue is grown. There are four types of acne scars in those categories: ice pick, boxcar, rolling and keloid scars.
Ice Pick Scars
- Appearance: Ice pick scars are characterized by “pitting”. The skin looks as if it has been pierced by an ice pick or sharp instrument. Ice pick scars seem to make a small, deep “hole” in the skin. Some may look like a large, open pore.
- Development: Deep rooted infection making its way to the surface cause ice pick scars. Skin tissue is destroyed, leaving a long column-like scar.
- Common treatments: Ice pick scars can be treated with punch excision or punch grafting.
Boxcar Scars
- Appearance: Boxcar scars consist of roundish low spots, with steep sides. Wider than ice picks, boxcar scars make the skin appear pitted as well
- Development: If a breakout destroys collagen in the skin, tissue is lost. In the area where the tissue was lost, the skin no longer has the necessary support. This creates a depression. Boxcar scars may be superficial to severe, depending on the amount of tissue lost.
- Common treatments: Treatments for these scars include dermal fillers, laser resurfacing, and punch excision or elevation.
Rolling Scars
- Appearance: Rolling scars have that name because they can look almost like waves rolling across the skin.
- Development: These scars develop because fibrous tissue grow in bands between the skin and the layer under it. These bands pull the epidermis, binding it to deeper structures of the skin. The tension from being attached to lower structures, pulls on the skin and the pulling creates a “rolling” effect on the outer skin.
- Common treatments: Rolling scars are best treated with subcision.
Hypertrophic or Keloid Scars
- Appearance: As you recall, hypertrophic is a way of saying “too much tissue”. Thus they look like a firm, raised mass. Very often, these scars are actually larger than the wound that caused them. These scars are most often found on the torso.
- Development: Unlike ice pick or boxcar scars, hypertrophic scars are not caused by a loss of tissue. Rather, they develop because of an overproduction of collagen.
- Common treatments: Cortisone (steroid) ointments, tapes, or injections are used to smooth and reduce these scars. In some instances, interferon injections are used to soften the scar as well.
There you go, now you know. “And knowing is half the battle”!
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