Acne Scars

August 14, 2007


Acne scars can occur when severe acne causes deep cysts to occur on the face, neck, chest or other areas and they aren't cared for properly. If that happens, the scars can last for a lifetime or require specialized acne scar removal treatments to get rid of the scars. Even though scar removal is an option, ideally you'll want to prevent the scars from happening in the first place or treat them early on if they do show up.

One of the biggest things you can do to prevent acne scars it never pick, squeeze or otherwise "mess with" your acne. This is a really bad way to try to get rid of your acne (even though it can be frustrating, demoralizing and a huge emotional drain). Try your best not to pick at it though since that can spread the acne and just make matters worse. Instead, try using one of several acne treatments available to help you get rid of that acne.

The various types of acne scars can be broken down into three categories or types. This helps medical professionals when diagnosing your acne and recommending the most beneficial treatment. The three types are called icepick, boxcar and rolling.

The icepick type acne scars are sharp, thin scars and get their name from the fact that when they show up, they resemble what it would look like if the skin was cut with an icepick. Even though they're usually thin scars, they also run deep into the skin, deep into the dermis or subcutaneous layer.

The boxcar type scar looks a bit different, with round pits and sharp sides. If these are relatively shallow scars, then techniques like dermabrasion or laser resurfacing might be effective.

The last acne scar type, the rolling scar, typically looks like it has a rolling surface (hence the name) and are caused by the skin folding in to the subcutaneous layer below the surface. These scars can be treated by breaking up the tissue that's causing the skin to fold in the first place and is usually done using a procedure known as subcutaneous incision or similar methods.

Other acne scar treatmement methods are being tested as well. However, when it comes to acne scars and many other ailments, the best treatment is really prevention. Therefore, it's important to refrain from picking or squeezing acne that has already formed in order to help prevent long-term scarring down the road.

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Teens

Teen Acne

Acne is one of the great misfortunes of teenagers. It is a common, chronic skin disorder that is caused by the inflammation of oil-producing sebaceous glands. Acne usually occurs on the face, neck, back and chest and usually begins between the ages of ten and thirteen and then continues for five to ten years.

Teenagers, both men and women, obtain acne in equal numbers and there are numerous causes. It is worth noting that younger males are generally more prone to acute and long-term acne, while many younger women suffer from hormonal acne, due to the hormonal changes that are associated to their menstrual cycle. To some degree, acne causes personal anguish for most teenagers. It can definitely lower the person’s self esteem. So, if you (or a loved one) are currently feeling depressed and embarrassed because of unsightly acne, don’t despair. Several acne treatments for teenagers are out there.

Acne treatments for teens generally vary according to the method of application and their purpose. Most of these acne treatments have promised to help prevent acne formation, but some of them failed to fulfill such promise. Below are a few of the acne treatments typically used for teenage acne.

Over-the-Counter Products

A number of non-prescription acne treatments are now available in most local drug stores. The typical treatments of this form include various acne cleansers, astringents, moisturizers, as well as pimple creams. Some of them help to unplug the whiteheads and blackheads, while the others help skin shedding. It terms of the application of these acne treatments for teenagers, some experts typically suggest giving such over-the-counter products around six to eight weeks to work before expecting huge results. However, if there is no improvement in the condition during that time, there are some other options for treating teenage acne that should be considered.

Oral and Topical Antibiotics

Most of the oral and topical antibiotics are samples of “prescription only” treatments for acne. The topical antibiotics, in particular, are deemed effective acne treatments for teenagers since they can help fight acne by killing off the bacteria that infect the pores. On the other hand, oral antibiotics are acne treatments that affect the entire body, therefore they can cause serious and unfavorable side effects. Both of these forms of acne treatments for teens are now commonly recommended, even taking into account some of the side effects.

Vitamin A Derivatives

Vitamin A derivatives are great teen acne treatments since they prevent skin cells from clumping together and encourage the skin to shed. These acne treatments for teenagers are usually applied once a day, but just like some of the other acne treatments for teens mentioned earlier, they too have certain side effects such as dryness, redness, and irritation, even birth defects.

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