What Causes Acne Scars - Guide to Acne Scars
Acne is one such skin condition that affects a majority of teenagers and some adults. It is a condition that comes on its own as a result of hormonal imbalance, diet, stress, etc. and also goes away on its own after a certain period of time. Many people recover from acne without any acne scars but some people are not as lucky as the others to come out with a clear skin. These acne scars which are some times disfiguring can even cause you a lot of embarrassment.
Acne, as such, has always been a difficult and unsightly problem. It harms the skin and then adds insult to the injury by leaving behind scars. Some people tend to get mild ones while some suffer from deep ones. Depending on the type of lesions, the severity of the scar is determined.
Acne scars are usually caused by the inflammatory response of the body to the sebum, bacteria and dead cells in the follicle. It is the product of the inflamed lesion. When the pores swell up with dead skin, excess oil and bacteria, inflamed blemishes occurs. The severity of the scar also depends on the area where the inflammation occurs. For instance, if the rupture occurs close to the surface of the skin then the abrasion is not very serious and it will heal pretty soon. But if the injury is in the follicle then it can even damage the healthy tissues.
There are primarily two areas of scars namely the depressed areas scar and raised thickened tissue. Each type of scars is caused by different situations. Ice pick scar is an example of depressed areas. Raised thickened scars are not as common as the ice pick. When an acne lesion is in the process of healing, it tends to leave behind hyper-pigmented or a red mark on the skin which is generally referred to as the post inflammatory mark. This remodeling process takes about 6-12 months and during this time span if no more acne lesion develops then the healing process is taking place normally.
Another main cause of acne scars is the pricking, pinching or squeezing the acne as soon as it appears on the skin. So it is best to leave the lesion alone and let it take its own time to heal it. Inflammation is the greatest gauge of the development of scars. The chances of the acne to leave scar is higher if the inflammation on the skin is larger. Also those lesions that take a long time to heal also increase the chances of scarring. At times, post inflammatory marks are also considered as scars.
How to get rid of acne scar is one of the questions for which a number of people are seeking answers. There are a number of things a person can do to get rid of the dreaded scars. Get to know about it.
Suggested Reading:
acne myths and facts
home remedies for acne scars
