Do you or have you suffered from acne? You are not alone! The Cleveland Clinic reports that 80% of people between ages 11 and 30 will get acne, and of those people, one in five will develop acne scars. It is incredibly common and is nothing to be ashamed of. Today, we will discuss why we get acne scars, the types of acne scars, and a treatment you can choose for acne scar removal.
Reasons for Acne Scars
Acne lesions (also known as pimples) occur when excess bacteria, oil, or dead skin fill up a pore and become inflamed. Getting acne is expected of young adults going through puberty as well as adults who are facing stress, changing hormones, and environmental factors out of their control.
When you get acne, the acne pore swells and forces a breakdown of the surrounding tissue. Sometimes, it is shallow and can heal quickly with no scarring. Other times, the surrounding tissue is damaged deeply. When this happens, the skin begins to repair itself by producing collagen to support the damaged area. If the body produces too little or too much collagen, you will get a scar.
Types of Acne Scars
There are two primary types of acne scars, depending on the skin’s collagen production when it heals the damaged acne area. When the skin produces too much collagen, you will end up with a hypertrophic or keloid scar; these scars rise off the skin and can give the appearance of a bump.
The other primary scarring style is when the skin does not produce enough collagen. When this happens, you will end up with an atrophic or depressed scar. These scars can take on three different shapes, including an ice pick shape, a rolling shape (where the skin looks wavy), and a boxcar shape. Fortunately, depressed scaring can be treated with Bellafill, an FDA-approved five-year filler.
Bellafill for Acne Scar Removal
Bellafill, one of the top treatment choices for acne scar removal, works by injecting a collagen-based filler into the depressed scars to encourage natural collagen formation and lift the scar to create smoother-looking skin. Dr. Wooming is a highly trained expert at administering Bellafill.
At Knox Dermatology, we strive to help every patient achieve their desired appearance and feel confident in their own skin. If you would like to learn more about Bellafill treatment for acne scar removal, please make an appointment with us today!
