Acne can cause a lot of stress and affect self-confidence. To make matters worse, long after a lesion heals, it can leave a scar in its place. Indented or depressed scars create a small dip in the skin, giving it a pitted, uneven appearance. They typically result from serious acne. Several treatment options are available.
Cause
Your body goes into healing mode when it suffers any kind of assault. When it comes to healing acne, your body produces the fibrous substance called collagen. It forms a building block of healthy skin. If your body does not produce enough of it, this area of the skin does not fill out, causing a dent.
Considerations for Treatment
There are many options when it comes to treating depressed acne scars. Many factors will determine the best mode of treatment including the depth of the scar, the type of scar, skin tone, medical history and any previous treatments you might have had. Consult with a dermatologist or other medical professional for guidance and use treatment centers where doctors administer the treatments.
Peels and Injections
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) explains medium and deep chemical peels go down to deeper layers of the skin, where depressed scars start. These peels carry some risks such as infection, scarring and changes in skin color. Examples of stronger peels include ingredients like TCA and phenol. While you might be tempted to buy these ingredients on the Internet and perform these treatments on your own for a fraction of the price, know that these powerful chemicals can do serious damage to your skin when used improperly.
Dermanetwork, a dermatologist-created website, says fillers that plump up the skin under the scar can also help with depressed scars. Most ingredients do not produce long-lasting results and you need to keep getting injections to maintain results. The filler PMMA is the only ingredient that offers permanent results, according to the AAD. Injections with your own fat can last one to three years but require liposuction beforehand. Other popular ingredients include hyaluronic acid and collagen -- these treatments will only last about three to six months.
Surgical Procedures
Many surgical procedures have demonstrated success in treating indented acne scars. Studies have found subcision to be an effective treatment for indented scars, according to Dermanetwork. This procedure involves inserting a needle into the scar and removing scar tissue underneath. If you have deeper scars, you might require punch excision, which involves removing the entire scar. Afterward, the doctor might sew the skin back together creating a flat surface or the doctor may take skin from another part of your body and graft it onto your face.
Laser Therapy
Laser therapies that target damaged areas of the skin have also shown good results for depressed scars, according to AAD. AAD says studies looking at the effects of ablative laser therapy, a more aggressive form that destroys the upper layers of skin, found it produced excellent results for ice pick and less indented boxcar scars -- scars that resemble large pores. It did not work as well for deep boxcar scars but did produce some benefit. You will begin to notice results in about two weeks and skin can continue to improve for up to 18 months. After these treatments, you must take special precautions with your skin to prevent infections and your doctor will advise you on what you need to do.
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