When you have skin blemishes, you want to be sure you understand their differences. It’s one way to ensure you get effective treatments.
But one debate that lots of people are confused about is acne marks vs acne scars. So, how exactly can you tell them apart? Moreover, what are the solutions that work best?
Here’s a look at what they are and how to treat them.
Defining the Differences
While acne marks and scars tend to look the same, they have are two issues that have different implications. Generally, they differ based on what causes them and how you should treat them.
The following are how you would want to describe them:
What are Acne Marks?
Acne marks are temporary pigmented patches in red or brown that come up after a breakout. Although some people find them bothersome, they don’t make changes to your actual skin. Instead, they add something like a layer of color.
Because of this, many professionals recommend using ingredients that brighten and exfoliate your skin. Some also find that following a healthy skincare routine helps you reduce the appearance of these marks.
What are Acne Scars?
On the other hand, acne scars are changes in your skin’s texture and appearance. They come up when your skin’s collagen gets damaged.
Unlike acne marks, they sometimes appear like depressions on the skin, caused by tissue or collagen loss beneath the surface. Other types of acne scars also come up as raised bumps that come from excessive collagen production as it heals.
With scars, they usually require more comprehensive procedures to solve. You also want to get dermatologist advice and assistance to figure out the most suitable course of action.
Even so, using the right ingredients can contribute to alleviating the issue. Additionally, it also helps prevent it from getting worse.
Solutions for Fading Acne Marks
Solving acne marks usually involves products with the right ingredients. The following are a few treatments you may want to consider:
Topical Retinoids
These vitamin A derivatives speed up cell turnover, promoting new skin growth. Through this process, it reduces the appearance of acne marks.
Moreover, they can unclog pores, preventing further acne breakouts. A few examples you may want to try include tretinoin, adapalene, and retinol.
Vitamin C Serums
Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that can brighten skin and lighten hyperpigmentation. It also boosts collagen production to promote healing in the skin.
Chemical Peels
The chemical peel treatment involves using a mask with ingredients that allow new and healthier skin to surface. Note that you want a dermatologist perform it for you to ensure they follow the correct process.
Microdermabrasion
This is a minimally invasive procedure that uses tiny crystals to exfoliate the surface layer of skin. This promotes new skin growth that offers brighter and smoother textures.
Laser Therapy
Certain types of laser therapy can target pigmented cells and eliminate them without damaging the surrounding skin. This treatment can be particularly effective for darker acne marks.
Sunscreen
Sunscreen is one of the crucial ingredients to help reduce acne marks and other pigmentation issues. It acts as a barrier to protect your skin from sun exposure while boosting the effectiveness of your treatments.
Common Acne Scar Treatments
Scar treatments are more invasive compared to solutions for acne marks. These usually focus on making improvements to the actual texture and appearance of your skin.
Even so, you may want to keep in mind that everyone’s skin is unique. So, it’s best to have a professional handle the procedures for you.
A few of the treatments to consider are as follows:
Microneedling
This procedure involves rolling tiny needles across the skin to stimulate collagen production. Through this, the increased collagen can help to fill in the depressed areas caused by acne scars. As a result, it reduces their appearance.
For this procedure, you want to be sure a professional does it for you to avoid infection or further damage to the skin.
Laser Resurfacing
Laser resurfacing is one of the more popular methods for treating acne scars. It uses high-energy light to remove the outer layers of skin and stimulate the growth of new skin. In particular, it works the most effectively for atrophic acne scars.
One laser method you may want to consider is the pico laser treatment. This method pressurizes the skin using moderate amounts of energy. This way, it increases collagen production and encourages the creation of new skin cells. You can look into pico laser in Sydney to see how it works.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are substances injected into the skin to fill in the depressions caused by acne scars. Compared to other treatments, it shows immediate results in the appearance of the skin.
But you want to note that it’s usually temporary, so you might have to repeat it to maintain how it looks.
Subcision
This is a minor surgical procedure where the scar tissue beneath the skin is manually broken up by a needle. This allows the skin to lift and reduce the appearance of acne scars.
Chemical Peels
Similar to their use in treating acne marks, deeper chemical peels can also be used for certain types of acne scars. They work by removing layers of the skin so that new, smoother skin can grow in its place.
Punch Excisions
This is a surgical method used for deeper acne scars. The scar is cut out and the surrounding skin is stitched together. One of the perks of this treatment is that it makes the scar less noticeable after healing.
Learn the Difference Between Acne Marks vs Acne Scars
Before you get facial treatments and surgical procedures done to your face, you want to note the differences between acne marks vs acne scars. This way, you can determine the best possible solution according to the condition’s needs.
By learning the differences and kinds of treatment, you can make informed decisions when it comes to caring for your skin. At the same time, you get to enjoy smoother, brighter, and fresher skin overall!
So, what do you say? Check out the rest of our blog for more guides and tips.