Acne can be painful and leave blemishes on your face, making you self-conscious about your appearance. Dealing with acne scars can be frustrating, especially when they leave depressed marks on your skin. However, there are ways to treat and reduce the appearance of depressed acne scars.
How Do Acne Scars Develop?
Acne scars have the potential to puncture holes in our self-esteem and cause stress when they leave unattractive marks on our face. Acne is not only common in teenagers but also in adults. There are different types of acne scars, and in order to learn how to treat them, we need to understand how they develop in the first place.
Unfortunately, the way our skin heals can leave various "battle scars" on our bodies. When the skin is hit with inflammation, such as from acne, it affects different layers of our skin. Our body triggers a series of events to repair the damaged skin, and in the process, depressed acne scars may form. Scar fibers and the loss of collagen cause depressed acne scars because the scar fibers hold the damaged skin down.
Acne scars can be classified into two types:
- Hypertrophic
- Atrophic
Of the two types of acne scars, atrophic is the more common one. Atrophic scars, also known as depressed scars, are further categorized into the following:
- Boxcar
- Rolling
- Icepick
Although depressed acne scars are a common skin condition, there's not really an effective way to get rid of them. But the good news is, there are ways to reduce their appearance.
What Causes Acne to Develop Scars?
Since acne can leave lifelong scarring, it helps to understand the causes lead to them:
You are most likely to get scars with the following causes:
- Inflammatory acnes with cysts and nodules (they go deep in and damage the skin).
- Picking and squeezing inflamed acnes to make them pop.
- Delaying the treatment of inflamed acnes.
- Your family members also have depressed acne scars.
Although these factors contribute to the development of depressed acne scars for some, the truth is, everyone can develop them throughout their lives.
How Can Depressed Acne Scars Be Treated?
There are several ways to reduce the appearances of depressed acne scars on the face. The simplest way is to purchase over-the-counter serums and creams. There are a variety of creams out there, which you can check with your dermatologist if they are suitable for you. These creams and serums usually contain the following chemicals:
- Retinoids
- Salicylic acid
- Lactic acid
- Alpha hydroxy acids
Besides the above chemicals, there is a natural and effective over-the counter treatment for depressed acne scar - niacinamide. Niacinamid serum contains useful properties that can reduce the appearance of acne scars on your face. It provides balanced nutrients for the skin to achieve a healthy appearance.
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 (niacin), which as a water-soluble nutrient that can visibly improve skin. It is especially beneficial for those with sensitive skin. Niacinamide supports the skin’s supply of ceramides to maintain its protective barrier, essential for locking in moisture and keeping skin irritants out. Also known as nicotinamide, it also boosts collagen production and breaks down excessive melanin to minimise the appearance of dark spots and pigmentation.