Effective methods for permanent treatment of acne scars, ensuring safety.

Nowadays, many individuals feel self-conscious due to having numerous acne scars on their faces and are seeking a safe and permanent solution. If you find yourself in a similar situation, this article by Mytour Blog will help you understand the causes of acne scars and share some surgical and natural treatment methods that you shouldn't overlook.

1. What are acne scars?

Acne scars are depressions in the skin with uneven sizes. They result from the natural healing process after the skin is damaged for various reasons. Because the damaged skin tissues cannot produce collagen and elastin on their own, it leads to acne scars. Although they don't cause physical discomfort like pain or itching, they negatively impact the appearance and psyche of the individuals who have them.

2. Causes of acne scars

2.1. Due to improper acne treatment

If the process of treating cystic acne, nodular acne, or inflammatory acne is done incorrectly, it can lead to acne scars of varying degrees. Initially, the scars may be small, but the longer they persist, the deeper they can become, resulting in severe scarring. This condition is most common during puberty when hormonal changes in the body lead to the appearance of more pimples and acne scars.

2.2. Complications of chickenpox

After recovering from chickenpox, people often develop dense acne scars on their faces. These scars are difficult to treat with conventional methods if they have been present on the skin for a long time. Therefore, you should choose an appropriate method and be patient to restore smooth and radiant skin.

2.3. Improper skincare

Improper skincare is a common cause of facial scarring. In such cases, it leads to inflamed, damaged skin and the formation of acne scars.

3. Most common treatments for facial acne scars nowadays

3.1. Chemical peel

Chemical peel is a common method for treating acne scars. Depending on the severity, dermatologists will choose suitable chemicals for peeling (which may include glycolic acid and phenol). These solutions will destroy the damaged skin layer and cause the skin to peel off, promoting the regeneration of new epidermis. The specific advantages and disadvantages of chemical peel method are as follows:

• Advantages: blurs acne scars and improves skin within a few weeks of treatment. 
• Disadvantages: skin may become dry, sensitive, or allergic to the chemical components.

For further reference:

3.2. Microneedling

Microneedling is a method of skin cell regeneration by puncturing the skin layers with multiple acne scars on the face. During treatment, the doctor will use a device with a small group of needles to roll on the face in various directions. Subsequently, the face will have small puncture marks to create new collagen layer. The microneedling method has the following advantages and disadvantages:

• Advantages: blurs scars and doesn't cause skin allergies due to the chemical components.
• Disadvantages: skin may get infected if performed at unreliable beauty establishments.

3.3. Soft tissue filling 

Treating acne scars with soft tissue filler is favored by many. Fillers are used to fill the scar surface, lifting them to the level of the surrounding normal skin. However, if you choose this method to remove acne scars that make you self-conscious, you should know its advantages and disadvantages as follows:

• Advantages: quickly fades scars and improves skin's radiance. 
• Disadvantages: the effectiveness is not long-lasting and requires multiple filler sessions to maintain skin condition. Moreover, if the injection specialist lacks proper technique or uses low-quality filler, it can cause skin complications and necrosis.

3.4. Scar excision 

Scar excision is the most effective method in treating icepick scars (small scars resembling enlarged pores). During the surgery, the doctor will cut out the scar tissue with a small needle and then stitch up the wound. In cases where the scar tissue is large, the doctor will take a piece of skin from behind the ear to graft onto the area.

• Advantages: skin recovers damage and remains radiant for a long time. 
• Disadvantages: the risk of uneven skin tone after surgery.

3.5. Subcision

Individuals with wavy acne scars (large scars with unclear edges and appearing frequently on the cheeks) often choose this method for treatment. The doctor will insert a needle under the skin multiple times in various directions to loosen the tissue around the scar. Subsequently, the new wounds caused by the needle insertion will heal and adhere to the scar, blending better with the normal skin.

• Advantages: fades scars with consistent skin tone.
• Disadvantages: the risk of skin damage or necrosis if performed at unreliable beauty establishments.

For further reference:

3.6. Acne scar treatment with laser

Treating acne scars with laser is a commonly applied method in dermatology hospitals, beauty clinics, and spas. Small polarized laser beams will be emitted to destroy fibrous tissues in the scar base area, stimulating the production of collagen and elastin to fill in the depressed scar tissue. The advantages and disadvantages of this method are as follows:

• Advantages: fades scars safely and effectively.
• Disadvantages: cannot completely remove scars and skin is prone to sunburn.

After undergoing the above treatments, avoiding sun exposure is extremely important, as your skin becomes very vulnerable at this time and is prone to negative effects from sunlight such as acne scars, freckles, and accelerated aging.

To address these effects, you need to use sunscreen for your face, body sunscreen, sunscreen spray, or sunscreen pills suitable for your skin.

4. Home remedies for treating acne scars with natural ingredients

4.1. Treating acne scars with lemon and honey 

Honey contains glucose, fructose, calcium, magnesium, chlorine, phosphorus, vitamins: K, E, C, B1, B12, B3, B5, B6,… which have the effect of skin recovery and regeneration. Therefore, honey and lemon are an effective anti-inflammatory and scar-fading combo.

Authentic Vitamin C serum fades dark spots, supports skin recovery and regeneration at Mytour

4.2. Treating acne scars with coconut oil 

Coconut oil contains many compounds that are effective in treating acne and reducing inflammation such as: lauric acid, vitamin E, some antioxidant compounds,… Therefore, using coconut oil is a 'root-killing' method for acne scars - helping to increase collagen production and remove broken connective tissue.

4.3. Using baking soda to treat acne scars 

Besides potato + oatmeal mask, pennywort mask, and aloe vera mask, baking soda mask is also a popular natural acne treatment method. This method helps you save costs, the ingredients are easy to find, and it does not cause pain.

4.4. Treating acne scars with vitamin E

Vitamin E has many outstanding advantages such as moisturizing the skin, providing excellent UV protection, slowing down the aging process of the skin, and quickly fading newly formed acne scars. You can supplement vitamin E from daily foods such as almonds, green vegetables, avocados, hazelnuts, kiwi, mango, papaya, tomatoes,… or take vitamin E supplements as suggested below.

Thus, with the article above, Mytour has helped readers understand the causes of acne scars and shared some effective treatment methods using both surgical and natural approaches. Hopefully, you will choose the most suitable method to end this unwanted condition. Also, don't forget to follow Mytour Blog regularly to update more effective ways to treat acne scars!