Acne is a disorder resulting from the action of hormones and other substances on the skin's oil glands i.
e.
sebaceous glands and hair follicles.
This leads to plugged pores that lead to outbreaks of lesions commonly called pimples or zits.
It can occur on the face, neck, back, chest and shoulders.
The physical and emotional effects of acne can last much longer than the breakout of acne.
After the acne has healed, they can leave behind permanent/semi-permanent reminders.
It is difficult to avoid acne scarring completely but understanding the way your skin works, it could help minimize long-term damage.
Some acne spots may look like scars but are not scars because a permanent change does not occur.
Though they are not true scars and disappear in time, they are still very visible and can cause embarrassment.
They include 1.
Macules or Pseudo-scars: they are usually flat, red or reddish spots that are the final stage of most inflamed acne lesions.
It may mark the area for up to 6 months and eventually disappears.
2.
Post-inflammatory pigmentation: it is a discoloration of the skin at the site of a healed/healing inflamed acne lesion.
It is usually seen frequently in darker-skinned people but could occasionally be seen in people with white skin.
Early treatment by a dermatologist may minimize its development and chemical peeling may hasten its disappearance.
CAUSES OF ACNE SCARS: Scars are visible reminders of injury and tissue repair.
In the case of acne, the injury is caused by the body's inflammatory response to sebum, bacteria and dead cells in the plugged sebaceous follicle.
When a tissue suffers an injury, the body sends its white blood cells and a collection of its inflammatory molecules to repair the tissue and fight the infection.
They might remain at the site of an active acne lesion for days or even weeks and usually leave a messy repair site which is the form of fibrous scar tissue or eroded tissue.
Examples of true scars include 1.
depressed areas such as ice-pick scars, and 2.
raised thickened tissue such as keloids.
ARE YOU SUSCEPTIBLE TO ACNE SCARRING? : The occurrence and incidence of acne scarring in people is not quite understood.
The fact that you might be prone to acne scarring and another person is not i.
e.
variation in scarring in individuals might be due to genetic differences though this has not been thoroughly researched and is based on people's assumption.
Scarring frequently occurs in patients that have severe forms of inflammatory nodulocystic acne that occur deep in the skin.
It could also arise from more superficial inflamed lesions.
LIFE HISTORY: The life history of scars is not well understood as there are people who have to bear their scars throughout their lives, while there are some whose skin undergo some degree of remodeling and their scars diminish with time.
PREVENTION OF ACNE SCARS: We do not know what exactly causes different individuals to scar or how extensive or deep the scars will be.
It is said that 'prevention is better than cure', this is the same with acne scar.
In other words, the best way to prevent or limiting the extent of scars is to prevent acne or treat acne early in its course with an effective acne treatment.
It is important to note in the case where you get acne lesions you should treat them effectively and DO NOT squeeze or pick at them.
This is because picking or squeezing your pimple would increase the damage to surrounding tissue leading to the increase of your chances of developing acne scar.
It is also because the pimple would go away eventually but if you pick/poke at them, it could stick around for a long time.
Always remember that a healthy body heals faster so, eat a balanced diet, drink lots of water, get plenty of rest, if you have to be outside in the sun always protect yourself with an oil-free sunscreen of SPF 15 that is effective against UVA and UVB rays and do not smoke.
I hope you are able to obtain that acne free and acne scar/spot free skin that you want.