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.Acne Scars and Treatments
5 Types of Acne Scars and 4 Treatment Options:
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Our skin is our largest body organ, weighing some 8 pounds with a surface area of about 22 square feet.
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Our skin is very important in keeping us alive. It is waterproof, insulating us from extreme weather conditions, and keeping out harmful chemicals and pollutants from our body.
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In reality, our skin is also very vulnerable and needs tons of TLC, tender loving care. We cannot just leave it to do its job alone. We need to be pro-active and give it a good helping hand.
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Food is the first TLC we can extend to our skin. Eat only real, nutritious food which nourish our skin and make it glow with health and vitality.
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In the world we live in today, we need to be realistic and get real. However healthy our food, there will still be vital nutrients missing from our diet. Therefore, we need to take premium supplements to give our skins the best chance possible to be glowingly healthy.
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Use oral supplements Stem Cell supplements which can help our skins self-heal and self-regenerate plus plant-based minerals which are the spark plugs of life.
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We need to protect it from the ravages of cancer from excessive sun exposure. We need to incorporate lifestyle improvements with sufficient quality sleep and a healthy mind-body discipline like yoga.
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We would do well to cut back on alcohol and tobacco use as well as stress reduction, all of which have detrimental effects on the quality of our skin. We may need to lose weight. We need to bear in mind that weight control is essential as weight gain can lead to unsightly stretch marks from the esthetic point-of-view.
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Acne Scars
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Taking the above precautions, will give us a head-start to having the best, beautiful skin we can have. However, as we progress through life, our skin is subject to the normal wear-and-tear of daily life: injuries, trauma, and acne. Even a small injury or trauma can make a big difference in how your skin can look afterwards, leaving unsightly scars on your skin.
Most people are affected by acne scarring because acne scars on the face can be unsightly. The truth is that these scars will never complete go away. However, there are various treatment options that can help reduce its appearance.
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Different types of scars
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There are several different types of scars including:
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HYPERTROPHIC SCARS
are raised scars that are characterized by excessive amount of collagen forming on the scar. They do not extend beyond the boundaries of the injury.
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KELOID SCARS
are the result of an overly aggressive healing process that extends beyond the boundaries of the wound. These raised scars are often visible and unsightly.
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ICE PICK SCARS
are very deep holes in the skin that look like they have been punctured with an ice pick. Ice pick scars form because of the lack of collagen production in response to a deep acne infection.
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BOXCAR SCARS
are also depressed scars but they are often broader with defined edges at the sides. Just like ice pick scars, boxcar scars form because of insufficient collagen production after healing from acne.
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ROLLING SCARS
have ill-defined edges that look like tiny hills and valleys. They are also depressed scars formed after an acne outbreak.
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Acne scar treatment options
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STEROID INJECTIONS
Steroid jabs are effective for treating hypertrophic scars and keloids. Steroid jabs bring down the raised appearance of the scars.
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FILLERS
If hypotrophic scars can sometimes be treated with dermal fillers. Dermal filler treatment is effective for smoothening out some depressed scars. However, using dermal fillers to fill depressed scars is often not a permanent solution.
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LASERS
CO2 laser is a skin resurfacing treatment that doctors commonly use to ablate the superficial layer of the skin. The process allows the skin to stimulate more collagen. When the new skin grows, the scarring becomes less visible. However, several sessions may be required to see visible results.
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One of the latest acne scar treatments is to use the INFINI laser to induce collagen production at the dermis. Using micro-needles, radiofrequency energy is administered into the dermis, stimulating the production of collagen without harming the superficial layers of the skin.
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SPECIALITY SCAR TREATMENT
Special scar treatments such as subcision acne scar treatment is a proven treatment that benefits people with rolling scars or boxcar scars. A special needle is used to break down the stubborn scar tissue under the skin, releasing the acne scars and allowing the depression to smoothen out to blend in with the surrounding skin.
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It is highly recommended to use plant-based anti-inflammatory supplements to counteract the inflammation resulting from the above treatments.
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It will help speed up the healing process and reduce the discomfort while your skin regenerates.
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Post by Dr. Siew Tuck Wah
Medical Director and co-founder of Radium Medical Aesthetics, Singapore
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