For those who suffer from acne scars, they can be so much more than a skin condition. They can cause frustration and worry as well as self-esteem and confidence issues. But what options are out there for removing them? Most women will find that not even a good full-coverage foundation will cover their scars entirely. Full-coverage foundation may hide the colour of scarring, however it won’t cover the scar indentations that acne can leave behind. Thankfully, there are alternatives and some of them are very effective at reducing the appearance of acne scars.
HOW DO ACNE SCARS OCCUR?
Acne scarring occurs after acne breakouts have caused damage to the surrounding tissue. When the breakouts irritate the skin and it has to heal, often the skin does not produce enough collagen for the skin to return as normal and leaves a depression. On the other hand, if the skin produces too much collagen, the outcome will be a raised scar.
ACNE SCAR TREATMENTS
There are many treatments on the market for acne scars so it may be hard to decide which will be the best option for you.
Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion is performed by a dermatologist using a high-speed brush to effectively plane off your skin to try to remove scars. This is extremely invasive and will require several days downtime following this treatment. Post inflammatory pigmentation (PIH) is very likely. Additionally, this treatment is not suitable for deeper scars.
This treatment is a less intense version of dermabrasion and thus the results are less effective. A spray of small crystals removes surface skin, like exfoliating does. There is no downtime for this treatment and it is not recommended for anything more than very mild, superficial scars.
Chemical peels
A chemical peel can reduce the appearance of some acne scars and hyperpigmentation. Usually this leaves the skin red for a few days following treatment. This treatment is also not recommended for deeper or more severe scarring.
Fraxel
Fraxel is sometimes recommended by doctors but is usually the wrong solution. Fraxel is effective in general rejuvenation of skin that has no acne scar issues. It is used to renew the texture but is limited in repairing acne scar due to its irregular nature. Laser can only fire in a straight line and it cannot remodel all the hardened collagen scar tissue.
SublativeTM Acne Scar Treatment
This is the most effective acne scar removal treatment. Sublative technology is clinically proven to improve the appearance of moderate to severe acne scarring on all skin types.
HOW DOES SUBLATIVE TREATMENT WORK?
Sublative uses fractional radio frequency (RF). The RF flows around the hardened collagen scar tissue and the energy breaks down the scar and encourages natural skin healing by way of new collagen and elastin production. As the treatment targets the dermal layer of the skin and triggers the natural healing cycle, your epidermal layer will be undamaged and new healthy cells will be producing collagen and elastin, assisting to fill-in and smooth the appearance of depressed scars. During your treatment, a topical anaesthetic cream will be applied to minimise discomfort. You may then find you have a slight redness which typically lasts around 24 hours.
Sublative is most effective when treatments are completed once a month for three to five months, with a top up treatment once every six months following. Everyone has different scars and the best way to get the most accurate information on treatment frequency is to speak to our friendly and qualified skin therapists.
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
To find out if Sublative is right for you, simply book a free skin analysis with our professional team. They will go through your individual needs and tailor a treatment plan and personal quote for you.
Sublative treatments will vary is cost from person to person as it will depend on the size of the area that needs to be treated.
