Are Acne Scars Permanent

If ever you have looked at yourself and thought, "wow, these marks from my breakout will never go away, " I must say right now, you are definitely not the only one to think that. The short answer is: it depends. Some marks are just temporary visitors, while others are structural changes to your skin. The good news? In case acne scars are "permanent" per a medical definition, they absolutely don't have to be permanent in their visual sense.

Why Some Marks Fade and Others Stay

It is of great importance to distinguish between real scarring and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).

• The Temporary: Red or dark flat spots (post, inflammatory hyperpigmentation) that are often mistaken for scars. These usually disappear within 3, 12 months as your skin heals itself.
• The Permanent: True acne scars are the result of damage to the deeper layers of the skin which causes areas of the skin with either a lack or an overgrowth of collagen. This leads to a change in the skin's texture, for instance, pits or small bumps that are raised.

Comparing Acne Scar Types & Outlook

Understanding the type of scar you have is the first step toward the right treatment.

How to Improve "Permanent" Scars

If you are dealing with texture changes, home remedies like honey or aloe vera won't "fill in" the indentations. However, professional dermatology has come a long way.

1. Resurfacing Treatments - Chemical peels and laser therapy remove the damaged top layers of skin thus the body is tempted to replace the old layers with
2. Collagen Boosting - Microneedling introduces very small "micro injuries" which consequently activate the skin's natural repair mechanism, thus the skin is actually being "plumped" from the inside to the outer layer which results in lessening the depth of the scars.
3. Fillers - For the case of deep, indented scars, dermatologists can inject temporary dermal fillers under the skin to visually raise the skin surface and make it even with the surrounding area.

The Takeaway

Are acne scars permanent? From a structural point of view, yesbut from a visual point of view, no. Most scars can be extremely lightened or even made almost invisible through the use of a correct cocktail of active skincare (for instance retinoids) and in, office professional treatments. The essential thing here is maintaining patience and a consistent regimen.