Acne Scars - How To Reduce The Risk Of Developing Them

Acne scars can be a terrible thing to live with.  Suffering from the acne is bad enough, but then the permanent discoloration and scarring afterward is like a kick while you're down.  In order to avoid getting them, you can take some steps to protect yourself.  This article will discuss some steps like this, which should keep you free of acne scars in later life.

Early treatment of acne can go a long way in reducing the severity of the acne and the scarring that results, after the outbreaks end. Studies show that boys and girls who develop acne by the time they are ten years old will probably suffer severe acne scarring by the time they reach their teenage years, if the acne is not properly treated when first diagnosed. Early treatment also goes a long way in preventing the emotional distress that develops as the child moves into and through his or her teen years.

Anxiety, loss of self esteem, and depression are common, along with the physical scars that result from the big red bumps or painful cysts that form. These cysts can cause deep tissue scarring internally, as well as scarring on top of the skin. These scars are not life threatening but do cause severe emotional distress in those who suffer.

It is important to understand that treatment of acne scars cannot begin until acne eruptions cease totally.  So it is paramount to control and to  end the outbreaks as soon as possible. Sometimes it will take more than one type medication, and not every medication works for everyone. Doctors recommend that treatments continue for as long as necessary in order to keep scarring to a minimum.

That may not always be possible if the family has a genetic history of keloid scar growth. Keloids are those raised scars on the body. They are genetic, in that if a relative has them, then chances are you are going to develop them. Keloids are treated with acid compounds and steroids, never surgery, because your body will react to the surgery by forming more and bigger keloids.

The occurrence of scarring is also difficult to predict primarily because everyone scars differently. No studies have been done to determine how deep scarring can go, or how long it will persist. No one can  tell who or even if, anyone will scar in the first place. It's kind of a wait, and we'll treat it if we see it, situation. Some acne scars are caused by the formation of too much tissue others are caused by the loss of tissue. There are numerous treatments for both, which should be discussed with a qualified dermatologist.

Article Tags: Acne Scars

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR