August is upon us, which means that in a few short weeks it will be time for all things back-to-school. Along with the essentials like loading up on supplies and prepping your laptop for lecture halls, it's also time to take care of a few things for yourself.
The return to classes can be exciting, but if you're living with acne scars, it can also be intimidating. However, thanks to the power of modern science, nothing needs to be permanent – not even scars. There's a new treatment that can help make your scars a thing of the past.
Understanding acne scars
Everybody deals with acne at some point or other in their lives, but what about acne scars? What are they, where do they come from and what can you do about them? According to MarketWatch, approximately 33 percent of acne sufferers end up with visible scarring, making it a large-scale issue.
It's a popular misconception that scars are simply the result of more concerted efforts at forcibly removing blemishes – see the requisite "popping the zits before prom" scene of every teen movie ever for reference. However, the reality is somewhat less dramatic. According to The Huffington Post, some acne lesions are simply more prone to scarring than others.
"They are mostly cystic lesions that feel painful underneath the skin and they don't really connect with the surface easily," New York dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe told The Huffington Post.
The deeper bacterial infection of these cystic pimples cause a more extreme white blood cell response in your skin, which may lead to greater skin damage sometimes resulting in scars. These marks vary in appearance, ranging from darker brown spots to red or purple marks on the skin, depending on skin type and tone.
Is prevention possible?
Understanding acne scars as a product of the type of acne you're afflicted with rather than the result of forcible removal may lead some to believe that some scarring is inevitable. The good news is that while you may not be able to prevent scars from forming completely, there are things you can do to reduce their likelihood.
More often than not, poorly treated acne is more likely to result in scarring. When blemishes surface you may be tempted to bury your head in the sand and ignore them, but this may actually be working against you in the long run. In fact, deeper cystic blemishes of the kind commonly linked with scarring in particular need to be addressed as quickly as possible. Often, as The Huffington Post noted, standard over-the-counter acne treatments are insufficient for these types of pimples, and a dermatologist-prescribed solution is recommended.
Zap scars, not confidence
Even if you find yourself with residual acne scarring, don't fret. Recently developed treatments have been introduced that can zap away any trace of unwanted facial scars.
One method that is gaining the most headlines is also the newest available to consumers. As MarketWatch reported, the PicoSure laser treatment has just been FDA-approved for use in the removal of acne scars. While the treatment is new to the market, it's paving its own way with encouraging results. Data reported by MarketWatch revealed that a physician-graded 50 percent improvement in the appearance of acne scars was experienced by 77 percent of patients who underwent the laser treatment.
Not only does this new laser treatment deliver results, it does so quickly. As the source indicated, patients can often see marked results in the appearance of their facial scars in as few as three treatments, and because the picosecond laser used in the procedure fires in such short bursts at such a short wavelength, the risk of further damage to skin is minimal.
PicoSure® is the latest technology for laser tattoo removal and treatment of acne scars and offers faster and better results in fewer treatments. It is the first and only aesthetic picosecond laser that is FDA-cleared for the removal of tattoos and acne scars. Visit www.picosurear.wpengine.com to learn more and find a PicoSure Practitioner near you.
