ACNE & SCARS

in Toronto

GET RID OF YOUR ACNE & SCARS

When bacteria develop within acne blemishes, the body naturally releases antibodies (via white blood cells) as a natural form of self-defense. These antibodies enter clogged follicles and destroy any bacteria present. While eliminating bacteria, these antibodies can inflame and damage the surrounding skin. Visible skin depressions and pigmentation changes that characterize acne scarring are left behind. Scars from acne are more severe in people with weakened immune systems or a history of scarring.

ACNE & SCAR FACTS

HOW YOU CAN GET RID OF ACNE SCARS

Acne scars can be removed non-surgically with a customized aesthetic medical treatment. Choose from skin peels, injectable fillers, laser technologies, customized medical skincare products, Dermaroller and microneedling

STOPPING ACNE SCARS FROM DEVELOPING IN THE FIRST PLACE IS KEY

Edelstein Cosmetic helps patients with acne scars find the right solution to their needs while also taking their personal preferences and budget into account. Before recommending the best way to get rid of acne scars for you, our head medical aesthetician ensures that any active acne has been addressed first. Your skin type and condition are assessed; then an acne scar removal treatment regimen is formulated that incorporates one or more methods of treatment in order to most effectively reduce or eliminate scarring. The length of your regimen and treatment method depends on the type of acne scar(s) you may have. Please note that hypertrophic scars may require a more extensive regimen.

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ACNE SCAR TREATMENT METHODS

SKIN PEELS

Skin peels are ideal for the treatment of superficial acne scarring. Deeper scars can be reduced, but not removed entirely. Peels work by removing the skin’s outer layers, allowing new tissue to grow free of scars.

 

One of the most troubling risks is undesirable pigmentation changes, and we have found that chemical peels do not negatively affect skin colour in any way. Glycolic acid safely provides complementary scar reduction in patients with darker skin types. However, other chemical peel types have been able to achieve optimal results as well.

 

Read more about  Skin Peels

INJECTABLE FILLERS

Juvéderm® dermal filler is formulated with hyaluronic acid, a substance naturally produced by our bodies that helps keep our skin supple and plump. Injection with Juvéderm® is an acne scar remover that fills out acne scar depressions, making the surface of your skin more even and smooth.

 

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LASER TREATMENTS

Acne scars can be removed with medical laser technology, and treatment involves far less discomfort, risks and recovery times when compared to invasive surgery. Laser acne scar removal is ideal for patients with moderate to serious scarring.

 

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MEDICAL GRADE SKINCARE

Depending on the type and severity of your acne scars, effective treatment through topical acne scar products may be an option for you. An acne scar cream may be used alone or as part of a more comprehensive treatment regimen.

 

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MICRONEEDLING TECHNOLOGY

The eDermastamp® is an all natural treatment that works at the cellular level to eliminate acne scars. Based on micro-needle technology, it boosts the skin’s ability to create new fibroblast cells which migrate to the scar and replace damaged tissue with new layers of collagen. Simultaneously, new capillaries are formed to nourish the targeted area with an abundant supply of oxygen and blood pigments (haemoglobin), thereby promoting the healing process and enabling the colour of scarred tissue to adopt the same shade as healthier, unaffected skin. This technology has been clinically proven to effectively treat a variety of scars, including hypertrophic scarring. We have found that the eDermastamp® is the preferred treatment for acne scarring if chemical peels aren’t effective.

 

Severe acne scars have traditionally been treated with surgical excision or dermabrasion. These techniques remove the top layer of the skin and are indeed effective in getting rid of acne scars, but require anaesthesia and a long recovery. The development of CO2 laser resurfacing in the mid-1990s as a treatment for acne scars, while popular, often results in further scarring and still requires lengthy recovery times.

 

People suffering from acne scars who have tried to solve their problem with over the counter skin care products may feel as if their damaged skin can never be repaired. This isn’t true. Edelstein Cosmetic can help to reduce or eliminate even the most severe scars, restoring the clarity and health of your complexion as it was before you had acne.

 

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AN OVERVIEW OF ACNE SCARS

Even after acne has been successfully managed, the condition often continues to trouble sufferers through lingering issues like scarring, discolouration and skin pitting. Treating active acne blemishes and acne scars are two separate problems that must be approached in different ways. It’s important for patients to understand that the type of treatments used to dry and heal acne may not be effective in reducing scarring and acne-related hyperpigmentation. The best solutions for scar reduction are specifically designed for that purpose and work to either manage existing aesthetic concerns or, if possible, prevent them from forming in the first place.

HOW AND WHY DOES AN ACNE SCAR DEVELOP?

All scars are formed as a by-product of the body’s efforts to heal tissue injury. While acne may not seem like a traditional injury it, like a cut, involves tissue damage. The body responds to the bacteria and sebum build-up that characterizes acne by sending white blood cells and inflammatory molecules to the damaged sebaceous follicle cells. These “natural defense” agents linger at the site of the acne breakout until the injured area is safe from infection and fully healed. As in a healed cut or burn, the repaired tissue may not return to its original state after recovery. This leads to the formation of a scar.

Scars worsen in proportion to acne severity. If substantial infection has developed in the deeper layers of the skin, the healing process may result in lost tissue and scarring. Because infection can drastically worsen the extent of a scar, squeezing or picking at acne blemishes is strongly discouraged. Damaging a blemish further injures the skin tissue and exacerbates infections.

TREATABLE ACNE SCARS AND DISCOLOURATIONS

Determining what acne scar remedies are right for you depends on what type of scarring you have.

  • Macular acne scars, or macules, are flat and are discoloured as the result of either increased or decreased skin pigmentation. This is the most common type. They are brown or red and may fade over several months. Atrophic macules are typically wrinkled and soft. Because the blood vessels just beneath the scar may be visible, atrophic macules can appear to turn blue with time. Follicular macular atrophy scars often develop on the chest and back. They are tiny, soft and white, resembling extremely small whiteheads that have formed just underneath the skin.
  • Soft scars are usually quite small and are linear or circular in shape. They are characterized by sloped edges that merge with the undamaged skin surrounding their indistinct boundaries.
  • Boxcar acne scars resemble chicken pox scars. When viewed from above they appear round or oval and have sharp vertical edges on the cross section.
  • Rolling acne scars cause the skin to appear as if it is undulating. The appearance of rolling scars is caused by underlying tissues tethering to the skin’s surface.
  • Deep pit acne scars involve the loss of subcutaneous skin tissue. This lost volume results in the appearance of deep, sharp indents. Also known as depressed fibrotic scars, they are usually very steep, sharp and large. Untreated ice pick marks can worsen and turn into depressed fibrotic scars over time.
  • Ice-pick acne scars are skin indentations that look like small holes. They appear as cratered skin depressions resulting from deep, nodular acne. These scars are formed due to tissue loss and may be either shallow or deep depending on the severity of skin injury.
  • Hypertrophic acne scars are raised and pigmented.
  • Keloid acne scars are thick, raised and purple in colour. They may become larger over time.

POST-INFLAMMATORY HYPERPGMENTATION

If the skin changes colour after an acne blemish has healed, the resulting change is called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). Mild pigmentation changes may diminish over time, but will fade much more slowly if exposed to the sun.

PREVENTING ACNE SCARS

The best way to fight against acne scars is to prevent them from forming in the first place. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to properly treat all active acne without unnecessarily damaging the skin tissue or spreading infection in the process. Pimples should not be extracted at home, but should be handled by a qualified medical aesthetician who can remove them without hurting the skin or allowing harmful bacteria to spread. It’s essential that pimples (especially deep, cystic blemishes) are treated before they have a chance to infect the surrounding tissue.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Use sun block and limit exposure to UV. This is an even more important step for anyone undergoing a course of prescription acne treatment.

Avoid using shower puffs and abrasive scrubs as they can hurt delicate skin, spread bacteria and ultimately, lead to more noticeable scarring.

Stop smoking, as the habit can make scar development more likely. Cigarettes deposit toxins in the pores, contribute to free radical damage and take away from the skin’s oxygen reserves.

IS YOUR SKIN READY FOR ACNE SCAR TREATMENT?

Preparing the skin for scar removal begins by treating any active acne. Why is the first step of any scar treatment regimen stopping acne breakouts? Active blemishes may lead to further marks even as existing ones are healed, making it essential that the root cause behind scarring is addressed before moving forward. After this issue has been resolved, our head medical aesthetician will carefully assesses your skin before deciding on the best course of action. Our trained skin care specialist will be able to recommend the right treatment course for a patient’s specific needs. This level of guidance helps in avoiding the common problems associated with using products that may be too strong for delicate or actively healing skin. Once acne is under control, patients may begin to take advantage of treatment options that reduce scarring.

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