Scarring, whether caused by acne or external trauma is a lasting, unwelcome reminder that can mar a person’s complexion and self-esteem. If you’re suffering from scarring, our team of dermatologists and aestheticians at Nashville Skin offer a variety of advanced and cosmetic dermatology options that offer long-term improvements to restore your complexion.
With an evaluation, our practitioners will create a customized, comprehensive approach to reduce the appearance of your scars and revitalize your skin. From laser resurfacing to medical-grade chemical peels, we are committed to finding the right treatment option that gives you the best possible results.
What Causes Acne Scars?
With acne, the pores in the skin can become clogged with oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells. This can cause the pores to become red, inflamed, and irritated. In some cases, the pore walls can erupt deep into the skin, affecting the deeper tissues and creating larger sores. As a result, the body will attempt to repair this damage by forming new collagen fibers. Unfortunately, these new fibers lack the original smoothness and will appear damaged.
The extent of the trauma can vary, with some scars remaining relatively shallow and easier to improve. With deeper scar tissue, there can be significant damage to the texture and smoothness of the skin, causing deep depressions and indentations.
General scarring is caused when the skin experiences trauma from an event like an infection, surgery, injury, burn or inflammation of the skin tissue. When the skin is damaged, the body has a natural healing response that repairs the tissue. A scar forms when the skin can’t restore itself to its previous, smooth condition. The new skin may be a different, harder texture or color.
There are two main types of scarring: Hypertrophic and Atrophic.
Hypertrophic scarring presents as raised bumps or ridges around the original area of trauma and is caused by the overproduction collagen. These types of scars are the result of an overproduction of healing fibers.
Atrophic scarring is caused by a loss of skin tissue during the healing process. “Icepick” and “boxcar” scars are two subcategories of atrophic scarring. Icepick scarring looks like tiny holes that have been poked into the skin. Boxcar scars are larger in size and appear more like chicken pox scars.
With acne scarring, it’s possible to have a combination of both hypertrophic and atrophic scars. Whether suffering from acne or general scars, in order to get successful improvements, it’s important to work with skilled skin care practitioners who can create a scar treatment plan that is customized to meet your unique skin care needs.
Acne Scar Treatments
At Nashville Skin, we understand that scars can be distressing. We are committed to providing the most effective cosmetic treatments that offer the fastest improvements through a comprehensive range of treatments that can successfully restore all skin types and tones. The first step towards regaining a smoother complexion is by simply scheduling a consultation with one of our practitioners to evaluate the type and extent of your scars and the best treatments to provide you with the healthy skin you desire.
Some of the best complexion restoring treatments we offer at Nashville Skin include:
Laser Resurfacing
Fractional laser resurfacing is a wonderful option for improving scars because it provides patients with maximum improvements in smoothing the skin. With a laser treatment, patients will not only experience smoother skin but also a restored texture and vibrancy.
Peels
Medical grade chemical peels are perfect for treating scars because they can penetrate the skin’s layers, providing deep, controlled exfoliation that reveals rejuvenated, healthier skin.
Photofacials
Scars can make facial skin appear rougher and more haggard. With the innovative Sciton Broadband light photofacial, this treatment will help improve skin texture and tone, resulting in a firmer, more youthful appearance.
Microneedling
Microneedling is a unique fractional technique that creates controlled micro-injuries to the skin, producing collagen and elastin as well as allowing topical creams and serums to be absorbed more effectively. Microneedling reduces the appearance of acne scars, pore size, and fine lines, as well as improves skin tone and texture.
FAQ
Q. Will my scarring go away on its own?
A. While some scarring may improve or even disappear with time, most trauma to the skin needs specialized techniques to help improve their appearance.
Q. What’s the best technique for scarring?
A. There is no single, best technique for scars that will give successful results for everyone. In order to have the best outcomes, it’s important to have an evaluation with one of our specialists at Nashville Skin to determine the type and extent of your scarring and customize a treatment plan to give you positive results.
Q. Will I need more than one treatment for my scarring?
A. Depending on the extent of your scarring, it is possible that you’ll need a series of treatments to get the most improvement. Some people with extensive scarring will need lifelong treatments to help maintain results.
Smooth Away Scars in Nashville
If you have scars, contact us today at one of our convenient Nashville locations (21st Avenue S., Southern Hills Medical Center, Centennial Medical Center and St. Thomas Medical Center – Lennox Village), or our Clarksville office to schedule a formal evaluation to determine the type and extent of your scarring. We’ll create an individualized treatment plan to alleviate the appearance of your scars and help revitalize your complexion.
Learn More About Our Cosmetic Dermatology Treatments