Face Acne Scar & Scar Removal Treatment in Mumbai

There are myths associated with the effect of these factors on acne formation, which in reality have little effect on acne:

• Chocolate and greasy foods. Eating chocolate or greasy food has little to no effect on acne.
• Hygiene: Acne isn’t caused by dirty skin. In fact, scrubbing the skin too hard or cleansing with harsh soaps or chemicals irritates the skin and can make acne worse.
• Cosmetics: Cosmetics don’t necessarily worsen acne, especially if you use oil-free makeup that doesn’t clog pores (non-comedogenic) and remove makeup regularly. Non-oily cosmetics don’t interfere with the effectiveness of acne drugs.

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Following are the types of acne:

• Grade 1: Comedones, occasional papules.
• Grade 2: Papules, comedones, few pustules.
• Grade 3: Predominant pustules, nodules, abscesses.
• Grade 4: Comedones, papules, pustules, nodules, cysts – severe form of acne

Other types of acne

• Acne vulgaris: results from the clogging and further inflammation of hair follicles and sebaceous glands. It is most common in teenagers.
• Nodulocystic acne: It’s a more severe form of acne. Multiple inflamed and non-inflamed nodules, as well as scars, are popular features. Males are more likely to get it.
• Acne excorieé: It happens when acne is compulsively squeezed and scratched, resulting in scabs and scratches, also known as “picker’s acne.” It’s most common in teenage girls, and it’s thought to be linked to underlying depression, anxiety, or emotional issues.
• Acne fulminans: also known as “Acne maligna”, is a painful ulcerative type of acne with a sudden onset and systemic symptoms. Its prevalence appears to be declining, presumably as a result of earlier and more effective acne treatment.
• Acne in Children: Teens and kids get acne because of the hormone changes that come with puberty.Neonates, infants, and small kids have also reported some acne breakouts due to hyperactive sebaceous glands.
• Acne in pregnancy: A woman can grow acne or have a new breakout as a result of the hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy. Prescription acne medications should not be used during pregnancy because they can cross the placenta and cause birth defects, miscarriage, or stillbirth.
• Acne in people with diabetes: People with diabetes have a higher risk of inflamed acne breakouts because they have a lower tolerance to skin and soft tissue infections. Some prescription acne medications, such as isotretinoin, a vitamin A derivative, may affect blood sugar levels, so if you use them, your doctor will want to keep an eye on you.
• Acne due to medicines: Some drugs, like corticosteroids, lithium, anticonvulsants, barbiturates, androgenic steroids, DHEA, and medications that contain bromides or iodides, can cause true acne or acne-like eruptions
• Adult acne: Adult acne, or post-adolescent acne, is acne that occurs after age 25. For the most part, the same factors that cause acne in adolescents are at play in adult acne.
• Acne scarring: Acne scarring refers to a healing fibrous process in which new collagen is laid down to heal a full-thickness injury.
• Chloracne: This acne is associated with exposure to certain halogenated aromatic compounds, such as chlorinated
•  dioxins and dibenzofurans.
• Comedonal acne: They are flesh-colored acne that usually develops over the forehead and cheeks. Whiteheads and Blackheads are the most common comedonal acne.
• Follicular occlusion syndrome: It is a tetrad comprising of 4 conditions (Hidradenitis suppurativa, acne conglobata, dissecting cellulitis of the scalp, and pilonidal sinus) occurring altogether.
• Infantile acne: It generally affects the cheeks, and sometimes the forehead and chin, of children aged six weeks to one year. It usually gets normal within a few months.

How acne is formed?

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Certain areas of the face may be more prone to acne breakouts for various reasons.

• Hairline and temples:

The use of some hair products can cause acne around the hairline and temples, known as forehead acne. Oily or waxy hair products can clog pores as they spread to the nearby skin of the face. This can happen to both men and women of any skin color.

Preventing oily hair products from coming into contact with the face is particularly necessary.

• T-zone – Forehead, nose, and chin:

Breakouts can occur more frequently in these areas than in other parts of the face due to increased oil production.

• Cheeks:

Breakouts on the cheeks can occur as a result of acne mechanica, which develops due to friction or rubbing of the skin.

• Jawline:

Scientists have tended to link acne around the jawline to fluctuations in hormones.
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While the causes and treatments for certain skin disorders are similar to acne, they are not the same. If you have any doubts, you can always consult a dermatologist. During the examination, they will talk about these possibilities and rule them out one by one.

• Rosacea:

Rosacea is sometimes mistakenly referred to as “adult acne,” but it is caused by a different mechanism than acne in adults.

• Folliculitis:

Folliculitis is a condition in which the hair follicle is inflamed and bumps or pustules may result. It is usually caused by bacteria and is treated with topical or oral antibiotics.

• Keratosis Pilaris:

Keratosis pilaris is a rash marked by small, rough, “goose-flesh” like bumps most often found on the upper arms, thighs, and buttocks, and sometimes the face.

• Miliaria Rubra:

Miliaria Rubra is a rash characterized by small red bumps on the surface of the skin and is caused by excessive heat exposure.

• Rashes Due to Certain Cancer Drugs:

Some targeted therapy drugs for cancer, cause a rash that closely resembles acne.

Your Acne Treatment Cost

Your Acne Treatment Cost.

The cause of acne can be different in men and women, so acne treatment for men and acne treatment for women can differ according to that. Your dermatologist will discuss this with you in detail during consultation. Although there are still many options that works for anyone:

Acne Treatment at Home

Skin care habits

Here are some skin care habits that dermatologists recommend to help you get the best results from your acne treatment:

1. Wash your face twice a day, especially after sweating.
2. Use your fingertips to apply a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser to avoid irritation.
3. Use gentle products, for instance, those that are alcohol-free.
4.  Avoid rubbing your skin.
5. Try to rinse with lukewarm water
6. If you have oily hair, shampoo regularly.
7. Let your skin heal naturally, don’t pick or pop your acne.
8. Keep your hands off your face as touching can cause flare-ups.
9. Avoid getting tan as it damages your skin.

Sunscreen

It’s important to apply sunscreen to scars every day. Scars may darken or become more apparent as a result of exposure to the sun.

Tea tree oil

Some essential oils like tea tree oils have been used for ages for treating acne at home. It has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties which help in controlling bacterial growth and reduces the swelling for fast healing.

Apple cider vinegar

Its antibacterial property helps fight the bacterial growth and the acid in it keeps the skin healthy. It also suppresses inflammation thus preventing the chance of scarring.

Green tea

Green tea is rich in antioxidants and helps in the faster healing of acne. Apply green tea soaked cotton over the skin and let it dry.

Reduce stress

The relation between stress and wound healing is very strong. Stress slows the healing process and also increases the chance of scarring in the future.

Diet Modifications

Some dietary changes, such as switching to low-glycaemic index carbohydrates or reducing dairy, can benefit some people with acne. High glycaemic diet results in high blood sugar which causes inflammation and increases oil production by skin cells. Thus, following a low-glycemic diet may reduce acne because this diet eliminates spikes in your blood sugar.

Studies have shown that people consuming milk are 44% more likely to have an acne breakout than others. Although no evidence was there for yogurt and cheese.

Some of the suggested improvements are in line with general dietary recommendations for good health, such as consuming more whole grains instead of sugar and refined carbohydrates.

Although your diet may play a role in triggering or exacerbating your acne, keeping your skin clear necessitates more than a change in your eating habits. New breakouts can be avoided by using acne-friendly skin care and acne medicine.

Over the counter creams

These common active ingredients can help in reducing acne flare-ups:

Benzoyl peroxide: This ingredient destroys acne-causing bacteria, aids in the removal of excess oil from the skin, and eliminates dead skin cells that can clog pores. When using benzoyl peroxide, be cautious because it has bleaching properties also, hence it is important to know how much benzoyl oxide is needed for you. A consultation from a dermatologist is thus necessary before purchasing this medicine. Your doctor could also tell you if the chemical is suitable for your skin or not, and how to use it as well.

Calamine lotion: Calamine lotion has drying properties; hence it is commonly opted for treating acne. Its drying properties help in drying up the acne lesions hence clearing them out faster. Although care should be taken on the amount of calamine lotion used, as it can over dry the skin easily and could lead to unwanted damages. Consult a dermatologist before using for better results.

Tretinoin (vitamin-A):  It’s especially useful for comedonal acne (clogged pores and blackheads). It makes the dead skin cells to fall off so they don’t stick together and clog your pore openings.

Clascoterone: is a newly approved topical treatment for moderate to severe acne which is considered an alternative to spironolactone. It blocks the hormones that are responsible for acne and keeps them from binding to skin cells, hence decreasing excess oil production and inflammation.

Adapalene: This medicine is a retinoid i.e. derived from vitamin A. It affects the way skin cells grow and helps prevent clogged pores.

Triclosan/triclocarban: An topical antibiotic cream that kills the bacteria clogging the pore.

Sulfur: removes dead skin cells that clog pores and helps remove excess oil but have an unpleasant odor.

Oral medications

Oral acne drugs function internally. These drugs are commonly used to treat extreme acne breakouts or cystic acne. They’re also used to treat less serious forms of acne when topical remedies aren’t working.

1. Oral antibiotics – Dermatologists often prescribe Doxycycline and Erythromycin for fighting the bacterial infection causing the acne.
2. Vitamin supplements like zinc– They help is faster wound healing and thus reduce the chances of scarring.
3. Isotretinoin: a synthetic form of vitamin A. It is considered the most effective for severe acne. If you’re pregnant, isotretinoin should never be used as it can harm your baby.
4. Hormonal treatments: Birth control pills and spironolactone are not first-line acne treatment, but they can help women whose acne break out often around the time of their menstrual cycle or who have hormonal disorders that cause acne.

Hormonal therapy

Two hormonal therapies that can effectively clear acne in women are:

• Oral contraceptive pills
• Spironolactone

These medications must be prescribed by a doctor.

If you start hormone therapy, you’ll need to see your dermatologist on a regular schedule. When you first start taking spironolactone, you’ll need to see your dermatologist every 4 to 6 weeks so that the dose can be progressively increased.

Oral contraceptive pills: Blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, acne nodules, and cysts have all been found to react well to the pill.

The pill is commonly thought to be healthy for females. Some women, on the other hand, should avoid it. If the pill is a safe and effective treatment choice for you, your dermatologist will tell you.

It usually takes 2-3 months for the pills to show some results.

Possible side effects include the following.

• Blood clots
• Heart attack
• High blood pressure

Spironolactone: It can successfully treat deep-seated, tender acne on the lower face, jawline, or neck when other options don’t work.

Because of its side effects, spironolactone is not recommended for treating acne in men. When taking this acne drug, men develop breasts.

For healthy women, spironolactone is considered effective. It reduces skin breakouts and oiliness in just a few weeks.

Possible side effects are:

• Painful periods and cramping
• Irregular periods
• Breast tenderness
• Breast enlargement

These side effects can be lowered when taken with the pill.

Other possible side effects of taking spironolactone include fatigue, headache, and dizziness.

A word of caution:

• While taking spironolactone it is advised to take birth control pills as it can create birth defects.
• If you take spironolactone, too much potassium can be dangerous. Skip the coconut water and supplements that contain potassium.

When taking hormonal therapy for acne, it is important to:

• Give the medication time to work
• Take the medication at the same time every day
• Use everything on your acne treatment plan
• Keep all follow-up appointments with your dermatologist
• Contact your dermatologist’s office right away if you experience signs of a serious side effect, such as cramping in your leg or arm.

Surgeries and Specialist-Driven Procedures

These are treatments that are performed by a dermatologist to treat mild to severe acne, depending on the severity like:

• Comedone extractions: Dermatologists execute this treatment to clean out clogged pores with precision extraction.
• Acne treatment facials: The goal of this treatment is to clear your pores so you have fewer breakouts.
• Chemical peels: This procedure exfoliates the skin and clear the pores to promote the production of new skin cells.
• Microdermabrasion: This technique uses a machine to quickly remove the top layer of skin, allowing the pores to open up. It also helps with cases of mild acne and post-acne hyperpigmentation.
• Corticosteroid injections: These injections are used to treat large and inflamed cysts. This procedure is performed by a trained dermatologist in a sterile, safe establishment.
• Acne surgery: An excision might be required to drain stubborn acne when everything else has been tried off.

These procedures aren’t supposed to be used as a stand-alone treatment for acne. Instead, think about using these as add-ons to supplement your current acne treatment.

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Get Rid Of Acne Now

To obtain the best results, your dermatologist may recommend more than one treatment as it may be necessary to give you the results you want.

The treatments that a dermatologist may use to treat acne scars include the following.

• Acne scar surgery
• Acne scar surgery followed with injections
• Acne scar surgery followed by radiations
• Resurfacing procedures
• Fat injections
• Subcision method
• Mesotherapy
• Carboxy Therapy
• Combinational method
• Fillers
• Skin tightening
• Electrodesiccation
• Injections
• Cryosurgery
• Scar creams, gels, and silicone dressings

Acne scar surgery

Acne scar surgery is performed by dermatologists to treat very visible acne scars and to reduce raised acne scars. The goal is to make the scar less visible. Over time, the scar should disappear. During this operation, you will be awake and numb, so you will not feel anything.

A dermatologist will raise the scar to perform acne scar surgery. The closer a scar is to the skin’s surface, the less visible it becomes. Breaking up scar tissue is another form of acne scar surgery.

Excision and Punch Replacement Graft For Acne Scars

• In excision, the doctor makes cuts in the skin to remove the acne scar and then closes the wound with stitches.
• In punch replacement grafting, the doctor uses a round sharp tool matched to the size of the scar and then uses it to remove it, like a punching machine. This is followed by a skin graft, usually taken from behind the ear, which is used to fill the wound.

Acne scar surgery, followed by injections

Dermatologists often treat raised scars with corticosteroids, 5-FU, or interferon injections after surgery. Acne scar surgery combined with these injections is now one of the most common therapies for raised scars. For a few months, most patients undergo injections once a month.

Acne scar surgery, followed by radiation

Radiation has been shown in studies to help prevent raised scars from reappearing after acne scar surgery. Some physicians do not recommend radiation therapy because it has the ability to cause complications years or decades later.

Resurfacing procedures

Resurfacing exfoliates dead unhealthy layers of skin, which allows the skin to produce new skin cells.

1. Laser skin resurfacing
2. Chemical peeling
3. Dermabrasion
4. Microdermabrasion

Acne treatment with Laser

Lasers and other light treatments can treat raised scars safely and effectively. Studies have shown that treating an acne scar with a pulsed dye laser (PDL) can significantly help reduce the itch and pain, diminish color, and flatten a raised scar. For people with light skin complexion, intense pulsed light (IPL) also may be a treatment option as it increases blood supply that promotes collagen production.

In the market, many types of lasers are used to treat skin problems. The wavelength, laser light, and amount of laser absorption in the skin help doctors decide the clinical applications of these devices.

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Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion consists of manual removal of epidermis and upper dermis using hydrogen peroxide and sandpaper or using rotating motorized hand piece, diamond-embedded fraises, and wire brush. Removal of superficial skin layers results in a smoother wound healing process and new collagen forming, all of which ultimately leads to the lightening of acne scars.

Micro-needling: Also known as collagen inducing therapy

Micro needling is a method that involves using thin sterile needles to create hundreds of very thin holes on the skin by using the micro pen machine (Dermaroller). As the skin heals, it allows the cells to produce more collagen and elastin, thus regenerating the skin.

You will need to follow a skin care plan while undergoing treatment.

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is a painless procedure that helps in reducing the appearance of acne scars. This procedure targets the upper layer of skin (epidermis), and works by stimulating the skin to tighten collagen and elastin fibers.

Chemical peeling 

Chemical peeling is the most common cosmetic procedure in scar treatment and has been performed for years. In this procedure, certain chemical agents are used that do control destructions of the epidermis and dermis and promote wound healing which results in smoother skin.

These chemical agent includes:

Alpha hydroxy acids

The mild acid exfoliates the outer layer of the skin thus removing the dead skin cells, to help remove discoloration and rough skin.

Lactic acid

Lactic acid peels performed by a dermatologist once every two weeks for three months enhanced the skin’s texture, appearance, and pigmentation while also lightening acne scars.

Retinoids

Retinoids can help minimize discoloration and make scars less visible and speed up cell regeneration and enhance skin texture. When using something that includes retinoids, make sure to use sunscreen every day.

Salicylic acid

When applied topically, salicylic acid cleans pores, decreases swelling and redness, and exfoliates the skin. It’s regarded as one of the most successful acne scar remedies.

Acne scars that are nearly flat react well to resurfacing. Deep acne scars cannot be easily treated even with Dermabrasion, which eliminates the top layers of skin as well as some of the middle layers.

Fat injections

Fat grafting was developed in recent years after widespread use of liposuction. The method entails removing fat through liposuction under low pressure, processing the fat, and then placing it on the treated area. Autologous fat grafting appears to be a promising and successful scar treatment option. In general, we can claim that treated areas revert to natural skin-like characteristics that are clinically noticeable, resulting in both cosmetic and functional benefits.

Using nano fat for treating acne scars has its own advantages.

• It significantly lightens the scars and discoloration.
• Since it uses the patient’s own fat, the results are natural looking and long lasting than any other method.
• There is no chance of allergy or rejection
• Could be clubbed with other procedures
• Nano fat has multiple advantages as it can treat scars, wrinkles, discolorations, and several other things in one go.

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Subcision method

It is a simple, safe, up-to-date method in which a standard device with special needles called the needlepoint is used. This increases the collagen and fibre

production by skin cells thus lightening the acne scar.

Mesotherapy 

Mesotherapy is one of the rejuvenation techniques that inject hormones, vitamins, and plant extracts into the skin to help regenerate and tighten the skin as well as remove fat.

Carboxy therapy

Carboxy therapy is a medical treatment that involves the use of carbon dioxide for medicinal purposes. An indication of oxygen deficiency is sent during the treatment when medical sterile carbon dioxide gas is administered to the skin, and the organism replaces carbon dioxide with oxygen within minutes.

Combinational method

Many studies have explored the effectiveness of using a mixture of treatments to treat acne scars. When PRP combined with ablative fractional CO2 laser was used for acne scars treatment it was found that the combination was highly successful than using them separately, in treating acne scars rather and furthermore improves subjective patient satisfaction.

Research also shows how adding PRP to the micro-needling resulted in better results and high patient satisfaction.

Your dermatologist should have an extensive training and knowledge to know which combination will give you the most promising results.

Fillers

Fillers are used by dermatologists to safely and efficiently plump depressed acne scars. A dermatologist can use collagen, the patient’s own fat, or another substance to fill acne scars. Many fillers produce temporary effects that last anywhere from 6 to 18 months while some fillers could have a permanent impact also.

Both temporary and permanent fillers have unique pros and cons. Your dermatologist will discuss about them in detail in the consultation.

Several cosmetic fillers have been developed for the treatment of acne scars by swelling of tissue in these scars and stimulating collagen production.

Skin tightening

Dermatologists also use radiofrequency technology to tighten the skin. Radiofrequency is used in this technique to heat the skin layers, causing skin contraction and the formation of collagen. Depressed acne marks become less visible as the skin tightens.

Radiofrequency treatment requires multiple visits and some at-home care. Apply sunscreen every morning and a moisturizing cream at night for at least one week after each treatment.

Electrodesiccation

This procedure includes heating the tissue with electric probes, which causes the tissue to die. This procedure can be used as part of a treatment plan since it is ineffective as a stand-alone treatment for acne scars.

Injections

This procedure includes getting medicines directly injected into the scars. This will in turn soften and flatten raised, thick scars.

Many patients receive injections of corticosteroids. Other drugs that can be used are fluorouracil (5-FU) and interferon in treating raised acne scars. Often a combination of these drugs works the best. For optimum results, multiple visits are required.

If the scar does not respond (or stops responding) after you receive the 4th injection, acne scar surgery may be recommended.

Cryosurgery

This procedure freezes the scar tissue, causing it to die and fall off over time. A series of cryotherapy sessions and corticosteroid injections are often used to boost the outcomes. The key disadvantage is that cryotherapy will result in the formation of permanent light spots on the treated skin.

However, cryosurgery is not recommended for people of color.

Scar creams, gels, and silicone dressings

These products, which are often available without a prescription, can be used at home to treat scars. They can help with itchiness and pain and shrinking, flattening, and fading of raised scars.

Silicone dressings and bandages are particularly beneficial since silicone hydrates the skin. This can help to relieve itching and pain while also making the skin more flexible.

To be effective, these products must be used continuously.

What outcome can a person with acne scars expect?

Acne scars can be reduced in size and visibility with most procedures. Many of the treated acne scars disappear with time, becoming almost unnoticeable.

Your results depend almost entirely on the knowledge and skill of the doctor performing the treatment. Choosing a board-certified dermatologist ensures you an optimum outcome.

Conclusion

To maximize acne scar care, there are no detailed recommendations available. There are a variety of medical and surgical treatment options available, and laser devices can help achieve realistic results. More study is required, to measure the benefits and determine the length of the results, as well as the cost-effectiveness of various treatments.