Residual scarring or pitting from acne is common in people who have suffered from cystic acne or more severe forms of acne. Acne scars are often the result of an inflamed lesion, follicle, or pore that becomes engorged with excess oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria. Once the pore swells, it causes a deep break in the follicle wall. The infection spills out into the dermis and destroys healthy skin tissue. Inflamed acne is much more likely to leave behind than smaller non-inflamed blemishes.
Acne scarring can also be caused from the constant picking or popping deeper pimples and cysts.
Scarring or pitting can vary in depth from very shallow to quite deep. Various forms of acne scarring are:
- Ice-pick (these are deep, narrow, pitted scars)
- Rolling (broad depressions with sloping edge)
- Boxcar (broad depressions with sharply defined edges)
- Atrophic (flat, thin scars or depressed scars)
- Keloid (thick lumpy scars)
Micro needling therapy, also known as skin needling, collagen induction therapy, or derma rolling is a recent addition to the treatment of managing and treating post-acne scars.
Micro-Needling uses either a manual device known as the Dermaroller or an electronic medical device that penetrates at variable depths set by a trained technician. The appropriate scar treatments selected should be based on the scar type, skin type and the downtime chosen by the patient. Depths can vary from 0.5 to 1.5 mm, which is generally the depth of most acne scars. The needle penetrates the skin causing a minor injury to the tissue. This penetration gently stimulates the cells to form new collagen and fibroblasts in the scarred area, lifting and filling the depressions. This regeneration of collagen continues for months, building up volume and collagen within the scarred areas.
Multiple Micro-Needling treatments can give a patient the same results as fractional laser treatments, laser resurfacing or strong chemical peels. Acne scars that are treated with Micro-Needling have a much shorter recovery time than those treated with other laser treatments.
For very deep acne scars, combining micro needling with other treatments such as dermal fillers can provide remarkable results.
Four to six treatments are recommended for this procedure to be effective. Each treatment should be spaced approximately one month apart.
Lasting Looks Anti-Aging & Laser Clinic in Toronto will provide a customized treatment plan for acne scarring including specific products as well as other personalized treatments.