How to Treat Acne Scars at Home According to a Dermatologist

Table of Content

• Boxcar
• What are ice pick scars?
• What are boxcar acne scars?
• Ice-Pick Scars: What Are They & Treatment
• How Do Ice Pick Acne Scars Develop?

However, the deeper the scar, the more difficult it is to treat. The shallower your scar is, the more likely it could be made less visible through the use of resurfacing or other less-invasive treatments. The most effective procedures are punch excision and punch grafting. Non-surgical treatments are also available, but they vary in results and may not completely remove the scar. Read on to learn more about how ice pick acne scars can be treated.

Every type of scar and skin type will respond differently depending on the ingredients used in the cleanser. This helps improve the appearance of ice pick scars by reducing their depth and making them less noticeable. Laser resurfacing is the best treatment for red or pigmented ice pick scars that go deeper into the skin. Like other treatments, this one also requires multiple treatments to achieve optimal results.

Boxcar

The new scar will be smaller, without any surrounding skin discoloration. Also, it will be at level with the surrounding skin, making it less noticeable than the original ice pick scar. Visually, ice pick scars look like tiny cavities over the cheeks, nose, or forehead. They have a small aperture but can extend up to a few millimeters deep into your skin.

Chemical peels involving alpha hydroxy (“lunchtime peels”) are quicker, but these only have superficial effects. These scars are too deep to cure with OTC creams or home remedies. Meet with us to learn more about which treatments will work for you. Dr. Nadir Qazi is a board certified physician specializing in minimally invasive cosmetic procedures. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and an instructor for advanced injections and laser techniques.

What are ice pick scars?

My advice would be that you should only use OTC drugs as part of your skincare routine. At least that way you’ll reduce the risk of developing ice pick scars in the future. Leading dermatology journals suggest that punch grafting is the best method of treating ice pick scars.

These remedies may also improve your skin’s texture but not the deep pits of ice pick scars. This type of scarring is also classified under the atrophic category. Rolling scars form wider depressions (4-5mm) than what you will observe in ice pick scars. The depressions are, in most cases, shallow and have an undulating look.

What are boxcar acne scars?

However, if you go at it for long and use the wrong method, then you’ll get ice pick scars as a result. Disturbing acne lesions can lead to the development of terrible ice pick scars. The way through which you may unknowingly do this includes squeezing or picking your acne lesions.

This means that your body will produce more collagen to heal and smooth out cosmetic concerns on its own. RF microneedling works so well on ice pick scars because this type of acne scar is caused by a shortage of collagen in the skin. When the microneedling device causes your body to make more collagen, those indented ice pick scars can be healed and filled in. Like dermabrasion, this is also a skin resurfacing treatment.

The final appearance is smooth skin with lesser scar pits visible. Through ablative laser therapy, the upper layers of your skin can get removed using high light energy. This procedure is normally aimed at reducing the effects of discoloration that may arise from the scars. Despite that, you still stand a risk of developing further scarring. The process involves first removing the scar tissues causing the deformation.

For instance, if your skin scars more easily, then there is a chance you will develop ice pick scars. From observations made on several acne scar patients, there appear to be at least 3 main reasons. They control whether you have an increased or reduced risk of developing ice pick scars.

How Do Ice Pick Acne Scars Develop?

However, you’ll still be left with a thin scar in its place. Ice pick acne scars are like deep pits in the skin, damaging the epidermis and sometimes the dermis. They don’t fade away with time, and you will need to take the help of your dermatologist to reduce their visibility. These result from inflamed and infected acne caused by deeply clogged pores.

But ice pick scars can decrease in appearance with time and patience. Work with your dermatologist to determine the best approach for your ice pick scars. For more effective and permanent solutions, consider the skin treatments listed above.