One of the most dreaded complications of acne, especially the severe type, is acne scars. Most people who have acne never develop scars but for those who do, the effect can be devastating to their self-image. Acne scars can cause depression, low self-esteem, and inferiority complex. It can potentially interfere with dating and job prospects.
Once scars are formed nothing can erase them completely. There are, however, procedures that can help lessen their appearance and discoloration. One of them is the use of laser. Another one is the use of chemical peels which is what we are covering in this post.
What causes scars?
Scars are formed when the body attempts to repair a skin injury, like wounds from a cut or lesions from infected pimples. Severe cases of acne should be treated with urgency because they can result into scars later on.
If your acne is mild, your skin has the ability to heal itself. As the skin cells reproduce the old skin cells are shed, revealing new skin cells underneath. When this happens, mild acne scars can fade in time. Unfortunately for deeper scars, the skin depression usually remains if left untreated
Treatment methods for acne scars include natural remedies and commercially available fading creams, oils, and lotions. Most work by reducing the discoloration while some are claimed to trigger collagen restructuring thus improving the appearance of scars, to the point of making them barely visible. Other methods for acne scar treatment are chemical peels, dermabrasion, and laser resurfacing. These 3 work basically to remove scar tissue to encourage the growth of fresh, new skin underneath.
When to consider chemical peels
You may consider chemical peels for acne scars if you have tried other topical solutions and you’ve had no real results. To get rid of acne scars completely, you may need a series of treatments to see the full effect. Chemical peels for acne are usually best used for depressed acne scars which are the most common type of scar.
Types of chemical peels
Chemical peels for acne scars are generally classified into two broad categories: mild chemical peel and strong chemical peel. Mild chemical peels may be done at home while strong chemical peel need a dermatologist’s supervision as it may require a hospital stay, a longer recovery time and can cost $2,000 or even $3,000.
A superficial peel is a simple one-day treatment for people that have mild cases of pimple blemishes. There are also medium peels which are more suited for moderate acne scar patients and it will take about a week to see the results. The redness will take about 7 days to heal thoroughly until you start to see the outcome of the treatment. The deep peels are used for severe scars, but it is not recommended for people with darker skin for the reason that it can bleach the skin. It can take up to an average of 14 days to heal and even in some cases up to 8 weeks for the redness to go away.
Beginners who are wary how their skin will react to chemical peels are advised to start with lactic acid as it is the mildest of the chemical peel acids. Start with no more than 40% concentration and perform the peel every week or every 2 weeks. Aim to complete 4 to 6 treatments then evaluate the procedure. If your skin can take it but results are not satisfactory, look at stronger chemical peels such as glycolic acid.
Glycolic acid is stronger than lactic acid so beginners should start with a low concentration such as 20% and then gradually work their way up.
Two other mild chemical peels for acne are Alphahydroxy acids and Betahydroxy acids. They are used in many face washes, creams, moisturizers, and toners. AHAs include salicylic acid which is particularly effective for controlling mild acne itself.
Trichloroacetic acid or TCA is used for medium facial peels, which require less recovery time than deeper chemical peels. However, this is able to penetrate more deeply than a superficial peel, working to reduce the appearance of fine lines, blemishes and pigmentation irregularities, such as spots from sun damage.
A phenol chemical peel is one of the deepest peels available and must be used under a physician's supervision. This deep peel penetrates deeper into the layers of skin, beyond the epidermis to the dermis layer underneath and requires between one and two hours to apply. However, because of the strong chemical used, it is important to be aware of the side effects, including discoloration and infection.
Potential Risks
The most common side effects of chemical peels are irritation redness and an increased sensitivity to the sun. The skin on the treatment area may also become darker in rare cases. Some patients may also be unusually sensitive to one of the ingredients in the chemical peel.