The WoW Style

Dealing with pesky breakouts is tough enough as it is but being left with acne scars is worse – it is as close to a double punishment as one can experience. Acne scars can be frustrating and for most people, they are constant (not to mention unwanted) reminder of an aggravating condition. The good news is that acne scars do not have to be permanent, as there are a number of medical treatments that can help vanish them. On the other hand, there is no miracle tool or ingredient that can get of acne scars in an instant. Acne removal is a process done to lessen acne scars that cause noticeable depressions in the skin. It is one of the most sought-after procedures in Singapore and 1Aesthetics, a premium boutique medical aesthetics clinic, offers a variety of acne scar removal options that guarantee successful results.

Acne lesions or pimples occur when pores on the skin get clogged with dirt, dead skin cells, or oil. A clogged pore is an ideal environment for bacteria to grow and for the pus-filled bumps called pimples to thrive. There are different forms of acne. Most people get mild acne in the form of blackheads or whiteheads at some point in their lives. Red, inflamed pimples called papules and red pimples with white in the middle (called pustules) are considered as moderate acne. Severe acne, or nodules, are characterized as painful, pus-filled lumps or cysts beneath the skin. Scarring that is difficult to treat is typically caused by severe acne, as nodules are known to leave more intense damage to the skin than any other type of acne.

Acne marks that are reddish or brownish in color that appear after pimples dry up usually fades within days or weeks and do not need treatment. If you are someone who likes to squeeze or pick acne, then your risk for scarring increases. Acne scars can be narrow and deep or have wide depressions with round edges (rolling scars). In order for the scarring to be treated, a person’s acne should be under control because new breakouts can result in new acne scars. Additionally, if you are getting acne, it means that your skin is inflamed, and inflammation can reduce the effectiveness of acne scar treatments.

Effective acne scar removal starts with a consultation. A dermatologist will examine your skin thoroughly during the consultation and you will be asked several essential questions such as:

• Why do you want to treat your acne scars?

Some people go through their lives unbothered by acne scars, others think that the scars have a negative impact on their everyday life. A dermatologist usually recommends a scar removal procedure if the patient answers ‘yes’ to any or all of the following questions: “Do you wish that you could get rid of your acne scars?”, “Do you think that the scars have an impact on your opportunities to get a job, advance your career, excel in school, or find a potential partner?” and “Are you less social now that before you got the scars?”

• What do you want to achieve after the treatment?

Some treatments are designed to make the appearance of scars less noticeable, while others can improve the skin texture. If you are planning to avail scar removal, make sure to let your dermatologist know what you want to get out of the treatment.

• What is your budget on treatment and how much downtime can you possible afford?

Medical insurance does not cover any treatments for acne scar removal so you will need to pay it out of your own pocket. The cost depends on the type of treatment that is best for your condition. Some treatments also require downtime, so you will need to plan accordingly.

Your dermatologist will prepare a detailed treatment plan for your specific needs. During the creation of this plan, your dermatologist will consider a lot of factors such as the location where the scars appear and the types and size of the scars. Your dermatologist may also suggest more than one type of treatment to get optimum results. For example, if you have deep scars (similar to the appearance of large pores), laser therapy and subcision, a type of scar surgery”, may be needed to achieve your expected results.

After a series of treatments, the visibility and size of the scars will be minimized and through time, most treated acne scars fade to the point where they are no longer noticeable. You need to be patient because good results take time. More importantly, you should trust your dermatologist because the outcome of the treatment mostly depends on the skill, experience, and knowledge of the person who is performing the treatment. Dermatologic surgeons and dermatologists perform scar removal treatments and procedures often so you can be assured that they know can handle different cases effectively and safely.