The healing of inflammatory acne lesions can lead to the emergence of patches of pigmentation in the affected area. These changes in skin color are temporary and curable. With the right treatment, the patches disappear after a few months and do not recur.
The color changes are classified into three types:
(1) Post- inflammatory pigmentation: Results in brown pigmentation.
(2) Post- inflammatory hypopigmentation: White marks appear on the skin.
(3) Post- inflammatory erythema: Purple, or pink, patches are seen.
Treatment options for post-inflammatory pigmentation include:
Chemical peel-offs: These are face packs with glycolic acid or Jessner's solution added to them.
Azelaic acid cream: This cream, also prescribed for treating moderate acne, is successful in treating pigmentation.
Protection from the sun: Brown marks darken under moderate to excessive exposure to the sun. Always apply an oil-free sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more before going out of the house.
Severe acne causes three kinds of scarring.
These are -
1. Ice Pick scars: Appear as a series of small pits.
2. Hypertrophic/ Keloid scars: Extremely thick, lumpy scars that protrude from the skin.
3. Atrophic scars: In contrast to keloid scars, atrophic scars are thin, flat scars.
Treatment Options
There are various treatment options for each type of scar. Most scars heal completely with the right treatment, though it may take many months for this to occur. However, in a few cases, the scar recurs, even after being successfully treated.
Here are the different ways in which the three kinds of scars can be treated.
1. Ice pick scars can be treated by:Dermabrasion Cutting out larger scars Laser resurfacing2. Atrophic scars can be treated by:Dermabrasion Increasing the soft tissue through fat or collagen implants3. Hypertrophic, or keloid scars, are the most difficult of the three to treat successfully.
Despite apparently effective treatment, the scars are liable to recur within a short time.
Treatments that can be used are -Dressing of scars with silicone gel Application of strong topical steroids Steroidal injections in the lesions Cryotherapy (Cold therapy) Surgery
