Acne is a common skin condition that can affect people of all ages. Typically, acne is prevalent in 80% of people in the 11-30 age range. In severe cases, due to damage to skin tissue caused by acne, another skin problem results-acne scars. With acne scars, the skin will not be flawless and smooth, and having them, especially on the face can be a cause of stress. Acne scars can happen to 1 out of 5 persons with acne and ways to reduce acne scars is quite a common medical inquiry. You will be happy to know that nowadays, there are a variety of treatments for acne scars in a lot of countries including Singapore.
Causes of acne include excess production of oil in the skin, oil-clogged hair follicles, dead skin cells, bacteria in the skin, and hormonal changes/activities. Acne forms blemishes, which when inflamed, lead to acne scars. Inflamed blemishes appear when the follicle or pore is filled with dead skin cells, excess oil, and bacteria. The swelling of the pore causes a lesion, or break in the follicular wall. In severe situations, the follicular wall cracks deeply, allowing the diseased material to leak out and obliterate good skin tissue. Consequently, the skin will create new collagen fibers to repair the damage (collagen is what gives the skin its strength and flexibility). But, the skin won’t seem as perfect and smooth as it did before, and scarring (acne scars) will show.
Acne scars can be shallow or deep and can be classified as depressed scars or raised scars. The following is a brief discussion of the different acne scar types:
- Depressed Scars, also termed atrophic scars, form due to less reproduction of collagen in the skin to substitute the damaged tissue when acne breakouts heal and are formed below the skin as a result. Depressed scars are further classified as Boxcar, Ice pick, or Rolling. Boxcar scars are broad and shaped like a U with sharp edges. Ice pick scars on the other hand are narrow, V-shaped scars that can go deeper into the skin looking like deep punctures. Rolling scars, as the name implies, have a rolling/wavy appearance that can make the skin look rough.
- Raised Scars, in terms of collagen production, result when excess collagen is produced when the skin heals from acne. As a result, the scars are formed above the surface of the skin.
There are a lot of options available for acne scars treatments in Singapore. Treatment will mostly depend on the type of acne and how severe is the case of the acne scar. With regards to the methods, patients can be offered a range of treatments from skincare to laser treatments and even surgery, if necessary or ideal. The most suitable treatment will be established once a proper consultation with a doctor (a dermatologist) is done.
Here are the available for acne scars treatments in Singapore:
- Medical Skincare.
Medical skincare are skincare products tailored to address specific concerns like acne or wrinkles. Compared to skincare products you can buy over the counter, medical skincare is often made with higher concentrations of active ingredients to ensure effectiveness, better healing of the skin, and regulated production of melanin in the scars.
- Oral Supplements
Intake of Oral Supplements such as Oral Glutathione and Oral Sunblock is another treatment method to reduce the effects of acne scars. Glutathione is known to effectively treat not only acne scars but dark spots and hyperpigmentation as well due to its antioxidant properties that lighten acne scars. It can work deep in your skin to restore natural radiance. UV damage and melanin synthesis in scar tissue are decreased by oral sunblock supplements.
- Laser Treatments
With advancements in the field of medicine instrumentation, there is now a lot of Laser technology offered for acne scar treatment in Singapore which offers benefits such as reduced visibility of scars on the skin, improved and smoothed skin texture, enhancement of skin healing ability, etc. Among the available laser treatments are the following:
- Vascular Lasers.
Vascular Lasers are a special kind of laser that specifically targets blood vessels that are abnormal and unwanted and also reduces skin damage. Vascular Lasers are known to be effective in acne scar treatments
- Q Switch and Pico Lasers.
Both Q Switch and Pico Lasers have pore-minimizing, skin-brightening, and collagen-stimulating properties, all of which hasten the healing of acne scars. Pico Lasers (such as the PicoPlus) are often used to treat rolling and box scars.
- Medical Facials
Dermatological Clinics in Singapore also offers medical facials where the skin is exfoliated with exfoliants with whitening and healing properties. These medical facials are often paired with other treatments to promote better healing of the skin.
- TCA Cross
TCA Cross or the TriChloroacetic Acid Chemical Reconstitution of Skin Scars is a method where a high concentration of TriChloroacetic Acid (TCA) is applied at the bottom of deep acne scars such as ice pick and box scars. TCA cross is usually used to enhance the effectiveness of other treatments.
- Injectables
Another acne scar treatment in Singapore administered by doctors is Injectables which can aid in the production of collagen in the skin, help in the healing of wounds, and lessen inflammation in the skin (from acne, etc). Available Injectables in Singapore are Profhilo, Rejuran, and Hyaluronic Acid skin boosters. Injectables are often used to complement other methods such as laser treatments and TCA Cross for better results.
- Scar Subcision
Scar Subcision is a minor-surgical method and is performed as “office-based”. Through this method, a tiny needle is inserted into your skin which releases the acne scar. As a result, the acne scar on your skin can become less noticeable.
There are acne treatments in Singapore tailored to treat specific types of acne scars. The following are popular treatments for Depressed Acne Scars in Singapore.
- Fillers
Filler injections (usually made of Hyaluronic Acid) are considered temporary treatments for acne scars but the effects/results are instant. This method can give an immediate lift to the deep scars. The effects can last for about 12 months.
Harmony Aesthetics Clinic
101 Irrawaddy Road, #09-01
Royal Square Medical Centre,
Singapore 329565
Phone: 6970 5418
Whatsapp: 8822 3089
