Acne Scars
Why Acne Scars?
Acne scars are created by the wound healing process occurring after the acute process of inflammation, follicular rupture and perifollicular abscess formation.
Types of Acne Scars
The resulting acne scars may be atrophic or hypertrophic. Approximately 80% of scars are atrophic associated with a net loss of collagen during the matrix remodeling process. A minority of scars are hypertrophic or have keloid formation. Atrophic scars are classified as:
Ice pick (70%) – These are the narrow < 2mm punctiform depressions with a “V” cross-section.
Boxcar (20%) – These are round or oval scars with well-established vertical edges with a wide base and a “U” cross-section.
Rolling scars (10%) – These wide > 4 mm scars have an “M” cross-section and give an undulating appearance to the skin.
Grade of acne scarring & Clinical Features
Macular Erythematous hyper- or hypo-pigmented flat marks. These do not present a contour defect but rather color problem.
Mild Mild atrophy or hypertrophy scars that are not obvious at social distances of > 50 cm and may be covered by makeup or facial hair.
Moderate Moderate atrophic or hypertrophic scarring that is obvious at social distances of > 50 cm and is not covered by makeup or facial hair. Scar will flatten by manual stretching of the skin.
Severe Severe atrophic or hypertrophic scarring that is obvious at social distances of > 50 cm and is not covered by makeup or facial hair. Scar will not flatten by manual stretching of the skin.
Micro Needling Treatment of Acne Scars
The Eclipse micropen’s adjustable needles penetrate a controlled depth into the dermis. The dermis develops multiple microbruises, which start a cascade of growth factor release and collagen production. As collagen is deposited, the skin texture improves. Results are initially seen in six weeks and full effect will take three months to develop. A series of treatments is generally needed but you will see improvement with each treatments. Severity grade of rolling scars has been shown to be statistically reduced in a clinically meaningful fashion after two sessions of microneedling (Fabbrocini et al., 2009). Importantly, in studies, there was no sign of hyperpigmentation in the 32 patients studied. MicroNeedling is safe for all skintones!
Stretch Marks
Stretch Marks are scar-like bands that appear on the surface of the skin almost anywhere on the body where the skin has been stretched beyond its natural capacity. They can be red, pink, purple, & white in color.
Commonly mistaken as being a side effect of being overweight, stretch marks appear where there is excess fat deposited, or where the skin has been unable to respond to the rate of growth (puberty or pregnancy).
How does Micro-Needling work for Stretch Marks?
Micro-Needling stimulates the body’s own production of collagen,
which is a connective tissue that gives skin its firmness and resilience.
The procedure involves puncturing the skin multiple times with tiny needles to create a ‘wound-site’ in the dermis layer which triggers the body’s natural healing process. When the body perceives damage in the dermis, it generates new collagen which is then used to heal the original tear in the dermis that caused a stretch mark to appear.
The outside layer of skin is unaffected by the micro-needling procedure, allowing for the new collagen to be used solely for stretch mark healing resulting in a smoother look and improved color and tone.
Commonly mistaken as being a side effect of being overweight, stretch marks appear where there is excess fat deposited, or where the skin has been unable to respond to the rate of growth (puberty or pregnancy).
How does Micro-Needling work for Stretch Marks?
Micro-Needling stimulates the body’s own production of collagen,
which is a connective tissue that gives skin its firmness and resilience.
The procedure involves puncturing the skin multiple times with tiny needles to create a ‘wound-site’ in the dermis layer which triggers the body’s natural healing process. When the body perceives damage in the dermis, it generates new collagen which is then used to heal the original tear in the dermis that caused a stretch mark to appear.
The outside layer of skin is unaffected by the micro-needling procedure, allowing for the new collagen to be used solely for stretch mark healing resulting in a smoother look and improved color and tone.
Scars
A series of treatments are generally needed but softening of the scar and improvement can be seen after your first treatment.
