There can be a lot of various causes for blemishes as an adult. Most of the time hormonal imbalances can exacerbate the issues, but the main cause of pimples can generally be traced back to a very common bacteria. This is a bacteria that typically lives on the skin and can create blackheads, whiteheads, and other forms of blemishes.

There is a difference between having adult acne and experience blemishes related to Rosacea. Rosacea blemishes tend to be accompanied by a reddish hue to the cheeks, forehead, chin, or any combination of all three. Peeling can occur and your skin may feel tight or irritated when dealing with Rosacea related blemishes.

Regular adult acne is pretty much the same as the acne teenagers fight. It’s not about being unclean or eating too many chocolate kisses. While dairy foods can increase a general flare up, they are not always linked to a break out.

The more you mess with a pimple the greater the likelihood is that you will end up with more of them. Not only will the original pimple take longer to heal or end up scabbing and scarring, but every time you release the oil inside the pimple and then touch another part of your face you are spreading a higher concentration of bacteria.

You can keep repeating this cycle over and over again if you can’t seem to leave your blemishes alone. This is why treating them early and quickly is of significant value. The earlier you can defeat the blemish the less likely you will be to mess with it. While the general debate about which treatments are best, one has to remember that skin types are different. Thus, if you find something that works for you it qualifies as the best treatment.

Whenever you start the blemish battle, remember that adult acne is just as unpredictable as other forms of acne. It may come and go, it may only be triggered by certain elements, or it may be a constant annoyance in your life. A professional dermatologist may very well be able to help you determine the best course of action for your entire face, including what works well to clear up your skin.

There are four main types of acne scars: ice pick scars, boxcar scars, rolling scars and hypertrophic scars. Ice pick scars are either shallow or deep pits that have sharp sides and uneven margins. When these aggravate they are called depressed fibrotic scarring. The ice pick scars are most frequently found on cheeks.

Boxcar scars have an oval shape and look like depressions in the skin. Depending on how severe acne is, the depth of the boxcar scars varies. This kind of scars is most frequently seen on temples and cheeks.

Rolling scars become visible when the tissue beneath the skin gets damaged. Their aspect resembles rolling hillsides. Since these are deep scars and affect the tissue beneath the skin, people cannot use treatments such as dermabrasion and lasers to get rid of these acne scars. In this particular case, the treatment consists of subcision. The cheeks and forehead are the most frequent areas where rolling scars appear.

The last type of acne scars, namely hypertrophic scars are in fact red bumps of small dimensions that can be seen on any area of the body. The best part about these scars is that they disappear in time. However, it is important for people to know that these scars are not produced only by acne, but also by any kind of skin injury.

Before choosing a certain treatment it is very important to analyze the advantages and the downside of each remedy. Since every person has a unique physiology, certain treatments may work on several people and will make the acne scars disappear while worsening the symptoms on other people.

The most common acne scars treatments are subcision, punch treatments, chemical peels, dermabrasion, laser resurfacing, and acne scar creams. The major goal of all these treatments is to eliminate the top-most layer of the skin. By doing this, the scar is removed, but the main problem is that they can return. However, before proceeding to following a treatment it is very important to talk to a dermatologist.

The occurrence of scarring is different for different people. It is often difficult to predict who will and won’t scar, how extensive or deep the scars will be, and how long the scars will persist.

The only sure way to treat and prevent acne scarring is to treat acne early on in its course, and to do so for as long as it takes to clear up the problem. Remember, treating acne may not be a short-lived process. While some people with mild forms of acne are able to treat breakouts as they occur, others must constantly treat the condition to help prevent breakouts from occurring more frequently.

The more inflammation can be eliminated, the more likely it is that scars can be prevented. This is especially true when preventing acne aggravation. The more you irritate an inflamed an area, the more likely it is to scar.

If you have a known tendency to scar from acne, whether mild, moderate, or severe, you should seek the care of a dermatologist who can recommend treatments to help eliminate and prevent further acne scarring.

There are two common types of acne scars, which are defined by tissue response to inflammation. They are: scars caused by tissue formation, and scars caused by loss of tissue.

Scars caused by increased tissue formation are called kelloids or hypertrophic scars. The term hypertrophy means “enlargement”, or “overgrowth”. These scars are associated with excessive amounts of collagen in the skin, overproductions of which, is due to the skin cells’ response to injury.

This excess collagen builds up to form a smooth, irregularly shaped scar. This type of scar can persist for years, but may diminish over time.

Scars that result from loss of tissue are similar to those caused by Chickenpox, and are more common than hypertrophic scars.

One such type is an ice pick scar. This type of scar is usually small, with a jagged edge. This type of scar can be improved by stretching the skin, though; hard ice pick scars cannot be stretched out. This is a very common type of acne scar, and, perhaps, one of the easiest to treat.

Keep in mind that the best way to prevent acne scars is to prevent acne.

So-called icepick scars are small pinholes that form in the surface of the skin. They look as if the skin has been poked with an icepick, hence the name. They’re typically too deep to be treated with simple dermabrasion or even laser resurfacing.

Boxcar scars are similar, except they tend to be flatter on the bottom, rather than narrowing to a point like icepick scars. Since they’re often shallower they can sometimes be treated with resurfacing techniques.

Keloid scars are firm and grow beyond the site of the injury. They’re characterized by an excess production of collagen. They often result in a shiny pink or red scar.

Prevention is the best decision, of course. But when that’s not possible, there are a number of standard treatments.

Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion is used to treat a wide range of skin conditions, including mild to moderate acne scarring. A local anesthetic is given and the professional uses a high speed brush to remove layers of skin. The skin then naturally regenerates, minus the scar in many cases.

A variation on the technique is known as microdermabrasion. Instead of a high speed brush, aluminum oxide crystals are moved rapidly through a type of vacuum hose. They carry away skin cells on their way to being collected. It’s less invasive or traumatic to the skin, but the results may, therefore, be less.

Lasers

Laser treatment can be effective for some patients. Used well, they can change the contour and size of scars. CO2 lasers are often used to remove some tissue. Sometimes a single treatment is enough, but redness can persist for several weeks afterward.

Surgery

A technique called ‘punching’ can be used to remove some icepick scars. The scar is excised down to subcutaneous fat and the resulting hole repaired. The repair may be done with sutures or a small skin graft. Results are mixed, but the technique can be effective.

Drugs

Keloids don’t respond well to these mechanical techniques, since altering the skin often just provokes the formation of more keloids. Sometimes a topical retinoid is applied. In other cases steroid-type drugs are injected directly into the skin around the scar. They’re difficult to treat by any means and results vary widely from person to person.

Whatever treatment method you choose, it’s important to consult a professional for proper diagnosis.

There are different types of acne scars, and different treatments for each.  They are classified in the following manner.

Ice pick scars are characterized by the appearance of deep pits on the skin and are most common in a sign of classic acne scarring.

Boxcar scars are angular scars, usually occurring on the temple and cheeks, and can be superficial or deep.   They are also very similar to the scars left by Chickenpox.

Rolling scars give the skin a wave-like appearance.

Hypertrophic scars are thickened scars, and may be associated with some of the more severe types of acne.

To get rid of acne scars, seek treatment through a physician. A combination of treatments are available that show good results for many people. Treatment for acne scarring depends on the type of scars you have, as well as your skin type.  Most of the success of treating acne scars has been for those on the face. It has been found that those on the back and chest do not respond as well to treatment.

One of the best ways to prevent acne scarring is to prevent acne. Taking steps to fight and prevent this condition will minimize the chance for scarring. Also treating the acne you have as fast as possible after it appears can help prevent acne scars.

Understanding your skin type, type of acne, and type of scarring associated with it is also important. Some scar treatment requires medical attention, and a doctor can help you find the treatment that will work best for you.

Laser Treatment

Laser treatment for scarring can be very effective but it is probably the most expensive treatment method. For some types of scars one treatment is enough, but for others you may need up to 10 sessions.

Laser treatments for acne scars vary in the type of laser that is used. Some aim to smooth the skin, others are for reducing redness. Carbon dioxide laser treatment actually removes affected tissue. The stronger kinds of laser treatment can cause redness that may last for several months.

Dermabrasion And Chemical Peels

Dermabrasion is a technique performed by a plastic surgeon, sometimes in conjunction with a chemical peel. It removes the top layer of skin on the premise that the new skin underneath will be scar free.

The skin can take a long time to heal after this treatment and sometimes reacts badly to the process. Some people end off more badly scarred by the abrasion than they were by their acne. On darker skinned people it can cause pigmentation changes that will take a long time to fade. It is also very expensive.

Dermabrasion is very hard to control and can go wrong even in the most expert hands.

Microdermabrasion is a gentler technique that may be performed by a dermatologist or even a beauty parlor rather than a plastic surgeon. It is not so likely to cause new scars but will only be effective on scarring that was mild already.

Punch Grafts

This is a surgical treatment for pitted acne scars that involves removing the scarred area and inserting a graft, usually taken from behind the ear. Local anesthetic will be given. Removal is fast and even the placing of the graft does not take long. The treated area will be dressed for a week and then should steadily heal.

Punch grafts are sometimes used on deep scars before a chemical peel or dermabrasion is applied to make the area smoother.

This technique works best on deep but small ice-pick type scars. It is not so effective on large areas of scarring.

Collagen Injections

Collagen is a substance produced by the body when forming and repairing skin. It can be injected into scarred areas to help the process along. Think of it as being like Botox: it plumps out the flesh under the skin so the scar is hidden, but it is a temporary measure. Within 6 months the injected collagen will be reabsorbed by the body and if the scar has not healed by itself in that time, it will be visible again. You would then need another treatment.

It’s recommended to consult with a dermatologist to help you choose which treatment for deep acne scar is best for your condition.