Topical treatments are those used on the surface of the skin.  By helping to keep pores open, eliminating excess dirt and oil, and getting rid of unwanted bacteria, these may do the trick.  There are other medications that can be taken orally to help eliminate excess oils by keeping the body from producing it, along with various other medical remedies that help treat acne.  Before you can treat it, however, you need to understand what is causing it.

Hormones can play a big part in causing acne. In adolescence, the changes the body goes through can cause constant breakouts, while in adult years, bodily changes, such as premenstrual and pre menopausal episodes, can cause breakouts to continue.

The body can then produce more oil, which can block pores and cause breakouts.  Using products that help eliminate or control oil may be useful in curing acne with this cause.

Some foods, such as chocolate and sugar can cause acne. While this is commonly disputed and often thought to be a myth, it is unclear whether these foods are unable to actually cause acne.

Stress can also be a factor to the presence of acne. When you are stressed, the body releases certain hormones and chemicals which can produce toxicities that cause acne. Try to eliminate stress by staying away from stressful situations.

Environment can influence acne, as well as lifestyle. The products you use can also effect your acne. If you are not using the proper products to counteract acne, you may see an increase in breakouts. It is also important to keep the skin properly hydrated and moisturized. This will help you have healthier skin.

Clogged pores happen due to old skin cells that are still on the skin. Whether someone is not using a mild scrub to eliminate the excess skin cells, or the subject has Retention Hyperkeratosis where your skin cells replicate very fast, the outcome is the same. With these extra skin cells on your face, and then the mixture of sebum (oil), it causes a sticky mixture that blocks your pores up. This gets stuck in the hair follicles, and before you know it, your pores are clogged. This is how the acne forms.

In this hair follicle, this sticky mixture of cells and sebum is now stuck in place. Oxygen is trying to get down to the opening of the hair follicle, but can’t reach it. This is how the acne bacteria form. Now you have a hair follicle with bacteria growing, no oxygen can get through, and next thing you know you start to have inflammation. The pimple is forming, and pushes against the hair follicle. At the point of the hair follicle wall breaking, these bacteria spill into the skin around it. Pus starts to fill up around the hair follicle, and a pimple is now a small infection. It presents itself as a red irritation, and as it gradually fills up with pus, becomes a whitehead. Cystic acne is a deeper infection.

Many times skin care products or cosmetics can cause acne. Some products have fatty ingredients which can clog pores and cause dead skin cells to stick also. Look for non-comedogenic products for the best outcome. If you’re prone to acne breakouts, look for water based skin care products and cosmetics over oil based products.

Hormones are a big trigger when it comes to acne. Many women get hormonal acne right before they menstruate. Women tend to get more adult acne, while teen boys get more severe acne then most girls, since girls don�t have increasing testosterone like their counterparts do.

Male hormones called androgens also stimulate the oil glands in the skin. Combine androgens and testosterone, and guys have a volatile combination. Testosterone also stimulates the oil glands in the skin. As a boy becomes a teenager, the levels of these hormones are increasing, which can trigger and aggravate acne.

Food is a non-direct means of triggering acne. While a specific food does not cause acne, what can happen is that when we aren’t eating well, our bodies can be in a stressful state. In that stressful state your sebaceous glands produce more oil. There’s no hard evidence that food triggers acne, but it comes up often as a trigger. This is due to the body not being in a balanced state when we don’t eat healthy.

Stress is another trigger that can aggravate acne. When somebody is stressed out, they generate more sebum (oil). This extra sebum on the skin acts like glue causing dead skin cells to stick to the skin and clog pores.

Finally, if there are things that are rubbing against your face, they can be causing residual dirt to be left on your skin. It’s very important to make sure you wash off any residual dirt or debris each day. Be sure to wash your face before going to sleep each night.

When the hair follicles are blocked by oil or dead skin cells, acne starts to develop. Each follicle is linked to a sebaceous gland. The substance that is produced by these glands is called sebum and has the role to oil the hair and the skin. If the quantity of sebum exceeds the normal limits or if dead skin cells are produced excessively, the hair follicle gets blocked and a soft plug is created.

A bulged hair follicle leads to a whitehead, while a darken plug turns into a blackhead. Infection or inflammation of the blocked hair follicles precedes the appearance of the pimples.

Hormonal changes, bacteria, heredity and several drugs seem to affect the overproduction of sebum. However, the specific cause has not been discovered yet, but studies are still conducted in this direction.

It is a common belief that the food plays a main role in the appearance and the development of acne. In fact, the diets do not affect the acne that much. More than that, it is important to know that acne is not provoked by dirt. On the other hand, scrubbing the skin may lead to irritations that cause the acne to become worse.

While the hereditary factors or the hormonal changes that lead to acne cannot be influenced, other factors can be controlled in order to prevent this skin problem

Looking for cosmetics of a higher quality is surely a way to prevent acne problem from appearing. Also, replacing the backpacks with messenger bags, for example, is yet another way of making sure that acne is kept at distance. The cell phones and any other items that cause pressure when kept in the pocket should be placed in the bag, instead. This way, friction and pressure are relieved and the risk of developing acne decreases considerably. However, when acne is transmitted in the family from one generation to another generation, people cannot do much to stop it. It is best to look for medical advice and to follow a treatment that is based on topical creams and lotions.

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.

These products help by killing the bacteria on the skin that may be causing the acne, but also decrease the infection caused by the condition itself. It also works to indirectly keep the pores open.

Topical antibiotic products have been around for a number of years with little change to their formulation, and have usually been very successful in treating various forms of acne.

Clindaamycin is the most frequently used antibiotic for treating acne. It is available as a solution, lotion., or gel at 1% strength. It is applied twice a day to all acne prone areas, and is commonly well tolerated but may cause some irritation. There are several skin conditions where use of this product is advised against, so consult your physician about these conditions before using it. This medication must be prescribed.

Erythromycin is the second most common topical antibiotic used to treat acne. It is available as a gel, solution or ointment at 2% strength. It must be applied twice a day to all acne prone areas, and is also generally well tolerated, though some irritation may occur. It is also safe for use for women who are or may become pregnant.

Metronidazol is used frequently for acne caused by rosacea. It is available as a gel at .75% strength. It must be applied once or twice a day, and like the others mentioned above, is usually well tolerated but can cause some irritation.

Tetracycline is not often used as a topical treatment, but rather as an oral antibiotic. It is available as a solution and ointment at different strengths. It contains sodium bisulfite, a sulfa derivative, and has been known to cause allergic reactions. It may also cause yellowing of the skin. It is, however, a popular oral antibiotic for dermatologists to prescribe, but the same side effects may happen.

There are many other products used to treat acne that must be prescribed by a physician. Many factors go into determining which product is right for you such as skin type, type of acne, and the severity of your condition. Your physician will help you find one that is right for you.