Back Acne Scars - Prevention, Treatment and Recovery

Even if acne goes away, scars leave an impact. Since the world has taken such a long jump in technological advancements- you can always edit your skin just like your pictures.

What are Back Acne Scars?

Bacne scars are proof that your back had acne once. Back acne scars refer to those stubborn brown marks that are left on the skin after severe acne on the back that are not active anymore. Due to the thickness of the skin on our backs, these back acne scars take forever to heal.

Types Of Back Acne Scars

When we observe back acne scars, we find they are of two formations- the depressed and the raised scars. Read ahead to find out more details. 

• Atrophic scars

Atrophic scars are flat, shallow depressions commonly followed by severe cystic acne. They leave a pit appearance on the skin, as if some skin has been dug out. Atrophic scars are a result of tissue loss that has failed to regenerate. Atrophic scars has the following subtypes:

• Boxcar scars - Broad, box-like depressions, caused by widespread acne and chickenpox.
• Ice-pick scars - Tough to treat scars. Unlike boxcar scars that are broad, these scars are smaller, more narrow indentations that point down into the skin’s surface. 
• Rolling scars - They do not have a consistent depth and have sloping edges that make the skin appear wavy and uneven.

• Hypertrophic or keloid scars: 

This category of back acne scars are raised in appearance, a result of a raised tissue that failed to level down. Hypertrophic or keloid scars are caused when fibrous tissues, the collagen, in the region of the skin overgrow. These back acne scars are usually found on the chest, back and shoulders and jaw line and can be itchy, tender or painful. Keloid scars create a scar larger than the acne that caused them and grow beyond the sides of the original spot.

• Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH): 

A common problem with people having darker skin tones. They are a post acne impact- the dark spots left after acne heals. They appear in patches on the skin, which can be brown, black, or red. 

Bacne Scarring | Effective Treatments

For some people bacne is a temporary skin condition. However, some people are prone to back acne and perceive this condition as impossible to treat. We understand the situation of both types of people and will cover effective treatments ranging from simpler to more complex ones. 

1. Exfoliation: 

The simplest to begin with when treating back acne scars is that of exfoliation. It will gradually exterminate the dead skin bringing out a regenerated skin. But, the thickness of the skin on the back will only make the process long, so you need to maintain some patience to wait for results to show up. Additionally, exfoliation can improve the texture of the skin by reducing back acne scars.

2. Topical treatments: 

Over-the-counter skin medications is the second step you would want to go for the treatment of back acne scars. A Corticosteroid cream can help prevent scarring and has been shown to reduce the appearance of back acne scars over time. Other treatments include retinoids and silicone gel application that can promote cell turnover and the flattening of the raised back acne scars respectively.

3. Zinc Supplements:

If the above treatments do not show the desired results you can add Zinc supplements in ‘what you eat in a day’ zinc is a mineral that is important in wound healing. Effectively reduces inflammation and generates cell growth, which may help back acne scars to heal. However an overdose can cause side effects, including bloating or diarrhea. Consult a dermatologist before you intake them.

4. Topical Chemical Peels:

Function by peeling out the top layer of skin cells, clearing clogged pores, and lowering oil production, revealing a revolutionized skin underneath which eventually improves the skin condition.

Salicylic acid and glycolic acid are two central chemicals in the peels that fight acne-causing germs and encourage cell renewal. This often helps in reducing inflammation, clearing up the skin, and enhancing the appearance of back acne.

These peels require careful supervision of a dermatologist. He will apply a single acid or a mixture of these powerful acidic agents to your skin and allow it to penetrate your skin cells. Many of these acids will be allowed to remain on the skin, while others will be That's one of the best wayswith the application of another product. 

5. Steroid Injections

Corticosteroid injections often prove to be a treatment for raised back acne scars, such as those having characteristics of hypertrophic or keloid scars. Different types of shots can decrease the visibility of back acne scars. Such back acne scars usually occur when there is excessive production of collagen in the healing process, thereby resulting in those raised thick spots. Corticosteroids work towards softening and flattening these back acne scars over time. For example, if you have back acne scars, fillers such as collagen or fat may even out bumps or indents in the skin. Botox or similar injections can smooth the skin and the appearance of scars.

Corticosteroid shots can make back acne scars less visible. But steroid injections may have side effects, such as thinning the skin or changing its color.

Thus, with microinjections, a dermatologist introduces small amounts of corticosteroids into scar tissue. The number of injections often depends on the size and thickness of the scar.

The therapy may reduce the mark to a smaller size, and it becomes less noticeable and softer to the skin when touched.

6. Laser Therapy

Moving to more complex treatments for back acne scar reduction, a laser therapy would join the list which is for more severe back acne scars. But unlike those other options, laser therapy is more targeted to the scar. The lasers target specific blood vessels. 

So, the dermatologist studies your kind of skin and depth of back acne scars to find the proper treatment. He applies numbing cream around the area so that no pain will be caused. Then, he uses a laser in order to send light energy into the scarred area. And this whole process can take up to 15 to 60 minutes, depending on the size of the area being treated. So you would just be red and puffy for a few days after the treatment, and you would heal pretty fast-in about 1 to 2 weeks-with the laser they used. 

You’ll probably need to do this several times. Many people get three to five sessions of laser therapy. It can be pricey, so check to see if your insurance will cover it.

7. Microneedling

That little rolling tool with minute needles is what we are pointing at. Microneedling uses this tool to prick tiny holes into your skin’s top layer. This process spurs your skin to make collagen, which plumps your skin and improves the texture of back acne scars. The area will be red afterward, probably for a few days. And you may need several treatments. People often get four to six microneedling sessions to reduce back acne scars.

In a nutshell, Dr. Michele Green, cosmetic dermatologist in New York, fully emphasizes how well both microneedling and laser treatments are working for acne scars:

8. Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are a form of very quick fix that does not require surgery and come in handy at cases of depressed-atrophic scars, especially those unwelcomed back acne scars. They just sort of "fill in" the dips, so your skin looks way smoother and even. 

Dermal fillers are injectable materials, in this case, hyaluronic acid (HA) or calcium hydroxylapatite, which fill in volume under the skin. For scar treatment, they can be injected into the depressed area below the scar so that it is elevated and hence creates a flat appearance compared with the rest of the tissue around it.

9. Surgical treatments

• Punch Excision Surgery

Punch excision is generally a very simple procedure often used in the removal of back acne scars. A dermatologist will just remove individual scars and then close wounds by stitches or sometimes even a skin graft.

• Subcision

The minor surgery is known as subcision, in which they insert needles under the scar with their skin cutting through the fibers underneath, freeing those fibers, and calming down the scar so it looks better on the skin.

Not all the above treatments related to back acne scars are for you. You will need to consult a dermatologist to single out a procedure that is best suited for your skin. The results and side effects of each procedure vary according to the individual and will not be the same for all.

Recommended Products by Blue Nectar:

2-in-1 Body Wash & Scrub with Honey for Exfoliation and Hydration (10 herbs, 250 ml)

Related Articles:

8 Everyday habits that may be causing you Back Acne

How to Get Rid of Back Acne | Ideal Skincare Routine

References:

https://syraaesthetics.com/blog/back-acne-scars-treatments-guide/

https://www.healthline.com/health/atrophic-scar

https://acnefreedomclinic.com/types-of-acne-scars/

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21466-hypertrophic-scar