Acne/Acne Scar Treatment
Acne/Acne Scar Treatment
  • Home
  • |
  • Acne/Acne Scar Treatment

Acne/Acne Scar Treatment Program Melbourne

Acne is a condition that affects many of us from our teenage years onwards and can appear anywhere on the body that there are sebaceous glands. The most commonly affected areas include the face, chest, back and upper arms.

Scarring is also a major concern for many acne sufferers. The primary cause of scars is usually a combination of genetics and hormonal factors, and we take this into account to get the best results.

At ENRICH in Melbourne, we utilise the latest procedures such as laser and radiofrequency, and combine these with topical creams or oral medication to create individualised programs for treating acne and for acne scar removal. It is important to control ongoing active lesions before embarking on addressing scarring. Dermatologist treatments are many and varied, but we have a few staples in our acne arsenal.

What is acne?

Acne develops when oil and dead cells block a hair follicle. Hair follicles naturally produce oil (sebum), which keeps our skin supple and protected. When there is too much oil, this blockage traps bacteria, which causes an infection in the hair follicle (or pore, as it may also be called). Acne is a series of mini infections across an area of the body by clogged hair follicles.

These mini infections can be difficult to treat and lead to a permanent restructuring of the skin. Treating collagen damage can be sometimes harder than treating the pimples themselves, though long-time sufferers who ended up with a lot of scarring will attest to the sometimes excruciating difficulty of both.

Acne most commonly occurs on the face, neck, chest, back and shoulders, since these areas have the hair follicles with the greatest oil production. More oil equals more pimples equals ultimately more scarring for an unfortunate percentage of sufferers.

Understanding pimples

There are whiteheads, blackheads, and acne. A whitehead is an infected, inflamed hair follicle with a membrane (the white bit) across the top that prevents the contents being exposed to air. A blackhead is the same situation, but the membrane is gone and the sebum has been exposed to air, blackening it (oxidisation).

Cysts can develop, causing what’s known as cystic acne. Bacteria is easily spread across the face, infecting more hair follicles, and causing pain, redness, and possibly acne scarring later.

Pimples are not caused by being ‘dirty’ or from not cleansing enough. Acne’s causes are deeper than that and sit more with your hormones and oil production than anything else.

Treating acne and acne scarring

We have procedures & treatments for both active lesions and scarring. We use lasers, radiofrequency, plus creams and medication where appropriate. We will sit you down and take a thorough history to find out what your face needs to be healthy and smooth.

Gentle cleansing does help

Washing your face with a special cleanser does help because it kills bacteria and soothes the skin. Over-washing, however, is bad news, as it can cause further inflammation, perpetuating the cycle. Cleansing by itself is not the answer.

Dermatological and medicated creams and washes

We have high-quality creams, ointments and washes for you that will not worsen your condition but can actively work to resolve it, in conjunction with other, more biologically-active removal strategies.

For example, benzoyl peroxide is great as an antibacterial and can help unblock your hair follicles, while other topical applications can help your cells regenerate.

Medicines for acne

Medication for acne and as a pimple treatment is reasonably limited to the oral contraceptive pill for women, and a powerful prescription-only drug used only in severe cases.

RF and lasers

Strategies include radiofrequency devices and lasers that hit the cells at a deeper level, strengthening and supporting. Each machine has a slightly different function, including some lasers that treat using ablation. These wave-based therapies also have the added benefit of killing bacteria and improving overall tone and texture.

Common at-home acne mistakes

There are a few mistakes you can make while trying to treat acne at home by yourself. These include over-treating with too many different treatments at once, instead of trying one at a time to see what works.

Acne removal can be a long-term process, so take your time and do it properly – don’t give up too soon. There is a natural inclination to scrub ourselves ‘clean’ of this affliction, so we scrub, exfoliate, and generally over-clean our skin, to its detriment, usually without success. Over-cleansing is a quick way to get redder and sorer. Your skin isn’t dirty, so over-cleaning won’t work.

Spending proper money on good products is also important. Having cheap products can cause you more damage than its worth by not only not helping, but causing further inflammation. Using the right amount of products also matters, so use the amount you are directed to use – not less, not more.

Picking your pimples is a no-no, because you put more bacteria into the already-infected pores, plus cause further inflammation. May be tempting, but keep your filthy mitts out of it.

Another common mistake is to stop treating yourself because it worked! Acne is generally not something you ‘cure’; it’s something you manage, and if you’re lucky, yes, resolve over time. Most acne that responds to treatment has had the problem tweaked not solved, but it means you need to keep going.

Acne is a problem with your insides, not your outsides, so get the proper treatment, find the true cause of your problem, and deal with it appropriately. You may have a hormonal imbalance, an underlying condition like polycystic ovarian syndrome, or excess testosterone. Not knowing leaves you stabbing in the dark.

It really pays to get professional advice and get your acne treated properly before it starts damaging your skin permanently, which is harder to treat, especially with active lesions.

Acne scar strategies

Our scar specialists treat acne scars in various ways, depending on the depth, type, and characteristics. Dermatological scarring treatments have progressed in some significant ways over the years, with the latest idea of ‘remodelling’ scars becoming a real thing that we can do.

Remodelling a scar is more or less what it sounds like: creating a new shape out of the scar tissue. This means we can change the way the collagen appears, since scars are made out of collagen fibres. We can’t make the scar tissue go away completely, but we can make it look different (better).

Our radiofrequency machines work in big ways with collagen, stimulating new collagen production, while having the capacity to shape the collagen that already exists in scars via the denaturing process (collagen is a protein).

Surrounding tissue remains untouched, and overall your skin will be smoother and firmer. Procedures are comfortable and effective, without downtime required like some lasers.

Lasers can work by either stimulating the collagen-producing cells and collagen, or in fact working in an ablative fashion. An ablative laser used is useful if the scars are able to be ‘worn down’ this way, and removed from the surface of your skin.

Some scars will be too deep for ablative lasers to work alone, and therefore a combination of  medicated creams, medication, lasers, and light procedures may be the best route to clear, smooth skin.

Different acne scar treatments

Some forms of acne more frequently cause scarring, for example cystic acne and acne fulminans.

Most common forms of acne that cause scarring:

  • Nodulocystic acne
  • Acne conglobate
  • Acne fulminans
  • Infantile acne

Types of acne scars include:

  • Rolling scars – broad, sloped-edge depressions in the skin
  • Ice-pick scarring – pitted, deep, thin slit-like scars
  • Box-car scars – defined-edge depressions
  • Atrophic scarring – thin, flat scars
  • Keloid (hypertrophic) scars – thick, lumpy scarring

Acne scar options include:

Scar treatments can include creams, applications and devices, with some scars even requiring specialised surgical procedures. We also use a dermal filler which can fill in scars to reduce their appearance.

  • Lasers ( Fraxel 1920) 
  • Skin Needling (The Secret) 
  • Radiofrequency devices (ThermiRF)
  • Dermal filler
  • Light-based strategies (IPL)
  • Specialist creams

Each form of scarring responds better to certain treatments, so we’ll do a thorough investigation to see which scars you have, and how we’ll approach them. An example of this might be the thin, flat scars of the atrophic type which respond really well to dermal fillers, radiofrequency, dermabrasion, needling and laser resurfacing. Hypertrophic (keloid) scars respond better to topical steroids, needling, removal (cryotherapy), or surgical revision.

Looking for acne answers?

Make an appointment with one of our specialist acne scar dermatologists with the knowledge and experience to smooth your skin once and for all.

Contact our specialist dermatologists for  diagnosis, guidance and treatment options 

Please Note:

*With all surgeries or procedures, there are risks. Consult your physician (GP) before undertaking any surgical or cosmetic procedure. Please read the consent forms carefully and be informed about every aspect of your treatment. Surgeries such as liposuction have a mandatory seven-day cooling-off period to give patients adequate time to be sure of their surgery choice. Results may also vary from person to person due to many factors, including the individual’s genetics, diet and exercise. Before and after photos are only relevant to the patient in the photo and do not necessarily reflect the results other patients may experience. Ask questions. Our team of dermatologists, doctors and nurses are here to help you with any of your queries. This page is not advice and is intended to be informational only. We endeavour to keep all our information up to date; however, this site is intended as a guide and not a definitive information portal or in any way constitutes medical advice.

Check out our Latest Newsletter

We talk psoriasis and see what all the fuss about Bio remodelling is.

Request a consultation

"*" indicates required fields

Newsletter

Related Articles

anti-ageing treatments

How menopause affects your body

Menopause is a process that will happen to all women at some point in their life. It is the time when you stop experiencing your monthly period, and it is most often the end of the reproductive lifecycle.

Read More »