Q&A - Ask An Expert
acne scars on the back and chest
Answered Thursday 21 June 2012 |Share:
Dear Emma,
I recently got a chance to view your website and am totally impressed. The problem i face is acne and its scars all over the back of my body and chest.I have undergone every possible treatments,but it reappears the moment I discontinue the medicines.I am very worried as my wedding is approaching.Please help.
Thank you,
Nimeelitha
Answer
Hi Nimeelitha,
I am glad that you are enjoying the website.
Unfortunately acne and scarring go hand in hand. The trauma that occurs from the acne lesion causes our skin to become scarred, resulting in hypo pigmentation (white spots), hyper pigmentation (brown spots) or in some cases pitted scarring (which is a breakdown in our collagen). Depending on the severity of the scarring would actually depend on the results that we could achieve.
By the sound of your message you have tried to treat it from all angles. What I can do is give you some lifestyle tips and some ingredients that may lessen the appearance that you might not have tried yet. However, keeping in mind depending on your severity would depend on the results that could be achieved.
If you are experiencing hyperpigmentation as a result from your acne we can look at some brightening ingredients such as: Vitamin C, Lactic Acid, Oligopeptide-34, Niacinamide, White Tea and most importantly an SPF. However if your scarring is quite deep i.e. pitted scarring, you might need more advanced treatments: laser treatments; Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), chemical peels, microdermabrasion, galvanic iontophorosis, and skin needling to name a few. The other option to remove it completely would be to visit a plastic surgeon, where they would do some deep resurfacing.
It would be advisable to seek a qualified, professional and reputable treatment centre if you plan to explore these options to treat your pigmentation in lead up to your wedding.
With your acne that you are experiencing let’s look at some lifestyle tips that can help you:
This is MOST important - No home surgery (by this I mean no picking or squeezing this would be adding to your scarring and also the spread of your acne)
Invest in a good home care routine:
? Washing morning and night – a natural foaming body wash would be ideal. A wash that contain an ingredient Salicylic Acid would be great as it loves acne lesions. Keep in mind that you can use a face wash for the body.
? To finish off a light, oil free moisturiser and an SPF for the day and without an SPF for night.
A professional back treatment and/or chest treatment every 4 weeks leading up to your wedding could also potential help you. Here you can have a professional strength exfoliation and masque, which will minimise your acne lesion and brighten your skin tone.
If you havent already, you might also like to have a look at your lifestyle and diet as this could be influencing your acne. Having a healthy diet along with exercise can minimise the effects of acne. Reducing your dairy and avoiding high fat foods along with sugar could be a great start.
I do hope that I have given you a few ideas to try and I hope that this can get you onto the road to having the skin you want for your wedding.
Regards,
Emma
Emma Hobson
Skin Expert
