You may have found that red acne scars are often left behind after severe outbreaks. Those who frequently suffer from acne are probably very familiar with this condition. So, how should you manage the emergence of these scars?
This depends on the cause of acne scars. Two common causes of acne scarring are post-inflammatory erythema and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Aesthetic doctor Dr Edwin Lim weighed in on the subject of acne scars caused by post-inflammatory erythema, in response to a Human reader's question. This is what he had to say.
What is post-inflammatory erythema?
Post-inflammatory erythema, also known as PIE, refers to pink-to-red coloured scars that are typically left behind on the skin after inflammatory acne. These are caused by damaged capillaries under the skin. [1]
Post-inflammatory erythema is not to be confused with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which refers to flat discolouration spots that can be pink, red, brown, or black. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is caused by overproduction of melanin, and can occur after acne. [2]
Red scars caused by post-inflammatory erythema can eventually fade
These red acne marks, known as post-inflammatory erythema (PIE), can fade without treatment. However, it'll take a long time, from several months to a year.
What causes post-inflammatory erythema?
Post-inflammatory erythema can be caused by a number of things, including the inflammation of acne, trauma to the skin, or incorrect "popping".
Use this simple test to determine if it's post-inflammatory erythema
By applying pressure to the red marks and seeing if they disappear, you can determine whether post-inflammatory erythema is present or not.
How do we treat post-inflammatory erythema?
Vascular lasers can effectively improve the appearance of post-inflammatory erythema.
Similarly, skincare products with Vitamin A, C, E, and peptides can also improve red scar symptoms.
When treating acne scars, it’s important to get a full medical assessment of the cause, age, and nature of the scarring before embarking on any treatment plan.
As different types of acne scars can be easily confused for each other by the layperson’s eye, do consult a medical professional before pinpointing any particular technology or approach to resolving your skin concern.
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