Acne Scars
Around 95% of people with acne will develop acne scars. Acne scarring occurs when acne irreversibly damages colour and texture of the skin. The debris within acne spots can rupture through the wall of the follicle and penetrate into the surrounding tissue, causing an inflammatory injury to the cells of the dermis and epidermis. This can lead to skin atrophy (holes), hypertrophy (raised nodules), pigmentation (dark marks) and enlargement of blood vessels (redness). The successful treatment of acne scars involves addressing each of these issues and enabling scarred skin to remodel into healthy, smooth, even-toned skin.
Treatment Options
Drs Tatiana + Rishi Advanced Aesthetics pioneered this approach, whereby RF microneedling is immediately followed by CO2 laser. to provide a highly effective treatment for acne scarring, with minimal downtime. This combination approach has a synergistic effect, where the RF microneedling results in mechanical breakdown of scar tissue and fibroblast stimulation; whilst the CO2Â laser causes epidermal neocollagenesis and resurfacing. Due to the re-modelling stimulated by the RF microneedling, less aggressive CO2Â resurfacing is required to achieve comparable results, minimising downtime.Â
Immediately following this treatment, we often recommend application of exosomes. Exosomes are micro-vesicles that contain thousands of growth factors, cytokines and nutrients that help to boost collagen, elastin and natural hydration. Exosomes work to regenerate skin cells, reduce inflammation and pigmentation, improve immune function and accelerate skin healing.Â
This dynamic, non-ablative treatment, pairs RF microneedling with an erbium glass laser. The RF microneedles deliver heat to the deeper layers of the skin via precise needles, whilst the laser gently delivers powerful beams to the skin in microcolumns, creating bulk heating. This works to effectively target common signs of ageing and skin concerns in any skin type, with almost no downtime and an instant glass-like glow to the skin.
Microneedling is a treatment that involves tiny needles that stimulate skin repair and create channels into the skin, enabling the absorption of nutrients applied to the skin surface. The depth of needling and choice of topical nutrients will impact on the results seen. Topical nutrients can include:
- Vitamins, minerals and antioxidants: to improve skin vibrancy and hydration
- Acid peel: to resurface scars and improve skin texture
- Hydroquinone: to fade pigmentation
The inflammation that is caused by acne can irritate melanocytes (pigment-producing cells). When irritated, these cells release clumps of pigment into the skin, resulting in darkening or pigmentation. This is known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). At the Dr Tatiana Clinic, we treat PIH by reducing inflammation, blocking the production of new pigment and accelerating the shedding of existing pigment. This is best done using topical skin products containing evidence-based ingredients such as vitamin A and C, hydroquinone and glycolic.
Morpheus 8 is a device that combines microneedling with radiofrequency heat energy. As the small needles enter the skin, the needles break up scar tissue and their tips deliver heat via radiofrequency energy. This process stimulates collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid production, thereby remodelling the skin and reducing acne scars. Morpheus 8 is safe for any skin type and can be used alongside other treatments such as dermal fillers.
Immediately following Morpheus 8 treatment, we often recommend application of Exosomes. Exosomes are micro-vesicles that contain thousands of growth factors, cytokines and nutrients that help to boost collagen, elastin and natural hydration. Exosomes work to regenerate skin cells, reduce inflammation and pigmentation, improve immune function and accelerate skin healing.Â
SecretRF
SecretRF is an evolution of microneedling with radiofrequency. This device works by precisely inserting small needles into the skin (at gradations of 0.1mm), creating microchannels, with the subsequent delivery of radiofrequency heat energy to stimulate the production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. This process remodels the skin, thereby reducing acne scarring. The motor mechanism of the SecretRF is extremely smooth and it’s needles particularly precise and well-insulated, resulting in minimal downtime and being suitable for all skin types.Â
Immediately following SecretRF treatment, we often recommend application of exosomes. Exosomes are micro-vesicles that contain thousands of growth factors, cytokines and nutrients that help to boost collagen, elastin and natural hydration. Exosomes work to regenerate skin cells, reduce inflammation and pigmentation, improve immune function and accelerate skin healing.Â
The principle of skin resurfacing is to inflict a controlled injury to the skin; the injured skin then repairs and creates new collagen, elastin and skin hydrators. This process converts scarred skin into healthy skin. Within safe limits, a greater injury will stimulate greater remodelling of the scar tissue. Carbon dioxide (CO2) laser resurfacing is the gold standard treatment for acne scars.
For patients with darker skin types, conventional acne scar treatments like CO2 lasers that involve heat trauma, increase the risk of complications such as post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Unlike traditional lasers, which use nanosecond pulses, picosecond lasers deliver laser energy in extremely short picosecond pulses. This ultra-short pulse duration produces a photo-acoustic effect, working to shatter areas of acne scarring with minimal heat and damage to the surrounding skin. This reduced heat generation helps minimise the risk of thermal damage to the surrounding skin and lowers the chance of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, whilst stimulating the production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid.Â
Immediately following this treatment, we often recommend application of exosomes. Exosomes are micro-vesicles that contain thousands of growth factors, cytokines and nutrients that help to boost collagen, elastin and natural hydration. Exosomes work to regenerate skin cells, reduce inflammation and pigmentation, improve immune function and accelerate skin healing.Â
Biostimulation involves the use of external stimuli to harness the body’s own regenerative capabilities to promote collagen production, improve skin elasticity, and promote overall rejuvenation. By activating cellular mechanisms, biostimulation can help re-model acne scars and improve skin texture. At Drs Tatiana + Rishi Advanced Aesthetics we use biostimulators including Platelet-Rich-Plasma (PRP), those that contain poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), e.g. Sculptra and those containing polynucleotides.Â
Cosmelan and Dermamelan peels are industry-leading treatments for all types of pigmentation, including melasma. The peels work to deeply resurface, blend and remove unwanted pigment whilst also improving skin texture, luminosity and health. The treatment programme includes skin preparation, two targeted peels and a 12-month supply of skin products – to ensure that we help you maintain the outstanding results of your treatment.
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