TREATMENT & DIAGNOSIS
Post Acne Scars
Acne can leave dark spots known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, especially in darker skin as well as red scars in fair skin. Clinically proven formulas can signal the skin to renew and remodel the damage, helping improve skin texture and clarity.
Post Acne Scar Solution
The only thing worse than the acne is the scarring that can result.
Scars occur due to the skin not functioning properly underneath the skins’ surface (epidermis). Inflammation occurs during acne breakout which causes trauma to skin tissue, and it’s this trauma that leads to scarring,
Two main types of acne scarring:
Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH) scarring or Discoloured Scarring – this causes hyperpigmentation and the skin forms dark blemishes in dark skin and red blemishes in fair skin.
Ice pick or box scarring are more common in severe acne and occur when the skin is severely traumatised leaving indentations in the skin.
Darker skin discolours easily, making it imperative for darker skin people to avoid picking their skin as this may result in a lingering scar.
Everyone with acne breakout needs to avoid picking or squeezing the acne as infection can spread the acne to other areas
Can acne scars heal?
Yes, over time they reduce, especially the discoloured scars, as they are more superficial, and tissue has not dropped away.
Scar Remodeling Skincare
To counteract the hyperpigmentation – a retinal antibacterial serum (Clear Skin Serum) helps the skin’s renewal process. A pigment-inhibiting serum limits pigment migrating to the scar and helps diffuse the high-density pigment marks (Lighten Botanical Serum). It is also a must to use sunscreen to protect your skin and be super diligent about applying sunscreen as the sun can darken the pigment scars.
Deep Scarring
Clear Skin Serum helps skin function normally and promotes skin renewal. It also acts as a preparatory serum which is used prior to in-clinic treatments. If your skin is dark, you will also need to use Lighten Botanical Serum which helps disperse the darkening around the scars. Hydrating Peptide Serum with hyaluronic acid is used after treatment to promote wound healing.
Ultra-Brightening Serum
Multi-corrective formula designed to reduce dark spots, even skin tone, and restore radiance while supporting barrier health and reducing signs of ageing. Formulated with clinically proven actives, peptides, antioxidants, and botanical oils, this serum delivers targeted results for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, dullness, and early signs of ageing.
Main ingredients: Niacinamide , Vit B3, Vit C, Peptides, Tranexamic Acid, Alpha Arbutine
Skin concern:Pigmented Skin, Discoloured Skin, Hyperpigmentation
RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS FOR POST ACNE OILY SKIN
Clarifying Charcoal Cleaner
Clear Skin Cleanser is the first step in your clear skin routine. This perfectly pH balanced organic detoxifying cleanser with gentle exfoliating fruit extracts decongests pores and mops up toxins and excess oil, with activated charcoal for ultimate skin purification. Aloe vera and chamomile provide anti-inflammatory, soothing, and wound healing properties and tea tree helps purify pores and prevent further breakout.
Main ingredients: Activated Charcoal, AHA’s, Aloe, Chamomile
Skin concern:Oily SkinAcnePimples
Antibacterial Retinal Formula
Clear Skin Serum is a fast-acting specialised retinal-A serum, formulated to fight blemish-causing bacteria, unclog and clear pores, blackheads and painful pimples. Niacinamide and willow herb help balance skin, reduce, redness and accelerate natural skin healing.
Main ingredients: Vit A, B, Aloe
Refining & Pore Perfecting
This powerful multi-potent 10% niacinamide serum balances combination skin, improving skin resilience and immunity. It’s anti-inflammatory benefits, calm and soothe skin, reducing skin irritations, refining ‘orange peel’ texture, balancing excess oil and calming blotchy skin. This serum is the secret to stronger, clearer, smoother, and radiant skin.
Main ingredients:10% Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid, Chamomile
Skin concern:Combination Skin
Refining & Balancing Moisturiser - 30ml
Radiance is a multi-functional potential vitamin B3 balancing formula, that improves your over-all skin texture, reduces signs of an 'orange peel' complexion and helps shrink large pore, congestion and sensitivity. Visibly improving blotchy pigment and fades post blemish marks, leaving skin looking and feeling refresh, revived and radiant.
Main ingredients: 5% Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid, Coenzyme Q10
Skin concern:Combination skin,enlarged pores, breakout
In-clinic treatments:
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are great for both discolouration and indentation scarring and help improve the colour and texture of the skin. A course of 4 to 6 peels is usually recommended but is dependent on the peel.
Microneedling
Microneedling uses tiny needles to stimulate your skin's healing process, works incredibly well to reduce indentation scarring and helps your skin texture become smoother. A course of 6 monthly treatments is usually the minimum requirement for good results.
RF Resurfacing
RF resurfacing uses radio frequency which is a current that penetrates the skin with heat causing the skin to go on high alert and activate its natural healing processors, which helps remodel and smooth the skin.
RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS FOR POST ACNE DRY SKIN
Restore Rx Lotion
Gentle Antioxidant Enzyme Exfoliating Cleanser
Gently cleanses skin of impurities, dead skin cells and revives a dull, uneven complexion. This unique botanical blend of pomegranate, organic aloe and AHA’s help gently detoxify and improve skin texture and tone leaving the skin refreshed and radiant.
Main ingredients: Pomegranate, AHA, Organic Aloe
Skin concern: Normal Skin, Combination Skin, Pigmented Skin, Discoloured Skin, Ageing Skin
Anti-redness formula
Restore Rx Lotion – is an advanced calming and anti-inflammatory lotion formulated to soothe sensitive, rosacea and redness-prone skin. This unique skin-relief complex targets flushing and flareups by strengthening and fortifying the skins natural repair processes helping skin regain a healthy, calm complexion.
Main ingredients: Milk Thistle, Hyaluronic Acid, Calendula Flower Extract, Macadamia Seed Oil
Skin concern:Rosacea Skin, Sensitive Skin
Ultra-Brightening Serum
Multi-corrective formula designed to reduce dark spots, even skin tone, and restore radiance while supporting barrier health and reducing signs of ageing. Formulated with clinically proven actives, peptides, antioxidants, and botanical oils, this serum delivers targeted results for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, dullness, and early signs of ageing.
Main ingredients: Niacinamide , Vit B3, Vit C, Peptides, Tranexamic Acid, Alpha Arbutine
Skin concern:Pigmented Skin, Discoloured Skin, Hyperpigmentation
Natural Zinc Mineral Protection
Zinc SHELD is a perfectly balanced non-greasy, mineral reflective formula that protects your skin against environmental stress. Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin. This lightweight invisible zinc oxide cream gives your skin perfect support. Enriched with antioxidants and environmental defence factors to keep skin calm and hydrated and help guard against sun-related flare-ups.
Main ingredients: Zinc, Anti-Oxidants, Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid
Skin concern:Rosacea Skin, Sun Damage, Hyperpigmentation, Pigmented Skin, Discoloured Skin, Sensitive Skin, All skin types
Hydrating skin conditioning mist
This advanced calming and rehydrating mist targets skin with a unique combination of chamomile, hyaluronic acid and a unique mineral repair blend that enhances the absorption of serums and helps increase hydration, relieves red irritated skin and returns healthy natural pH balanced glowing skin.
Main ingredients: Hyaluronic, Chamomile, Cucumber
Skin concern: Normal Skin, Dry Skin, Dehydrated Skin, Sensitive Skin, All skin types, Rosacea Skin
Hyaluronic Peptide Booster
Hydrating Peptide Serum is an intensive re-hydrating collagen boosting formula with Epidermal Growth Factors for skin-rejuvenation. Hyaluronic acid locks in moisture, relieving dryness and dehydration, plumping skin and improving skin suppleness. Peptides improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and maintain a youthful tight complexion. This is the formula of choice for helping improve skin texture, remodelling scarring, and promoting a youthful radiant complexion.
Main ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, sh Oligopeptide-1 (EGF)
Skin concern:Normal Skin, Dry Skin, Dehydrated Skin
5 tips to prevent acne scars:
1. Do not pick or squeeze your pimples
Squeezing, picking and scratching acne causes more harm than help, and makes it more likely for your skin to scar. In addition, picking a pimple may result in spreading acne elsewhere on your skin.
2. Know the different types of acne
Whiteheads, blackheads and pimples, all appear on the surface of the skin. They can produce hard, red bumps that can hurt, but, unlike other types of acne, they remain quite superficial. Cystic acne is a type of acne characterised by inflammation deep in the skin and does not sit in the pores of the skin. Since there's nowhere for the fluid to come out, it's very important that squeezing is NOT used to try and remove the cystic acne. Attempting to pick or squeeze this type of acne will lead to the inflammation spreading underneath the skin, creating a larger area of damage and, ultimately, a larger area of discolouration and scarring,"
3. Extraction of millia, whiteheads and blackheads
It's best performed in-clinic by a qualified dermal therapist, ensuring hygienic and sterilized equipment is used.
4. Start acne treatment early
If you break out once a month or in a predictable cycle, start treating your skin, with a regular skincare regime every morning and evening. Use a gel cleanser that will help purify and clarify your skin. Activated charcoal draws impurities off the skin and helps detoxify the skin without stripping the skin's natural protective oils. Hyaluronic acid and peptides help remodel damaged tissue and help with the wound healing process. Wearing a natural zinc-based sunscreen can help prevent any hyperpigmentation that may occur as a result of acne. Zinc has an antiseptic and balancing effect and helps hydrate and protect your skin.
5. See a skin care specialist
If you feel like you're using all the right at-home preventive measures but still can't control your acne or acne scarring, consider seeing a dermal therapist and a naturopath. There are many advanced, effective treatments for acne and acne scarring. "Having monthly maintenance skin care treatments can be very helpful in clearing your skin and preventing post-acne scars.