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What is Acne Scarring?

   Acne causes skin inflammation
   Skin inflammation leads to a wound within the dermis
   This wound heals, leaving scarring behind

Acne Does Damage, Twice

Acne is a difficult and unsightly problem. First it harms us by making our skin less than perfect, then adds insult to injury by leaving acne scars in its wake to remind us forever of our problem skin.

Our Body’s Response Results in Scarring

The problem begins within our skin as it naturally produces oil in our sebaceous gland. Acne-causing bacteria metabolize this oil and that metabolized oil is irritating to our skin. As the skin becomes increasingly irritated by this oil our hair follicles will become plugged, thereby collecting debris. This debris then erupts down into the deeper layer of our skin, the dermis. This debris is an intruder in the dermis, a foreign body, which doesn’t belong there. As a result our body attempts to get rid of this foreign body with an inflammatory response.

As our body struggles to remove this foreign debris with this inflammatory response, a wound in our skin is the result, and we end up with a scar. Acne scarring, like any other scarring, are the result of a wound in the skin, which then heals, leaving too much collagen behind.

To learn more about how Acne Scarring is treated, see: How can I remove Acne Scars?, Laser Acne Scar Treatment, Choosing a Doctor












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Last Modified: September 04, 2007

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Sebaceous Gland? What is the Cool Touch Laser?
What is the Dermis? What is the Fraxel Laser?
What is non-ablative laser? What are Keloid Scars?
What is the VBeam™ Perfecta Laser? What are Keratolytics?
What is the Smooth Beam Laser?
The information contained in the above article is purely for educational purposes and is not intended to provide any medical advice. Always consult with your physician before having any medical procedure performed.