Acne Scars - Dermal Fillers

Acne is a common condition of the skin and normally characterised by pimples on the face, back and chest. The condition occurs when the skin pores get clogged with oil, dead skin cells and bacteria. It can arise at any age but in the majority begins to develop at the age of puberty, when the body is undergoing major transformational changes. It tends to get worse during the period of adolescence.

It is a common condition and approximately 85 per cent of people encounter the condition between the ages of 12 and 25 years, with up to 20 per cent of women developing mild acne.

After the acne has gone it will normally leave small scars - hence the term "acne scars". The scars often cause indentations on the surface of the skin referred to as pitted skin. Some of the common causes of acne include age, where hormonal changes contribute to the occurrence, and gender also contributes, since boys are more likely to develop the condition than girls.

Other factors include diseases of the skin, drugs, cosmetics, personal hygiene and the effect of the environment, while emotional stress can also play a part.

There are a variety of different dermal fillers used to treat acne scars. The goal of acne scar treatment is to raise the skin surface that is affected and give it a smoother, enhanced look. Types of dermal fillers which can be used for such treatment include collagen, fat, hyaluronic acid derivatives and polymethyl-methacrylate microspheres with collagen. Treatments that use these fillers do not necessarily give permanent or long-lasting corrections, but they will generally work for a considerable amount of time.

For permanent results continued top-up treatments are needed. This is because dermal fillers breakdown within the body over time. This is a point to bear in mind when using dermal fillers, so that you know when to have another injection.