Acne scar revision Flashcards
Ice pick scars are less than 2mm in diameter
T
Boxcar scars extend 1mm into dermis
F
0.1–0.5 mm
The 3 methods for treating acne scars are to
Alter the colour
Induce or reduce collagen
Fill the scar
T
Rolling scars may be >5mm in diameter
T
Icepick scars do not extend into subcutaneous layer
F
can do
Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) can respond to bleaching agents, light chemical peels, pigment lasers, light sources and fractionated lasers
T
Hyperpigmentation is more difficult to treat than hypopigmentation
F
Hypopigmentation is most difficult
Erythematous scars may improve with time
T
also skincare and vascular laser or IPL
altering the colour is the most common approach to acne scar teratment
F
altering the collagen is
medium and deep chemical peels stimulate collagen while superficial peels reduce pigmentation
T
There are 3 grades of acne scarring severity
F
4 grades
If scars dissappear with stretching the skin is an important discriminator in assessinfg acne scar severity
T
important for atrophic scars especially
If they dissappear its grade 3 if not is grade 4
Discolouration with no textural change is characteristic of Grade 2 acne scarring
F
Grade 1 =
Erythematous, hyper- or hypopigmented flat marks visible to patient or observer at any distance
Grade 4 acne scarring includes atrophy or hypertrophy that is obvious at social distances of ≥50 cm and is not covered easily by make-up, the normal shadow of shaved beard hair in males or body hair, if extra-facial, but flattens by manual stretching of the skin
F
this is Grade 3
Grade 4 is the same but Manual skin stretching cannot flatten it
Grade 1 acne scarring is Mild atrophy or hypertrophy that may not be obvious at social distances of ≥50 cm and may be adequately camouflaged with make-up, the normal shadow of a shaved beard in males or normal body hair if extra-facial
F
this is grade 2
Hypeprigmented scars mainly seen in dark skin types
T
Must advise sun block
Needling devices can penetrate up to 3mm
T
shallow depth needle treatments can do at home without anaesthetic
T
25g needles are used for acne scar needling treatments
F
30g
Dermapen is a vibrating, stamping needle device
T
vibrations make it much less painful
Prophylaxis for herpes simplex is not required for needling procedures
F
Prophylactic antivirals should be used for pts w/ Hx of herpes simplex (Acyclovir 400mg TDS for 5 days)
Needling sessions can be repeated 2 weeks apart
T
Chemica peels are 2nd line to laser techniques
T
TCA CROSS stands for TCA Chemical Reconstruction Of Skin Scars
T
Use 60-100% TCA +/- other techniques (subcision etc) to raise depressed scars
Then often followed by CO2 or Er:YAG laser resurfacing
1927nm non-ablative fractional thalium laser resurfacing can help hypopigmentation
T
or the 1550nm Fractionated non-ablative diode-pumped erbium laser (fraxel SR)
bleaching agents cannot help hypopigmentation
F
use on the normal skin to reduce the contrast