Acne is one of the most common skin conditions around the world. It is estimated that around 60 million people in the U.S. currently have acne, and that number is rising. Dealing with acne can be an emotionally difficult experience, but the scars acne can leave behind can be just as challenging to deal with. For many people, acne scars can cause significant distress.
What Causes Acne Scars?
Acne is the result of plugged hair follicles under the skin. When follicles become clogged with dead skin cells or oil, it can cause pimples and other blemishes. Teenagers are the most common group to get acne, but it can affect people of all ages.
In some cases, acne blemishes go deep below the surface of the skin, causing damage to delicate facial tissues. If they do not heal properly, these blemishes can leave a scar. The injury not only damages existing skin, but it can also damage the new tissue growing over it. This is why acne scars can continue to worsen after the blemish is gone and the acne is healed.
Traditionally, topical creams have been the most effective treatment for acne scarring. However, they may not provide the level of healing many patients seek.
How Platelet-Rich Plasma Can Potentially Reduce Acne Scarring
Platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP) is a type of regenerative medicine treatment traditionally used to help manage joint and musculoskeletal pain. Platelets are blood cells that play a vital role in natural healing by supporting the growth of new cells. PRP injections are prepared samples of a patient’s own blood. The blood is spun in a centrifuge to isolate the platelets, creating a concentrated formula that a provider can administer into an injured area to potentially support the healing process.
To treat acne scars, a professional administers the PRP into the affected areas with a micro-thin needle. They first apply a local anesthetic to help reduce any discomfort. The PRP injections have the ability to trigger disorganized tissue fibers to reorganize themselves and potentially diminish the scar’s severity.
PRP treatments for scarring may require three or four sessions. Sessions are typically scheduled about six weeks apart to provide the opportunity for full healing between injections.
The patient and PRP specialist can decide whether further treatment might be beneficial after the initial sessions have been completed. If multiple treatment sessions are desired, appointments will be scheduled further apart. Allowing for about eight weeks between injections typically provides enough time to see the full extent of the patient’s results.
This post was written by a medical professional at Stemedix Inc. At Stemedix we provide access to Regenerative Medicine, also known as Stem Cell Therapy in St Petersburg Florida. Regenerative medicine seeks to replace tissue or organs that have been damaged by disease, trauma, or congenital issues.