Hair follicles dot the face, protecting it with a light coating of hair and secreting oil from the follicle's sebaceous glands, which keeps the facial skin soft and smooth. However, the sebaceous glands can overproduce oil or cause other buildup that results in acne. In extreme cases, this acne can damage the skin enough to cause a scar. If this takes place, you can use a scar treatment cream, such as Mederma, to minimize the appearance of acne scars.

Significance

While many acne-related pimples may never result in scarring, sometimes the oil that plugs the hair's follicles will combine with bacteria or other oils on the skin to penetrate the dermis, which is the layer of skin underneath the epidermis--the visible portion of the skin. When the buildup inside the follicle's walls exerts too much pressure, these oils and pollutants can cause permanent skin damage. The body works to repair itself by building collagen fibers. However, these fibers may take away from the skin's appearance, forming a scar.

Types

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Two types of acne scars exist: the first are scars that are raised above the skin. This occurs when a condition known as hypertrophy causes skin fibers to build on top of each other. The second is a scar that looks lower than the skin on the face, which gives the facial skin a dented appearance. Mederma is recommended for the treatment of both scar types.

Function

Mederma is a lightweight gel you apply to the skin. It contains ingredients designed to soften a scar, which can make it less noticeable, particularly on the face. Active ingredients include aloe barbadensis leaf juice and cepalin, which is an onion bulb extract that has antibacterial properties. The cepalin extract also works to reduce the scar's color and uneven texture, particularly if the scar is raised. In addition to acne scars, Mederma can be used to treat stretch marks and scars due to injury.

Usage

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Mederma can be used on both old and new acne scars; however, it is best to begin treating scars as quickly as possible. Massage the gel massaged into the scar three to four times per day. The duration of application should depend upon the age of the scar. If you have older scars, apply Mederma for three to six months 1. Newer scars may only require eight weeks of application.

Warnings

Because Mederma is made from natural ingredients, it is associated with few unpleasant side effects--however, if skin irritation occurs, you should discontinue use. It is important to have realistic expectations about the types of healing that can occur. While Mederma may reduce the overall appearance of acne scarring, it typically does not completely eradicate a scar. Also, because frequent applications are required to experience noticeable results, you must be willing to frequently apply the gel.