Through this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn how to get rid of acne scars naturally. Bearing in mind, acne scars and pimples are common problems that people of all ages can face. And when someone has a breakout, they may want to know how to get rid of acne scars and pimples fast.
Even if a person may not completely eliminate pimples or acne in a day, they can make some significant progress. Especially, by naturally shrinking blemishes and reducing redness. In general, there are many ways on how to get rid of pimple scars naturally, particularly, online.
Most acne scars are flat and dark, while others can have a “pitted” appearance, creating an uneven texture. Not forgetting, the uneven surface makes it difficult to conceal with regular makeup. Making it even more crucial to prevent pimples and acne before it starts. As well as healing acne scars early on when pimples are first starting to vanish.
Related: The Ultimate Guide to Healthy Skin: Basics, Types, Routing, and More
Other hypertrophic scars—which are more raised and more noticeable, can develop as well. Scarring causes discoloration and will affect skin tone and skin health. Though many may turn to home remedies, this would not be a recommended course of action. Before you proceed, you can read and learn more about What are hypertrophic scars? As well as What is Acne Popping?
What Causes Acne Scars?
Congratulations! Your pimples are gone. But, the only problem is that you now have a scar where the acne used to be. And Yes! You can cover it up with makeup, or random over-the-counter scar treatment. However, the ideal solution is to actually fade the scar.
Also known as spots or zits, pimples are a part of acne. They are most likely to occur around puberty, but they can happen at any age. To really understand acne scar removal, we need to look at what causes acne scars. Basically, the technical term for the dark mark left behind an acne lesion once it heals is Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (in short PIH).
It usually starts off with a red cast and turns dark brown or purple over time. During puberty, hormone production changes, causing the sebaceous glands, (located at the base of hair follicles), to become overactive. As a result, pimples are most likely to occur during the teenage years and around menstruation, for women.
PIH is most common in dark skin types and can last longer than 5 years if it’s not treated correctly. Acne scarring is more common when the acne lesion is picked at or “popped”— which triggers an inflammatory cascade. This causes more melanin to rise to the surface of your skin.
Which are the Best Methods to treat Acne Scars?
Keep in mind that, melanin is the natural pigment in the skin responsible for dark marks. The hair, skin, and eye color in people and animals mostly depends on the type and amount of melanin they have. Special skin cells called melanocytes make melanin. You can learn more about melanin in this article.
It’s important to intervene early on during the healing period when the pimple is just starting to flatten and heal. You can use Hydrocortisone skin cream, or other anti-inflammatories, to reduce inflammation and speed up the healing process.
In addition, using Hydrocortisone, or other treatment options, like Vitamin E that has anti-inflammatory properties, can help acne scars from forming through early intervention. However, avoid using AHAs or BHAs like glycolic acid or salicylic acid when the pimple is healing.
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Simply, because this will only damage the skin more and increase inflammation, leading to darker pigment formation. Once the skin is completely healed and no longer red, the best ingredient to use is Vitamin C. This potent antioxidant blocks melanogenesis (skin darkening), so it will help to diminish the look of dark spots.
It also stimulates collagen synthesis, which is exactly what you need to help even out the look of pitted acne scars. For faster results, pair it with Mandelic Acid! Using Mandelic Acid for pitted scars will hasten the renewal process and help to bring fresh, radiant cells to the surface of your skin.
With that in mind, which are the best ingredients to get rid of acne scars? Another great treatment for acne scars is Azelaic Acid, which is such a gentle yet effective exfoliator that it’s even recommended for Rosacea. For severe acne scars that form keloids (raised scarring), which is more common in dark skin types, the best treatment is a combination of Retinoids and Hydroquinone.
Other additional methods include;
- Know your skin type
- Properly wash your face
- Apply French green clay
- Moisturize your skin properly
- Make sure that you stay hydrated
- Avoid junk foods and reduce stress
- Use over-the-counter acne treatments
- Limit makeup and don’t touch your face
- Don’t be a pimple popper and limit sun exposure
- Try tea tree oil or even use antibacterial antibiotics
If you have bad acne despite taking steps to prevent it, you may need a prescription-strength treatment such as:
- topical retinoids (derived from vitamin A) to help prevent clogged pores
- oral contraceptives or antiandrogen agents to reduce hormones that increase sebum production
- oral isotretinoin (Accutane), a retinoid that helps prevent clogged pores, and reduces sebum production, inflammation, and skin bacteria
Maintaining your Face will help Get Rid of Acne Scars
Many of the ways you prevent pimples can also help you manage them. For instance, eating right, reducing stress, and not popping pimples may help contain them. And even reduce how long they stay around.
In general, the most important way to take care of acne scars is to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF, of at least 90, every day, and reapply often. Bearing in mind, acne scars are extremely sensitive to sunlight, and UV exposure will only make the scar darker.
You’ve invested a lot of time in effort in healing and fading your scars, so it’s important to take the final safety measure of protecting your skin from the sun. In addition to that, you can begin a daily skincare routine. But, you must be consistent!
Related Post: In What Order Do I Apply My Skin Care Products?
A morning and evening skincare routine is key to keeping acne, pimples, and random blemishes and breakouts from appearing or reappearing. Find a personalized skincare regimen best suited to your skin.
Start each morning and end each day with a gentle cleanser. Excess oil, dirt, and sebum sit on the skin and can clog pores causing acne breakouts. Cleansing is key! Follow with an SPF-based moisturizing lotion for daytime use and a richer moisturizer for night use.
Obviously, because your skin does replenish itself while you sleep. Exfoliating with a gentle face exfoliator (no scrubbing microbeads) can be used once a week. In order to remove dead skin cells which can leave skin looking dull.
All in all, cleansing and exfoliation will help deliver a brightening effect on your skin. On the contrary, prescription-strength treatments may cause serious side effects. In that case, your dermatologist can help you weigh the pros and cons. And then determine which treatment is right for you.
Remember to Check-in with your Dermatologist yearly
As acne scarring can linger on the skin, a yearly exam with your dermatologist can help. Whereby, dermatologists can greatly help you with wound healing. While examining scarring to see if laser treatments or chemical peels could help with the skin healing process.
Your doctor can also recommend courses of treatment if your acne, acne scarring, and even the resulting scar tissue are more severe. And of course, as we’ve always been told, keep your hands off your face, don’t “pick” or “squeeze” blemishes or pimples.
Don’t rest your face on your hands and keep your phone off your face (in that case, use ear pods!) After all, prevention is worth a pound of cure, and scarring won’t be such a major issue early on.
Other useful and related topics;
- How to Prevent Pimples
- Treatments for Hypertrophic Scars
- Vitamin E and Your Skin, Friends Through Food
- What you need to know about Hydrocortisone skin creams
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation – What causes it and how can I reduce it?
It’s important to realize, part of this article is originally posted on Proven Skincare. So, you can go straight ahead and see more related topics from their blog.
Takeaway,
In reality, everyone gets pimples now and then. Many things may cause pimples, such as hormones, stress, genetics, and diet. Some medications may even trigger breakouts. At their best, pimples are annoying. At their worst, they may cause permanent scarring, serious anxiety, or depression.
Prevention efforts may help, but they aren’t foolproof. Whatever pimple preventions plan you choose, patience and consistency are key. A dab of benzoyl peroxide may shrink a single pimple overnight, but most treatments take several weeks to produce results.
Finally, I hope the above-revised guide on how to get rid of acne scars naturally was helpful to you or someone you know. If you’ll need more help regarding this or more of our health & fitness blog topics, feel free to Contact Us or even write to us — use our email address [email protected].
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