How To Treat Acne Scars
Before you treat your acne scars, step one is to get your acne under control. If people come to me for treatment for their scars and theyre still breaking out, I will often send them back to the dermatologist, Dr. Tournas said.
Once your acne clears up, you have different treatment options to consider depending on how much scarring you have.
For very mild scarring, Retin-A, microdermabrasion, dermaplaning, chemical peels, or filler injections can work.
But for most acne scarring, laser therapy is the gold standard. With acne scarring, its often the transition between the scar and the normal skin thats more visible, and laser treatments can smooth that transition. If you can blunt itsoften the transition between the scar and normal skinyou can see some real improvement in peoples complexions, especially on the cheeks, chin, and jawline, Dr. Tournas said.
There are two types of laser treatmentsnon-ablative and ablative. The non-ablative laser treatment is less aggressive. It heats up small columns of tissue and leaves normal tissue in between the columns. The more aggressive ablative laser treatment uses a carbon dioxide laser to vaporize the columns of tissue.
With both treatment options, new, healthy skin grows in to replace the scar tissue. Its like aerating your lawn, Dr. Tournas said. He typically uses the less-aggressive laser treatment on milder cases of acne scarring and the more-aggressive carbon dioxide laser on moderate and severe cases.
What Can I Expect If I Have Acne Scars
Acne is very common. Its likely that most people you know either have or have had it at some point, probably when they were teenagers. Expect to have to make choices choices about if you will or will not get treatment and choices about the type of treatment. Expect to have the scars for most if not all of your life if you decide not to get treatment. Even with treatment, acne scars are difficult to heal. Theres no 100% guarantee that the acne scars will be completely gone. But most treatments reduce the size of the acne scars and make them less visible.
Its important to note that applying apple cider vinegar to your skin can cause burns and irritation. If you choose to try it, use it in small amounts and dilute it with water.
Summary
The organic acids in apple cider vinegar may help kill acne-causing bacteria and reduce the appearance of scars. Applying it to the skin may cause burns or irritation, so it should be used carefully.
Zinc is an essential nutrient thats important for cell growth, hormone production, metabolism, and immune function.
Its relatively well studied compared with other natural treatments for acne.
Research indicates that people with acne tend to have lower levels of zinc in their blood than those with clear skin .
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What Is The Treatment For Postinflammatory Pigmentation
Treatments for postinflammatory pigmentation include:
- Careful sun protection even though inflammatory acne lesions may improve, brown marks darken with sun exposure. Apply a broad-spectrum oil-free sunscreen and wear a broad-brimmed hat when outdoors
- Azelaic acidcream this reduces pigmentation as well as effectively treating mild to moderate acne
- Hydroquinone bleaching creams these inhibit the enzymetyrosinase that causes tanning
- Superficial chemical peels containing glycolic acid or Jessner solution.
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Moisturize With Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a tropical plant whose leaves produce a clear gel. The gel is often added to lotions, creams, ointments, and soaps.
Its commonly used to treat abrasions, rashes, burns, and other skin conditions. When applied to the skin, aloe vera gel can help heal wounds, treat burns, and fight inflammation .
Aloe vera contains salicylic acid and sulfur, which are both used extensively in the treatment of acne. Research has found that applying salicylic acid to the skin reduces acne (
While research shows promise, the anti-acne benefits of aloe vera itself require further scientific research.
Apply Green Tea To Your Skin
Green tea is very high in antioxidants, and drinking it can promote good health.
It may also help reduce acne. This is likely because the polyphenols in green tea help fight bacteria and reduce inflammation, which are two main causes of acne .
There isnt much research exploring the benefits of drinking green tea when it comes to acne, and more studies are needed.
In one small study with 80 women, participants took 1,500 mg of green tea extract daily for 4 weeks. By the end of the study, women who took the extract had less acne on their noses, chins, and around their mouths .
Research has also found that drinking green tea may lower blood sugar and insulin levels, which are factors that can contribute to the development of acne .
Many studies also indicate that applying green tea directly to the skin may help with acne.
Research shows that the main antioxidant in green tea epigallocatechin-3-gallate reduces sebum production, fights inflammation, and inhibits the growth of P. acnes in individuals with acne-prone skin .
Multiple studies have found that applying green tea extract to the skin significantly reduces sebum production and pimples in those with acne .
You can buy creams and lotions that contain green tea, but its just as easy to make your own mixture at home.
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How To Fade Acne Scars By Using Potato
The red acne scars on your cheeks certainly do not present a pleasant sight. These are unsightly and may affect your confidence level. Want to know how to get rid of acne scars? Pick a potato and lighten the awful marks easily.
How to use?
- Crush or grate it and extract the juice
- Soak a cotton pad in the potato juice and place it on the scars
- Leave the juice on acne scars for around twenty to thirty minutes
- After that, wash the area with water
- Repeat this remedy once a day for some time until the acne scars lighten.
Benefits of Potato
Potato is known to have skin lightening properties that work effectively to heal the acne scars. The alkalinity of the potato juice accelerates the fading of scars.
Precautions
Use unblemished, raw potato for treating acne scars.
Foods to Eat
Healthy and clear skin isnât possible if you are not healthy from inside. What you eat reflects on your skin. Hence, those looking for how to get rid of acne scars must know that to get clear skin they should include foods that promote skin health and prevent acne breakouts resulting in acne scars. One must add the following foods to their diet to avoid breakouts and promote skin healing
Foods to avoid
Consumption of certain foods increases ace break-out and scarring. They may also interfere in your skinâs healing process. Hence you must avoid such foods. The foods that you should stop eating immediately to get healthy skin devoid of any troubles are:
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What Ingredients And Products Are Best For Fading Acne Scars
Look for products with the ingredient hydroquinone, a skin-lightening agent in many OTC dark spot and acne scar treatment products. Products with kojic acid and azelaic acid are also effective ingredients to use in the early stages of acne as a preventative measure, Fenton said. He recommended PCA Skin Pigment Gel because it contains several of these ingredients, as well as alpha hydroxy acids that exfoliate the skin.
The active ingredients work much better at preventing the pigment from forming, rather than clearing the pigment after it has been deposited, Fenton said.
While true acne scars are best treated with lasers, microdermabrasion or deep peels, there are topical products you can use for minor discoloration. That starts with reducing sun exposure and using non-comedogenic sunscreen to prevent further discoloration of scars and dark spots, Friedler said. She recommended using an oil-free mineral sunscreen with an SPF of 50 or higher.
Exfoliators such as glycolic acids, retinols and retinoids can help even out skin tone and fade dark spots, too. Fenton recommended antioxidant serums, especially those with vitamin C.
There arent really ingredients you should avoid because you have Black skin. Naturally, you should use ingredients that are complementary to your skin type and address your skin condition, Ayodele said.
Vitamin A is also a gold standard ingredient as it can exfoliate, fade and optimize skin quality to improve the appearance of scarring, she said.
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Diy Aloe Vera Acne Scar Removing Cream
To get rid of acne scars fast, you may need to make the cream. Aloe vera contains 75 potentially active compounds that help heal the scar tissues faster. You can try out this recipe to make your cream.
You’ll need
- 7-8 drops of tea tree oil or basil essentials
Mix the three ingredients and store them in a tight container in the refrigerator for about an hour. To use, wipe the affected area with a damp cloth, then apply a layer of this mixture. Use at night before bed to achieve the best results. You can store it in the refrigerator for a week.
How To Clear Existing Acne Scars
If any question is in your mind like how to treat existing acne scars. So, you cannot worry about it. Because we can help you here. You can easily find the best way to treat it well.
- Use The Products Or Medication
With the uses of products, you can easily and quickly get rid of acne scars. Products work like a medication that can treat the acne scars. Many medications included in products like Cleanser, skincare moisturizers, and the most important are cream. You can use the cleanser to clean all the dirt and oil on your skin. Then you can use the best moisturizer that suits your skin. If you cant use them then you can use the cream or lotion. That lotion which can doctors recommended you. All the products are good but some just heal the acne. They are not removing the acne scars. But you have needed to remove the scars.
- Household Products
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Beautybio Glopro Regeneration Tool And Face Attachment
Microneedling is when tiny pins vibrate back and forth on the skin and create micro injuries that help stimulate collagen production and smooth out the skins surface, according to Hartman, who provides medical-grade microneedling treatments at his practice.
Although Hartman said he hasnt used at-home microneedling kits, brands like Ora and Beauty Bio make top rated microneedling tools. Beauty Bios for example, received a 4.5-star average rating from nearly 190 reviews on Amazon and it comes with prep pads, an empty sanitizing bottle and power adapter. At-home microneedling kits like Beauty Bios wont penetrate the skin as deep as professional-grade treatments, which is why the brand recommends utilizing the device up to three times a week.
Removing Pitted Or Raised Scars
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Tea Tree Oil + Aloe Vera
Tea tree oil/aloe vera gel/organic aloe vera gel
This is one of the greatest and my favorite duos. Aloe vera gel is one of my favorite cosmetic products because of its several advantages, including combating acne, calming irritated skin, and removing dark spots and acne blemishes. It includes polysaccharides and gibberellins, which aid to increase the skins healing capacity and level out your complexion, while the antioxidant qualities help to repair damaged skin cells and stimulate collagen synthesis.
And who doesnt appreciate the benefits of tea tree oil? It is, after all, one of the top Ph.D. holders in the field of acne treatment. It has antiseptic, antifungal, and antibacterial qualities that may help prevent acne and treat inflammatory acne in as little as two nights.
Now, aloe vera gel alone may assist with acne and its scars, but when combined with tea tree oil, the combination can help protect the skin against more severe pimples that can lead to acne scarring. Also, dont try using tea tree oil on its own. Although you may not notice immediate effects, it is quite powerful and drying to your skin over time.
What is the best way to utilize it? Combine 2-3 drops of Tea Tree oil with half a spoon of aloe vera gel and apply the mixture to a clean face as a spot therapy. If you wish to, leave it overnight or for at least 30-60 minutes. If you have access to an aloe vera plant, fresh aloe vera gel is preferable.
Fade Acne Scars With Over
Over-the-counter or nonprescription products may also help minimize the appearance of acne scars.
Even though dark spots may fade over time on their own, an over-the-counter medicated dark spot remover with hydroquinone may help these scars fade quicker, notes Yoram Harth, MD, a dermatologist and the medical director of MDacne in San Francisco.
In addition, acne treatments with alpha hydroxy acids can stimulate the growth of new skin, minimizing the appearance of old scars while simultaneously preventing the formation of new acne, says the Mayo Clinic. When shopping for an acne treatment, look for products that contain alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acid and lactic acid.
If over-the-counter products dont fade acne scars, concealer and foundation can help camouflage discoloration.
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What Causes Acne Scars And Pimple Marks
There is a possibility that acne scars occur due to skin pores filled with dead cells, oil, and bacteria. They are most common among countries suffering from extreme climatic conditions like those in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
When acne breaks out and penetrates deep into your skin, it slowly destroy your skin and tissues and damage it. To repair it, sometimes the body starts producing collagen. When acne starts getting cleared, the body sometimes takes the initiative to cure the damages, and the amount of collagen produced by your body give rise to two types of scars :
- Depressed Acne Scars: If collagen production is too less in your body, then depressions or pits remain in your body during the healing process.
- Raised Acne Scars: If your body produces too much collagen, then your body will develop Raised Acne Scars, and it is said that this particular type of acne is most common among Afro-Americans, Hispanics, and Asians.
Thus, the causes of acne scars and pimples are:
- Stress
- Sugar and junk foods
Are Some People More Prone To Acne Scars
For some people, scarring is, unfortunately, due to genetics. There are definitely families that have a genetic tendency to bad scarring, Ciraldo says, pointing to the hereditary nature of issues like hyperpigmentation and keloid scarring. Keloid scarring, in particular, is more common in certain ethnic populations. Keloids are more common in both dark skin as well as Asian skin, Ciraldo says, adding that fair-skinned redheads are also prone to keloids.
If your parents or siblings have a history of scarring or struggle with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, its all the more important that you chat with a derm. It is essential to see a dermatologist for guidance on acne treatment and how to treat any acne scars that may form, Ciraldo adds.
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What Causes Acne Scars And Dark Marks
The spots that linger after a pimple has healed are caused by inflammation that has disrupted the skin’s natural healing process. “When your skin is opened up and then closes back together, you can get abnormal pigmentation, texture, and tone that looks different from the rest of your skin. Sometimes the broken blood vessels that remain after an acne lesion fades can result in a mark,” says Dr. Bowe. For a number of people who are able to refrain from picking, inflamed pimples or blemishes can still leave a dark brown or red mark but these naturally fade over the course of a few months, notes dermatologist Heather C. Woolery-Lloyd, MD.
Since it’s pretty difficult to determine what causes one person to scar more than another, the best way to avoid scarring is to treat acne with a great skin care routine and that means you need to resist picking, poking, or touching a pimple.
Some acne marks and scars are completely within your control while others are pre-determined. Aside from genetics, there are several lifestyle habits that can make dark marks and scars worse. Spending time in the sun is a big one, and, to reiterate one last time, every dermatologist agrees that picking or squeezing pimples creates further inflammation and can ultimately lead to more damage.
Now that we know where acne scars and dark spots come from, let’s dive into how to treat themstarting with acne scars.
