Prevention Is Better Than Treatment
Of course, the best way to get rid of scarring is not to let it happen in the first place.
Some of the methods above are great for preventing acne from forming at all, but can be used directly for acne.
They will reduce the inflammation and redness, and youre less likely to scratch or pop.
It is the popping of pimples that often causes scars to appear. The skin is fragile, and popping pimples lead to it tearing.
The best thing that you can do is prevent scars from forming at all by leaving your pimples to heal on their own, and they really will!
The only time you want to put your hands anywhere near your acne is when youre applying a healing ingredient.
Picking at your pimples is bad for you anyway not just for causing scarring. Your skin is more likely to get infected, and this can cause damage to lower layers.
Your acne will look worse, and you end up with deeper scars in the future.
Always try to avoid exposing your skin to the sun.
You only need 15 minutes of sun on your unprotected skin to get your recommended amount of vitamin D each day, and you should do that outside of the peak sun hours.
All other times, either cover your skin with clothing or through the use of sunscreen. This is especially important when it comes to scars. The sun will make scars look a lot worse than they really are.
The skin is less likely to colour at the same rate as your scars, making them stand out much more.
How Do I Treat Deep Cystic Acne
And speaking of treatment, lets talk about that. Acne nodules and cysts penetrate so deep into the skin, they can cause acne scars when they heal. So its important to treat deep acne correctly, and quickly.
A dermatology practitioner will consider treatment options that focus on clogged pores, bacteria, inflammation and excess oil. Here are some of the treatments they may suggest:
Ingredient: Alpha Hydroxy Acids
Best for: Refining skin texture
Wen thinking about how to get rid of acne scars, AHAs should be a regular feature in your routine. According to New York dermatologist Dr. Dennis Gross, alpha hydroxy acids such as malic, lactic, and glycolic acid are a great way to gently refine the skin’s surface and fade post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. “AHAs like lactic acid work to remove dead pigmented cells from the skins surface by gently loosening the bonds that hold these dead skin cells together.”
Other AHAs go beyond just exfoliation, so it’s worth considering adding these to your routine. “Kojic acid, for example, actually prevents melanin production at the source, deep within the skin,” says Gross.
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What Is Cystic Acne
Cystic acne is when you have large, red, painful breakouts deep in your skin.
Pimples start when a pore in your skin gets clogged, usually with dead skin cells. Bacteria can also get trapped, causing the area to become red and swollen.
Cystic acne happens when this infection goes deep into your skin, creating a bump that’s full of pus. It may hurt or itch. If a cyst bursts, the infection can spread, causing more breakouts.
You can treat these breakouts. Donât try to wait them out. Cystic acne can last for years. It can affect large areas of your skin and leave scars. A dermatologist can help you with a treatment plan.
Its Never Too Late To Treat Those Scars
Although its not possible to get rid of your acne scars quickly, its never too late to treat them. Teenage patients may have to wait until their early 20s before undergoing treatment to make sure theres little risk of future acne flare-ups.
While theres no real way to get rid of acne scars naturally and at home, there are a few things you can do to reduce your risk of getting acne scars:
- Quit smoking or dont start smoking.
- Keep your hands off of your face. Resist the urge to pick or squeeze your pimples.
- Treat your acne as soon as possible to reduce the chance of scars.
Scarring can happen at any age, no matter if youre a teenager and your hormones are changing or youre an adult. Sometimes when adults lose weight or lose elasticity in their skin as they age, scarring from years past becomes more evident.
Occasionally, we will actually remove a pitted scar that we know wont heal well with standard treatment using a technique called punch excision, she says. This is where the whole scar and hair follicle are removed prior to resurfacing.
Another treatment that may be helpful before any of the lasers or peels is called subcision, a procedure that involves releasing a scar thats bound to the muscle or deeper tissues so that it can move freely again. Both of these techniques are used with deeper scars to bring them to the surface to enhance their response to the laser, chemical peel or microneedling.
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Use Topical Acne Treatments
Numerous topical treatments for acne are available in pharmacies, supermarkets, and online.
If a person does not see an improvement in their skin while using one product, it can be helpful to add another product to the treatment strategy. Try a product that tackles a different cause of acne.
For example, if a person is using a product that contains benzoyl peroxide, the second treatment should include another ingredient that fights acne.
There are a variety of ingredients for acne, which each target different causes of acne:
- Benzoyl peroxide reduces P. acnes bacteria.
- Salicylic acid unblocks pores by removing the layer of dead skin cells on the skins surface. It can also relieve inflammation.
- Sulfur suppresses P. acnes bacteria and unclogs pores.
- Alpha Hydroxy Acids work by exfoliating the skin.
- Retinoids unblock pores and reduce oil.
These ingredients are present in many anti-acne washes, creams, gels, facial scrubs, lotions, and pre-moistened cloths.
A prescription is not needed for treatments that contain most of these ingredients, although many are available in prescription strength as well.
Risks And Side Effects
If the treatments above dont seem to help, consider visiting a dermatologist for help. If your breakouts are severe and very uncomfortable, your doctor might recommend that you try prescription medications.
A dermatologist can determine if a topical treatment, an antibiotic or cortisone shots can help. Each of these treatments has potential side effects, however sometimes they are very effective.
Some possible treatment options to discuss with your doctor that can control bacteria and oil and also reduce scarring include:
- Topicals like retinoids or Isotretinoin
- Laser therapies
- Cortisone injections
If you do choose to use antibiotics to control your breakouts, follow directions carefully. These drugs should only taken for a short period of time to target underlying bacteria, but they arent long-term solutions since they have side effects.
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Ask Your Doctor About Acne Medications
If you have persistent pimples, you may want to ask your doctor about available prescriptions and whether they might be a good fit for you. There are several FDA-approved oral and topical medications on the market that could help improve your skin, such as minocycline, spironolactone, and isotretinoin. We’ll discuss these prescription medications and more later on.
Don’t Forget About The Rest Of Your Face
While you are slathering a cocktail of treatments on that mammoth zit, its important not to neglect the rest of your complexion. Keeping your skin moisturized with a very light lotion that wont clog your pores will protect your skin from the drying effects of any acne-combatting measures, says Dr. Gladstein. Try this gel-cream from Neutrogena.
While you should try to keep your face as clean and makeup-free as possible, if you do have to apply some concealer to help get you through your day, make sure you’re reaching for an oil-free product. “Using cover up is not bad as long as you are using oil-free makeup, which tends to be less likely to clog pores and exacerbate the acne,” says Dr. Nakhla.
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Tea Tree Oil For Acne Treatment
Some people swear by the disinfecting power of tea tree oil for acne treatment. It can be applied either full strength or slightly diluted with water directly onto pimples. Use a small amount on a clean cotton swab or cotton pad and dab on the affected areas immediately after cleansing. Because tea tree oil can be drying, you might choose to use both tea tree oil and coconut oil for acne as part of your clear skin regimen.
Use The Right Sun Protection
Sun damage causes numerous skin health concerns, and adding a sunburn on top of acne inflammation and irritation is painful. So, its important to use sunscreen anytime your skin is exposed to sunlight. However, patients with acne shouldnt use just any sunblock. Instead, they should look for products that are marked as non-comedogenic and oil-free.
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Cortisone Cream Or Injection
Cortisone cream fights inflammation and is one of the acne remedies that can help prevent scarring from worsening. Available over the counter, cortisone cream can be applied directly to inflamed acne lesions to reduce swelling and redness. A doctor can also inject cortisone into a deeper acne cyst or lesion to shrink it and help prevent scarring.
Are Pore Strips The Best Acne Treatment For Blackheads
Pore strips, whether purchased over the counter or created at home, use an adhesive to cling to the impurities blocking the pore and ultimately remove the plug. Pore strips do remove pore plugs and dead surface skin cells, but they won’t prevent blackheads from returning. Immediately after using them, your pores will shrink and appear smaller.
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Acne Scar Removal With Laser Skin Treatments
Skin care clinics and dermatologists across the country offer laser skin treatments for acne scar removal, but is it worth it? The best way to determine which laser acne scar treatment is right for you is to get different professional opinions about which type is best for your skin, and compare pricing, expected recovery time and reviews. Here’s how a few laser treatments work for acne scar removal:
Keep Your Face Clean Every Day
Wash your face twice a day. Prevent acne breakouts that lead to scarring by keeping your face clean each day. Use warm water and a mild soap to wash your face in the morning, at night and after working out. By keeping your face clean, you minimize the potential for dirt and other debris to enter your skin either through a follicle or pore.
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Make Your Own Natural Remedy
Another way to get rid of your pimples is to try making your own all-natural at-home remedy using ingredients you already have in your cupboard, such as apple cider vinegar or toothpaste. Later in our guide, we outline the specific steps you can take to make these easy zit treatments.
Now that you have a quick peek at how to get rid of pimples, it’s time to discover more about types of acne and potential causes for your breakouts.
Is It Bad To Pick At Back Acne
Picking at acne anywhere on your body or face isnt advised because it can lead to an increased risk of infection by pushing bacteria deeper into the skin, cautioned Aslam. Additionally, squeezing your pimples can lead to more breakouts or acne scars.
If youre still tempted to prod at your body acne, you can take a page from our guide to teen acne and opt for an acne spot treatment such as Differin Gel or pimple patches like the popular Hero Cosmetics Invisible Mighty Patch. You can also book an appointment with your local board-certified dermatologist and ask them to evaluate your bacne and they can decide if your pimples should be popped or not.
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Ask The Readers: Is It Actually Possible To Heal Ice Pick And Boxcar Acne Scars Naturally
This months Ask the Readers question is about whether or not its actually possible to heal deep acne scars naturally like ice pick, box car, or rolling scars .
Kyla writes:
Is it possible to heal ice pick and boxcar scars naturally?
I cant help but feel a but hopeless about them, because so far the answers that I have gotten are youre stuck with em, sorry or do this scary chemical/surgery thingy that may or may not work and leave you with more scarring.
So friends has acne left you with deep scarring? If so, have you found anything that has actually worked for you to get rid of them or at least lessened their appearance significantly?
Please share in the comments below!
TRACY RAFTL
Blog author Tracy Raftl used to have severe acne now she teaches thousands of women how to take back control of their skin through natural, holistic, and mind-body methods.
Wear Clothing That Breathes
âAny skin irritation can exacerbate outbreaks. Its important to stay away from tight clothing to minimize friction, especially when perspiring. Certain materials, like those that absorb sweat from the skin, will also reduce irritation. Lighter colors and cotton are ideal, especially during workouts,â says Day.
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No One Needs To Live With Severe Acne
While severe acne can be stubborn, its not impossible to get clearing. Thanks to advances in treatment, virtually all acne can clear with a dermatologists help.
ImagesSevere acne: Image used with permission of the American Academy of Dermatology National Library of Dermatologic Teaching Slides.
Acne along jawline: Image from Thinkstock
ReferencesZaenglein AL, Graber EM, et al. Acne vulgaris and acneiform eruptions. In: Wolff K. et al. Fitzpatricks Dermatology in General Medicine, 7th edition. McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., USA, 2008:696-700.
Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 74:945-73.
Apply A Topical Antibiotic
Topical antibiotics can help get rid of any bacteria thats contributing to the blind pimple. They also reduce inflammation. If you get recurring blind pimples, such products may be used around the affected area as a preventive measure.
The most common topical antibiotics for acne include clindamycin and erythromycin. These come in a gel formula that you apply twice a day. If you generally have sensitive skin, you may need to apply once a day and see how your skin reacts before moving up to twice a day.
However, topical antibiotics arent effective by themselves. Youll need to use them in conjunction with another type of acne product such as benzoyl peroxide. The antibiotic gets rid of the bacteria and inflammation, while the benzoyl peroxide dries out the blind pimple.
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Is It Cheek Acne Or Rosacea
If you have redness, blemishes, and irritation on the side of your face, you might have cheek acne, but it could also be rosacea. Though cheek acne and rosacea are commonly confused because they exhibit similar symptoms, they require different treatments. In fact, using acne treatments for rosacea can actually make it worse.
Identifying whether you have rosacea or cheek acne is the most important part of finding the right treatment for your skin condition. If you believe you have rosacea, you should visit your dermatologist to get a diagnosis and treatment recommendations.
If you believe you have cheek acne, keep reading to get a better understanding of whats causing your breakouts and how to treat them.
Why Are Deep Blackheads Different
Deep blackheads are hardened plugs consisting of skin debris and oil that block the pores. These hardened plugs cannot be dislodged from the skin using regular cleansing products. Over time, this causes buildup to accumulate even deeper within the pores.
Deep blackheads are tough to remove, especially without professional extraction.
Cleansers and exfoliants cannot remove buildup located deep within pores and require extraction via specialized tools and professional treatments. The deeper the blackhead, the more likely scarring will occur upon removal. With this in mind, professional extraction is advised.
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What Causes Cheek Acne
Often, U-zone or cheek acne is caused by the buildup of dirt, oil, and debris that clogs pores over time. While the T-zonethe area that includes the forehead, nose, and all the way down to the chinis generally prone to oil, cheeks typically tend to be more dry. Often, adult acne is characterized by U-zone acne, but there are solutions available to help with breakouts.
Before we can help you figure out how to get rid of cheek acne, you need to understand the causes of acnespecifically the breakouts youre experiencing on your cheeks.
Whether you naturally have dry, combination or oily skin, cheek acne is typically a byproduct of the environment, including the following factors.
Cheek Acne Cause #: Touching Your Face
Throughout the day, our hands collect all sorts of pollutants and allergens whether we touch a keyboard, a kitchen sponge, or use our smartphone. And, the more you touch your face, the more the bacteria, dirt, and allergens make contact. Between washes, these substances have time to permeate the skin, potentially clogging your pores and contributing to breakouts.
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The Best Acne Products For Blasting Blackheads Out Of Existence
Try these proven acne remedies to get rid of blackheads and ensure you keep your skin clear:
This variety of pore strip from Biore uses purifying charcoal powder to draw oil and impurities out of the pores, leaving pores smaller and skin smoother. They’re only recommended for use on the nose and should be used twice a week at most.
Biore Deep Cleansing charcoal pore strips, from $7,
Bioelements makes a greatwater-based mask with natural active clay, kaolin for oil absorption, and other calming and soothing ingredients like chamomile, dong quai and watercress. Use once or twice weekly as an acne treatment to improve skin’s texture, remove excess oil and dirt, deep clean pores and refine skin.
Bioelements Restorative Clay mask, from $34,
