What Helps Clear Up Acne Scars

How To Get Rid Of Your Acne Scars

Acne is a common skin condition affecting about 80% of those between the ages of 11 and 30 at some point. It can be on your face, chest, back and shoulders. It may seem like the irritation will never go away, but it does. When it goes away, then you can deal with any remaining scars.

Your first line of defense is to consult a dermatologist. They will first focus on getting your acne under control. The fewer breakouts you have, the fewer scars youll get. The good news is that not all acne scars are permanent.

When your doctor turns attention to the scars your acne has left behind, they will typically explore three main treatment options:

1. Laser treatments

Vascular-specific lasers target blood vessels and can help lighten flat or raised scars that are pink or purple and help flatten raised scars. Doctors often use fractional or carbon dioxide ablative lasers to treat acne scars.

Afterward, the skin is swollen and red, and may bleed, for up to five days, says Dr. Kassouf. Also, you may need between three and five treatment sessions.

Laser treatments arent just for acne. Doctors use lasers to treat other types of scarring as well including those from burns, skin cancer and tattoo removal.

2. Chemical peels

Your dermatologist may apply a chemical solution to the skin. This causes it to blister and eventually peel off, creating new, regenerated skin thats usually smoother than the old skin.

3. Microneedling

Take A Fish Oil Supplement

Omega-3 fatty acids are healthy fats that offer a multitude of health benefits.

You must get these fats from your diet, but research shows that most people who eat a standard Western diet dont get enough of them .

Fish oils contain two main types of omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid .

High levels of EPA and DHA have been shown to decrease inflammatory factors, which may reduce the risk of acne .

In one study, 45 individuals with acne were given omega-3 fatty acid supplements containing both EPA and DHA daily. After 10 weeks, their acne decreased significantly .

Theres no specific recommended daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids. The 20152020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that healthy adults consume around 250 mg of combined EPA and DHA each day .

You can also get omega-3 fatty acids by eating salmon, sardines, anchovies, walnuts, chia seeds, and ground flax seeds.

Learn more about fish oil supplements.

Summary

Fish oils contain two main types of omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. Taking a fish oil supplement may help decrease acne.

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While these results indicate that exfoliation may improve skin health and appearance, more research is needed on acne.

There are a wide variety of exfoliation products available, but you can also make a scrub at home using sugar or salt.

If you choose to try mechanical exfoliation, be sure to gently rub your skin to avoid damaging it.

What Happens After Dermabrasion

Your doctor will give you complete home care instructions about how to change your dressings, how to cover the treated area, and which products to use. You can expect to return to work in about two weeks.

Following dermabrasion, your skin is typically pink and swollen and may feel like it is burning or tingling. The skin may ooze a clear or yellow liquid or crust over while healing. It will take about three months for your skin to fully heal and for the pink coloration to fade.

Risks associated with dermabrasion are the same as those associated with other surgical procedures. They include bleeding, infection, and allergic reaction to anesthesia.

Some risks specific to dermabrasion include:

• acne breakouts

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Create An Oatmeal Mask

Another natural ingredient perfect for making a mask is oatmeal. Its also something most people, especially those with kids, will have in the house!

Theres a reason oats are considered the perfect start of the day for so many people.

Oats contain fibre and oil that will work with the skin to help tighten pores and clear out the system. They purge the bad out and promote healthier looking skin. It wont take much to turn your oatmeal into a mask and apply directly to your back.

Start with oat and rose water. It should turn into a fine glue, and you only need it on your back for around 15 to 20 minutes perfect for while youre watching your weekly TV show.

If you really want more healing properties, you could mix with some honey. This gives you the benefit of vitamin C working into the skin too, so the collagen rebuilds.

Just wash the honey off with lukewarm water and apply a moisturizing cream afterwards.

The honey really is an extra bonus. It doesnt make the list of home remedies because there are so many, but does offer healing properties and works well within other remedies.

The honey can also be used with oatmeal directly onto acne as a prevention method to stop scarring from forming.

Applying Products For Discoloration Scars

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Try Led Light Therapy

LED Light grows collagen in quantifiable percentages, Vargas explains. In my salon, we do several different treatments that involve LED light, but by far the most popular is my patented RevitaLight Bed which gives a client a full body treatment of healing LED…Its sort of like having a magic wand.

For Rolling Scars Try Fraxel And Ematrix Lasers

Since rolling scars create a wavy, textured complexion, using lasers to help resurface the skin is an effective treatment.

The Fraxel laseralso coined the Magic Eraser uses fractional laser technology that utilizes a scanning device to apply highly-concentrated tiny laser pulses to your skin and create thousands of microscopic wounds, Green explains. As the skin heals and repairs itself, it creates new collagen repairing the skin from the inside out.

Then theres Ematrix, which is a sublative laser resurfacing treatment thats equally as effective for rolling scars: Ematrix works by stimulating collagen formation and healthy skin cells, Green says. Ematrix releases heat energy in the dermis of the skin to stimulate collagen production. Its ideal for all skin types, including Asian, Latino, and African American skin.

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How To Identify Deep Scars

Here are the common characteristics of deep scars:

• Tissue Depth Or Depression: Flat, thin scars have an indentation that extends vertically to the deep dermis layer of skin or subcutaneous tissue.
• Loss Of Tissue/Skin Volume: These round to oval depressions have sharply demarcated edges and a width of 1.5 to 4 mm. Fibrotic indentations result in shadowing and a pitted appearance.
• Discolouration Of Skin: Acne may result in post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Some acne scars may vary in colour from pink, tan, skin-coloured to dark brown.
• Undulating Appearance: Often, these scars have a horizontal orientation with sharp margins or depressed tracks. Skin appears uneven due to the loss of critical rebuilding tissue without collagen.

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Things Your Skin Is Trying To Tell You And How To Respond

Fillers A substance such as collagen, hyaluronic acid, or fat can be used to “fill out” certain types of acne scars. Since fillers are eventually absorbed into your skin, youll have to repeat filler injections, usually every few months, depending on the substance used.

Punch excisions This type of skin surgery removes acne scars by individually excising, or cutting out, the scar. The hole left by the incision can be repaired with stitches or a skin graft. A skin graft uses a small piece of normal skin to fill in an area of scarred skin. Bruising can occur for one to two weeks after the procedure.

Microneedling Also called collagen induction therapy, this procedure involves pricking the skin repeatedly with tiny needles to stimulate the growth of new collagen. This can reduce the appearance of scars. Microneedling can improve the appearance of wrinkles, stretch marks, and fine lines. Skin redness may last a few days, according to the AAD.

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Whats A Good Skin Care Routine For Fading Acne Scars

While you should defer to your dermatologist for a customized routine, Friedler recommended using a medicated antimicrobial cleanser in the morning, followed by oil-free sunscreen. In the evening, she recommended using a gentle cleanser followed by a topical retinoid.

Acne scar treatment products should generally be applied once per day. If they contain retinoids, they should only be applied at night because the sunlight can interfere with them, Fenton said. How frequently you use exfoliating agents such as retinols and glycolic acids depends on their strength and concentration. Some are designed to be used only weekly, so follow the products recommended use guide.

Its also important to remember that fading scars on the face is easier than fading them on the body, and it can take years for some people to fade discoloration from body acne, Fenton cautioned.

Want more guidance? Below, weve rounded up all of the dermatologists recommended acne scar products into one easy-to-browse list for you.

Take a look:

What Is An Acne Scar

Approximately 80% of people between the ages of 11 and 30 years old have acne due to hormonal changes, stress, menses, oil-based cosmetics or birth control pills. However, only 5% of these people get acnescars.

Clogged pores may become reddish, swollen and painful due to a bacterial infection. Further, these acne lesions or breakouts penetrate deeply and damage underlying skin. Your skin tries to heal these lesions by forming new collagen fibers, which may leave a prominent scar or pit behind. It can be more visible when the acne clears.

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What Happens During Dermabrasion

The type of anesthesia you have during dermabrasion depends on the extent of your treatment. Your doctor will typically give you local anesthesia. However, certain cases may require sedation to help you relax or feel drowsy. Sometimes general anesthesia may be given during the procedure.

During the treatment, an assistant will hold your skin taut. Your doctor will move a device called a dermabrader across your skin. The dermabrader is a small, motorized device with a rough surface.

On large patches of skin, the doctor will use a circular dermabrader, while on smaller places, such as the corners of your mouth, theyll use one with a small tip. Your doctor may treat large sections of skin over multiple sessions.

Right after the procedure, your doctor will cover the treated area with a moist dressing. Theyll usually change this dressing at an appointment the following day.

B Medium Chemical Peel

Chemical peels involve an acidic solution applied to the affected area to dissolve the outermost skin layer and reveal an unscarred and normally pigmented inner skin layer.

With only a single treatment, a medium chemical peel with glycolic acid or TCA can improve rolling or boxcar acne scarring. The expected recovery time for this treatment is about three weeks.

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If You Have Hyperpigmentation Try

Alpha hydroxy acids . An easy place to start is by layering a glycolic or lactic acid serum under your moisturizer every night. Not only does it help slough off the top layer of dead skin, it also boosts cell turnover . In a nutshell: AHAs fade the appearance of any lingering marks faster. Retinols. These work similarly to AHAs in that they exfoliate skin, but where they differ is retinols also induce collagen production . So using a retinol product can help even out the overall tone and texture of your skin. Two important things to note when starting out: Limit use to every other day and dont skimp on applying sunscreen .

Hydroquinone . Considered to be one of the most effective ways to lighten up spots, works by inhibiting melanin production . This is important because excess melanin is what causes those pesky spots to form in the first place. That said, hydroquinone is best suited for marks that are more brownish in color . And if you prefer a more natural alternative , , kojic acid and licorice have all been shown to fade dark spots as well.

What Acne Scarring Is Not

An acne scar is a change in texture in your skin. Usually, its depressed. Its not a brown spot. Discoloration is temporary, but texture changes are permanent.

This bumpy texture, also known as cobblestoning, starts when a pimple creates an indentation. If you notice a low spot form from a pimple, get the dermatologist ASAP. The more aggressively you treat this type of acne, the less likely you are to deal with the long-term effects of acne scarring.

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What Are The Types Of Acne Scars

• Atrophic scar: This develops when there is loss of skin tissue.
• Ice pick scar: These are usually small and make noticeable holes in your skin.
• Boxcar scar: These are depressed areas that are usually round or oval with sharp edges and very similar to chickenpox scars.
• Rolling scar: These are typically seen on your lower cheeks and jaws where your skin is thicker. The indentations slope and produce uneven wavy skin.

What To Do First

Acne scars are created when skin tissue is damaged. Doing things like picking at and popping pimples can definitely damage your skin and cause scarring. But even if you’re really careful with your skin, scars can still develop.

Severe blemishes, those that are very inflamed, are more likely to scar. And for people who are very prone to scarring, even minor blemishes can leave scars.

If you have noticed some scarring, there are a few things you can do. First things firstacne needs to be brought under control. If you haven’t seen a dermatologist yet, do it.

Don’t waste time using over-the-counter products. If acne is scarring your skin, getting on a prescription acne treatment ASAP will help minimize scarring.

If you’re already being treated by a dermatologist, follow their directions exactly and let them know if you have any concerns. Once your skin is fairly clear, then you can decide on what steps to take next for treating your scars.

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Natural Remedies To Get Rid Of Acne Scars At Home

How to get rid of acne scars at home? Acne is a common problem for many people, especially teenagers and women. Because the rapid hormonal changes will promote oil glands to produce more oil than normal, when the follicle or skin pores get clogged with excess oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells, acne may occur on the skin.

If left untreated, an inflamed lesion, such as a papule, pustule, or cyst, will cause skin irritation and swelling. When the inflammation harms the tissue underneath the skin, you may notice an ugly acne scar or pimple marks on the skin. This is a sign that your skin has been significantly damaged by acne.

Acne scars are usually dark red or purple, and the affected areas can be uneven and firm. However, if the body produces too little collagen, you will find depressed acne scars or pits on the face. If the body produces too much collagen, you will find a raised acne scar which usually appears on the back and chest. This type of scar is more common among African-Americans, Hispanics, and Asians.

In most cases, the ugly scars will go away on their own. However, sometimes it may need several months to years before it can completely disappear. This article discusses 16 natural remedies to get rid of acne scars at home.

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Why Do Acne Scars Occur

Why do some people have acne scars, while others dont?

The reasons vary, but genetics is one risk factor for scarring. If a blood relative struggles with acne scarring, you might, too, according to the American Academy of Dermatology . Also, scarring tends to happen more as the skin loses collagen with age.

Because collagen plays a role in the healing process, your skin produces new collagen as it repairs itself after a breakout. But sometimes, it produces too little or too much, resulting in a scar.

Keep in mind that acne is an inflammatory condition. Scar development has a lot to do with the extent and duration of skin inflammation, so delaying acne treatment raises the risk of scarring, according to the AAD.

Acne scars result from a complex and abnormal inflammatory response, which results in poor wound healing, says Kara Shah, MD, a board-certified general and pediatric dermatologist with Kenwood Dermatology in Cincinnati.

Because scarring is a complication of acne, anyone who experiences a breakout can have temporary or permanent scars, according to the NHS yet scarring is most common in those who suffer from inflammatory acne characterized by numerous pimples and cysts, says Dr. Shah.