How To Get Rid Of Acne Scars

Reduce or Eliminate the Appearance of Acne Scars

Did you know that around 95% of people who get acne suffer from scarring? While common, acne scars can be incredibly stubborn. Different treatment options don’t have the same results for everyone.

You don’t have to live with your acne scars. If you’re looking for how to treat acne scars, there are a variety of treatments you can employ to reduce the appearance of scarring.

This guide will discuss everything you need to know about acne scars and how to rid your skin of them.

What Are Acne Scars?

Acne, or pimples, grow when oils, dead skin, and bacteria fill up pores, causing them to inflame. Your pores are the small openings in your skin where sweat and oil come to the surface.

When acne blemishes get inflamed, you can encounter scarring. These blemishes can sometimes be small. The acne scar will be shallow and heal fast.

There are times when the blemishes can spread to the surrounding tissues, resulting in deeper scars. Acne scars can sometimes take the form of a scar that’s raised up on your skin. They can also look like indentations.

What Causes Acne Scars?

Acne scars occur because your body is trying to fix the acne. The way your body reacts to the wound determines whether or not you’ll scar. It’ll also affect how much acne scarring you encounter.

When your body tries to repair acne blemishes, it creates more collagen. If too much collagen is created, you’ll get a raised scar. The indentation we talked about earlier is due to loss of tissue.

Are Dark Spots the Same as Acne Scars?

Acne blemishes can sometimes leave a dark mark after the pimple has healed. New skin cells will start to form as your skin heals after the pimple. The new cells can sometimes contain a lot of melanin, which is what gives your skin colour.

Dark spots aren’t the same as acne scars. Dark spots lie flat against your skin’s surface. They also don’t signify long-term damage to your follicles, pores, and skin cells.

Over time, dark spots will begin to lighten. They can disappear in a few months or a couple of years.

How to Treat Acne Scars

There are a variety of ways you can treat acne scars. Keep in mind that you’ll want to eliminate any acne you have first. New breakouts and pimples can result in new acne scars.

What Helps With Acne Scars?

There are a few at-home remedies you can employ to help you with your acne scars. It’s important to meet with a qualified professional to determine that your scarring is caused by acne before you start applying treatments.

AHA

Alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) is found in many products designed to treat acne. They can help prevent your pores from clogging and remove dead skin.

AHA can also help reduce the appearance of your acne scars. The acid is mild and helps exfoliate your top layer of skin. It removes rough skin and discolouration.

Lactic Acid

A lactic acid peel every two weeks for a few months can improve the following for your skin:

• Appearance
• Texture
• Pigmentation

There are various ointments and serums that contain lactic acid that you can add to your skincare routine. Diluted apple cider vinegar is also a great natural source of lactic acid.

Retinoids

Retinoids work to improve the texture of your skin. They can also speed up how fast your skin cells regenerate. Retinoids also help reduce the appearance of acne scars.

Keep in mind that retinoids can make your skin more sensitive to UV rays. If you use a product containing retinoids, be sure to wear sunscreen.

Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid is a common product to treat acne. It can help with the following:

• Skin exfoliation
• Reduce redness and swelling
• Cleaning pores

Salicylic acid can sometimes cause irritation or dryness. If you have sensitive skin, try doing spot treatments.

What Treatments Help With Acne Scars?

Sometimes at-home treatments can’t provide you with the results you want. There are a variety of treatments you can explore to help reduce your acne scars.

Chemical Peels

With a chemical peel, a skincare technician will apply a chemical solution to your scar tissue. The solution will then remove your skin’s topmost layer. It’ll also reduce the appearance of deeper acne scars.

It’s recommended that you have only one deep chemical peel. You can do multiple mild and medium chemical peels to stay on top of your results.

Laser Resurfacing

Laser resurfacing is a popular choice for reducing acne scars. It’s often used in conjunction with dermabrasion.

With this treatment, a wand-like instrument will get used to remove your skin’s top layers. Another term for this option is “laser peeling.” The treatment eliminates dead skin cells to reveal fresher cells.

Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion is a great option for those who have severe scarring. A rotating brush is used to remove your skin’s top layer.

Scars on the surface of your skin can get completely eliminated. Deeper acne scarring might look less noticeable.

Skin Needling

With skin needling, a skincare technician will use a device covered in small needles on your skin. The small needles stimulate the production of collagen in your face.

Skin needling is an effective and safe procedure. It results in minimal discolouration of your skin. Keep in mind that your results will be subtle, and you might need multiple treatments.

How Long Does It Take for Acne Scars to Fade?

How long it takes for your acne scars to fade depends upon how deep and severe your scarring is. The treatment route you take will also play a part in how quickly they fade. A qualified skin care technician can give you a personalised timeline estimate.

The Takeaway

There are many ways you can learn how to treat acne scars. While there are some effective at-home treatments, it’s best to make an appointment with a qualified skincare and laser clinic.

Contact us to learn more about our acne scar removal treatments.