Anyone who suffers from acne knows how relieving it can be once acne infections are treated and acne is no longer appearing on one’s skin. Unfortunately that relief quickly disappears when the realization of what is left on the skin after the acne appears – Acne scars. Acne scars though irritating, are common. Often, acne scarring can be avoided if acne sufferers would listen to advice they are given from their dermatologists, parents, or even from what they read on the internet, especially on Acne Skin Site…hint, hint.
Why Acne Scars Form
Acne scars are a result of picking at or popping one’s pimples. A person can truly develop severe scarring if they continue to pester the pimples on his or her face, neck, chest, back, etc. Not only will picking and popping pimples lead to severe acne scarring, it will actually cause acne to spread and form on other areas of the skin before it gets better. When one picks and pops their pimples, a clear liquid is released that consists of acne-causing bacteria which seeps into surrounding areas of the skin. When that clear infectious liquid penetrates into the pores, more acne develops. So in addition to increasing your chance of scarring, you will also increase your acne breakouts. So don’t pick or pop your pimples!
This may surprise you but it’s not considered scarring if the acne marks that are left on your skin are less than a year old. This scarring, which looks like a red mark or slight discoloration where the acne originally was, is described as a post-inflammatory change, which is a part of the natural healing cycle that can take the skin 6-12 months to heal from. As long as no more breakouts surface in that area – and you don’t pick at them if they do form, the marking will diminish within a year. If the marking is there longer than a year, only then is it described as a permanent scar.
Other Ways to Avoid Acne Scars
1. Avoid exposing your skin to the sun when your markings or scarring is healing. If you spend time in the sun while your acne marks are disappearing, wear sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30 to avoid further darkening of marks and other forms of sun damage.
2. Gently use an exfoliating treatment a minimum of 3 times a week to remove dead skin cells and over time, new skin will resurface minimizing the appearance of your acne scars. You can also have microdermabrasion treatments done at the dermatologist’s office if your scarring is severe.
3. Laser resurfacing done by your dermatologist is a quite effective treatment for reducing temporary and permanent scarring. Lasers work by gently burning the top layers of skin to a certain depth. The new skin then grows and replaces the old burned skin, looking renewed, rejuvenated, and less scarred. Patients have described this procedure as somewhat painful but majority of them have been very happy with the results. Post-surgery care of the skin is essential for proper healing and to achieve the desired results of beautiful skin. Patients need to follow the proper guidelines so the skin heals properly.
4. Tretinoin-related products (like Retin-A) will speed up the healing process in addition to dramatically minimizing scarring. These types of topical treatments are also known to prevent new breakouts from occurring.
Natural Remedies to Minimize Scarring
1. Vitamin E – Vitamin E oil can help decrease scarring. If your skin has been scarred due to a cut, burn, or acne, apply Vitamin E oil to your skin and you will see that in just a few weeks, your scarring will lighten.
2. Organic Fresh Lemon Juice – Squeeze a bit of lemon juice into a bowl and dab a cotton ball in it then apply the juice to your face lightly with the cotton ball. Leave it on for 10 minutes, then rinse off. Lemon juice is not only a natural astringent to reduce oil and even your skin tone, but it will lighten marks from acne.
3. Baking Soda Face Mask – Mix a 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 2 teaspoons of clean water and apply to your clean face. Leave on for a couple minutes then rinse off with warm water. Baking soda face mask is a mini microdermabrasion treatment you can do at home!
Don’t be discouraged when it comes to your scars diminishing. Follow our tips and your acne marks and scars will be gone in no time.
Lindsay Schroeder, professional makeup artist and skincare guru, is the writer of all the content on Acne Skin Site. She has personally dealt with acne all throughout her 20’s and knows firsthand what anyone suffering with acne is going through. She has worked with thousands of clients that suffer with acne and has been able to encourage and educate them on how to get their skin on the road to recovery.
If you rewash your face after popping the pimples won’t that take away the clear liquid so it wouldn’t get into the pores? Or even applying a toner you would think would wipe off or clean the fluids..
Whats the best moisturizer to use after cleansing????
Applying Fresh Lemon Juice on your face to lighten marks from acne : Do you have to do this daily? or twice a week or something?
I have tried applying Baking Soda Face Mask. Based on the result, it has lightened my acne scars. I’d better keep on doing this on a daily basis to fade the scar completely.
Vitamin E is really proven to be effective in lightening the acne scars. I can attest to that because I myself applies it whenever I see some scars due to acne.
I have recently started a new, yet all natural regimen. I exfoliate with a baking soda mask 1-2 times a day, I leave it on for about four minutes, while I brush my teeth and floss.
Second, I use witch hazel as an astringent. I’ve read that this is good for the skin and helps with acne.
Finally, I use a super small amount of natural shea butter to moisturize. This is great because shea butter is a natural sunscreen. I live in Florida and spend a good amount of time on the beach. I’ve noticed a different in my skin and acne scars already. I like the organic lemon juice idea, I may switch to that once I finish this bottle of witch hazel.
I hope this helps. 🙂
Pls ♓☺ώ do I get Vitamin E oilz,I only kno of d Tablet
Exercising temps to help my skin condition although rubbing normal tracksuits makes is sore. I then found a post advising people to wear clothing made of natural fabrics and make sure they are loose fitting. Now I can exercise as much as I like. I also agree that using vitamins does help acne.
Im dying to gt the scars out of my face because it looks so ugly !! Does anyone know a medicine or cream that I can use to remove it faster?
I suffer from ingrowns….but the problem is the scars they leave on my bikini line, under my naval, and under my eyes (all from waxing)
Can I use this regimen as well???
The baking soda mask WORKS! Finally my skin isn’t full of blackheads, spots and oily pores. I didn’t realise I had to moisturise even though my skin is oily. For the last two weeks I have tried a combination of the baking soda treatment every four days, cleansing with oil free facial foamer, oil free moisturiser and oil free foundation. My skin is finally clear and I am 29 years old and suffered with acne since a teen. Happy, happy……happy! 🙂
hey, what is the brand of oil free facial foamer and oil free moisturizer that you’re using? I would greatly appreciate your reply thank you 🙂
Can anyone recommend an oil free night cream? Thanks
What’s the best store brand oil free moisturiser to use for oily skin???
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I shall say not to touch acne is the best prevention of acne scar.
What worked for me was honey mixed with nutmeg powder.