Acne scars can be a difficult thing to live with. They are embarrassing, and they often make you feel insecure about your appearance. Acne scarring is caused by the inflammation of sebaceous glands, which produce oily skin that clogs pores and leads to breakouts.
The good thing for a lot of us is that there are many treatments available for acne scars! A lot of well-known aesthetic clinics like Sozo Clinic offer all sorts of specialised treatments for acne scarring. Additionally, there are also natural remedies you can try at home that will help prevent acne scarring from happening in the first place. All it takes is some patience before you have clear skin again!
What are the Different Types of Acne Scars?
The different types of acne scars are icepick, boxcar, rolling and pitted.
Icepick scars are deep and narrow pits in the skin that reach down to the subcutaneous tissue (the layer of fat just below your skin). They can form when a cyst is popped, and it leaves an indentation on the skin’s surface. Boxcars scars are broad and shallow depressions caused by large pores that have become infected over time, eventually healing with scarring.
Rolling scars are wide at one end, tapering off to a point. These types of acne scars generally appear later after all other types have faded away, but they may also develop from picking at acne spots before they have healed, leaving behind hyper-pigmented marks in their wake. Pitted scars are deep holes that can form around a blackhead (a comedo) or pimple after the skin has healed.
Pitted scars are often difficult to treat and may take months of medical treatments before they disappear, but there are ways you can help reduce their appearance:
- Using acne medications prescribed by your doctor.
- Applying makeup-based concealers.
- Wearing sunblock over them in order to avoid darkening.
You’ll also want to keep up with your daily skincare regimen since it will prevent future breakouts, which could lead to new acne scarring.
Scarring happens when deep marks form from clogged pores and don’t get popped – it results in small holes into which dirt might collect over time as well as redness around them due to inflammation (think blackheads).
What Causes Acne Scars?
The causes of acne scars are not fully understood, but it is known that the condition usually becomes more severe when a person has oily skin and large pores. There can be several causes for these deep marks on the skin; some factors include:
- Sebum or oil production increases due to hormones during pubertyÂ
- An individual may have very sensitive skin that response excessively to particular substances in makeup, cosmetics and lotionsÂ
- Certain medications (hormones) might stimulate sebaceous glands by increasing hormone levels – this could cause an increase in sebum production, leading to clogged pores.
Natural Remedies for Acne Scars
Many natural remedies can improve acne scars. These include:
Drinking enough water
When we drink at least 8-9 glasses of water each day, it can help to flush toxins out of the body. Not only does water help keep our skin hydrated and looking healthy, but it also keeps us away from any illness.
Using green tea for acne scars
Green tea is a great natural antioxidant that helps heal wounds and scarred skin cells. It also prevents collagen breakdown, reduces inflammation in tissues nearby acne lesions, and makes it easier to remove dead cells that have built upon the surface of the skin.
Using a moisturiser
Moisturisers help to soften the tissue underneath acne scars while also sealing in moisture. The right one can improve how firm it feels as well as reduce flaking or peeling on top of existing scarring.
Some foods might aid in reducing scarrings, such as omega fatty acids found in fish oil, flaxseed oil, walnuts and salmon. The antioxidants help prevent free radical damage from worsening existing skin conditions like wrinkles, age spots and sagging skin (Source). Acne is not just restricted to teenagers; adults deal with it too! Here are some tips on how you can avoid getting acne sc
Professional Treatments for Acne Scarring
Some of the available specialised treatments for acne scarring include laser resurfacing, microdermabrasion, chemical peels and silicone dressings.
Laser Resurfacing Treatments
Laser resurfacing treatments are one of the most popular treatments for acne scarring. They use a laser to resurface or “exfoliate” skin and reduce discolouration caused by scars (Source). One thing, though, it can be expensive, time-consuming and painful, so you might have to consult with your dermatologist before trying this type of treatment.
Microdermabrasion
This treatment removes the outermost layer of skin with a hand-held machine that blows tiny particles onto your face. It is considered effective for acne scarring because it can penetrate down to where you have inflammation or acne and remove the damaged surface cells without damaging sensitive tissue.
Chemical Peeling
Chemical peels are very effective for acne scarring because they can penetrate all the way down to where you have inflammation or acne and then remove the damaged surface cells without damaging sensitive tissue. This is a big difference from other specialised treatments like lasers that only work on the top layer of skin, so they are not as helpful with this problem.
Silicone Dressings
Silicone dressings are another way to soften acne scars. Silicone dressings are a type of gel that is applied over the skin, usually three times per day. This treatment will be most helpful if used in conjunction with laser resurfacing treatments as well!
Prevention Tips for Future Breakouts
Acne scarring will most likely happen if there is acne present. We can prevent acne scars by using a gentle cleanser, lotion or water-based moisturiser to keep the skin hydrated and plump. But preventing the acne from developing would be your first action so it won’t leave a scar.
We can prevent future breakouts with an over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide cream that helps control oil production in our pores, which will help avoid more scarring!
I got Dermalmd Scar Removal to fade pimple & zit scars on face. Been applying once a day for about a week and it’s done a great job!