Acne scars can be a very frustrating problem. After you've managed to get rid of your acne, blemishes or even scars may still be visible! Luckily, you don't have to keep seeing acne scars for the rest of your life. Try these steps to get rid of acne scars.
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Method 1 of 5: Preparations to Remove Acne Scars
Step 1. Find out if there are any blemishes or scars on your skin
Although "acne scar" is used to describe any type of scar left by acne, the term actually refers to a specific problem. Acne scars are permanent dimples in the skin that come from acne for a variety of reasons, while acne scars are not permanent. The combination of the two may occur on your skin.
- Scars can be classified as "hypertrophy" which is raised from the surface of the skin, "keloid" which is accompanied by an overproduction of skin tissue, or "atrophy" which looks like a depression in the surface of the skin. Meaning, there are various types of scars. To get rid of scars requires professional treatment from a dermatologist.
- Meanwhile, non-permanent acne scars are red and brown spots left by acne. Dermatologists refer to these blemishes as "post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation". These blemishes will usually go away on their own after 3-6 months, but they can be speeded up by the methods in this article.
Step 2. Treat acne
Before starting any treatment, you must treat your acne first. That way, your efforts will not be in vain. In addition, the presence of acne indicates that your skin is still inflamed, which can greatly reduce the effectiveness of the treatment.
Step 3. Protect skin with sunscreen
Your skin will heal much faster if it doesn't suffer sun damage. While sunscreen doesn't have any effect on acne scars, sun damage will make the blemishes appear more obvious. So, make sure to protect your skin.
Be sure to choose a sunscreen that won't clog pores (or potentially cause breakouts)
Method 2 of 5: Reduce Acne and Blemishes
Step 1. Apply a product that contains benzoyl peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide can help treat acne while reducing the dark spots it leaves behind. You can use benzoyl peroxide in cleaning products, toners, gels, and topical preparations.
Step 2. Treat the skin with salicylic acid
The salicylic acid will help reduce the redness and size of acne scars, as well as minimize the surrounding pores. Salicylic acid can even help prevent future acne breakouts.
Step 3. Use a skin lightening serum to treat the tan
While this will not work for red or pink spots (which are due to irritation and not a change in melanin in the skin), to treat tan, you can use a skin lightener that fights hyperpigmentation.
Step 4. Use hydroquinone
Despite its declining popularity, hydroquinone is still a commonly used skin lightening agent and is available in both over-the-counter and prescription dosages. You can use this product twice a day for a certain amount of time (ask your doctor) to lighten certain blemishes.
- Three treatments with skin lightening should be enough to get rid of the dark spots. Do not use this treatment for too long, or your skin will turn gray permanently.
- Skin lightening products can increase your sensitivity to sun damage and cause premature aging. So, make sure to always use this product with sunscreen, including on cloudy days.
Method 3 of 5: Using Exfoliating Products to Treat Hyperpigmentation
Step 1. Try exfoliating manually first
The use of chemical or manual exfoliating products to remove dead skin cells can be adjusted to your skin condition. Manual exfoliation is done by physically rubbing the skin.
- You can use a warm washcloth, baking soda, or a variety of other products designed to exfoliate your skin such as a facial brush, as well as anything that scrubs your skin manually.
- While manual exfoliation is more natural, be careful not to irritate your skin further as this treatment is abrasive.
Step 2. Try a chemical exfoliant if manual exfoliation doesn't help
Chemical exfoliating products are available in several options. Two of the most effective are BHA and Retinoids.
- BHA products exfoliate the skin with beta hydroxy acid (beta hydroxy acid) which contains salicylic acid to penetrate deep into the pores, dissolve impurities, and exfoliate the skin. Acne scars will fade faster and you will have fewer breakouts.
- Retinoid creams can be used to speed up the natural division of skin cells thereby getting rid of darkened skin cells. This treatment will increase the skin's sensitivity to sunlight. So, make sure to only use this cream at night.
Step 3. Exfoliate every morning and evening
Be sure to choose an exfoliating ingredient that gentle (so as not to irritate the skin further), using a scrub every morning (either manually or chemically), and applying a retinoid cream every night.
Method 4 of 5: Overcome Stubborn Acne Scars
Step 1. Research the method below carefully
If your acne scars don't respond to previous treatments and you don't want to wait for them to go away naturally, or if you notice acne scars, consider studying and discussing further treatments with a dermatologist.
Step 2. Talk to your doctor about chemical peels
The effect of this treatment is similar to that of retinoids. Acidic compounds will be applied to the surface of the skin to help change its pigment by stimulating the formation of new cells and replacing the darkened outer layer of the skin.
Although home and over-the-counter peeling options are also available in addition to the stronger peels, it's best to consult with your doctor about using any peels first
Step 3. Consider laser treatment
This treatment will make your skin red for some time after treatment, maybe even up to a year. So, you should take good care of your skin after this treatment to prevent infection.
- This treatment is known to be quite expensive with an average cost of more than IDR 25,000,000. In addition, this treatment is considered a purely cosmetic treatment so it is generally not covered by insurance companies.
- Opt for non-ablative laser treatment. Ablative lasers are generally used to remove scars, not redness.
Step 4. Consider a dermabrasion treatment for minor patches
This treatment has been largely replaced by lasers, but is still sometimes used for patches in certain areas. After anesthetizing the skin, the surgeon or dermatologist will use a rotating wire brush to exfoliate the outermost layer of skin.
A layer of skin will peel off after undergoing this treatment, and a new layer of skin will form on top of it. As such, this treatment can be very abrasive and should only be used on small areas
Step 5. IPL (intense pulsed light) treatment
Now this treatment is gradually starting to replace laser treatment due to its lower risk of skin damage. IPL treatment is performed by a dermatologist to create a new layer of skin and not damage the outer layer. Thus, the acne scars will fade.
IPL is also used to treat a number of other problems such as annoying wrinkles and facial hair
Method 5 of 5: Using Natural Treatments to Soothe Skin
Step 1. Follow an anti-inflammatory diet
In addition to using topical products, a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods can also reduce inflammation caused by acne. This diet can help reduce the size and appearance of acne scars.
Green leafy vegetables, fish, walnuts are some examples of anti-inflammatory foods
Step 2. Use antioxidants to soothe irritated skin caused by acne
Although they can't get rid of acne scars, antioxidant treatments can help reduce the irritation that is the root cause of skin redness. Antioxidants can be used in three ways.
Step 3. Use a topical antioxidant
Topical products, especially creams that utilize antioxidants can be used to directly soothe irritated skin. Some antioxidants that are quite effective in cream preparations include kojic acid and licorice root.
Step 4. Use a natural skin lightener
There are also a number of natural ways to lighten dark spots on the skin. Creams containing kojic acid (derived from mushroom extract), arbutin (or bearberry extract), and vitamin C are some great natural options.
Step 5. Use supplements
If you have a deficiency and need extra antioxidants, or have difficulty taking them through food, certain supplements such as vitamins A and C can also provide a source of antioxidants.
Don't use too many antioxidants. Many people think there is no such thing as "too much" consuming antioxidants. However, research shows that excessive consumption of antioxidants can actually reduce the benefits
Tips
- Do not stop acne treatment. If you treat acne early, the chances of the appearance of red blemishes turning into scars will be smaller.
- Be patient, the red pimple marks will eventually disappear.
- There are many home remedies for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation that can be found online. These home remedies include lemon juice, baking soda, and tomato juice. Just make sure to research the treatment carefully before trying it, consulting a doctor first would be even better.
- Perhaps the best "treatment" for stubborn acne scars is to accept and love yourself, and think positively about yourself. You are still beautiful and a precious human being, regardless of your skin condition.
