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5 Ways to Get Rid of Acne Scars
Waking up with a big red pimple on your face is already frustrating, but having acne scars as the aftermath of a bad breakout is even worse.
In this article, we will let you in on some secrets in dealing with dreaded acne scars from prevention to cure.
A fair and flawless face is perhaps one of every girl’s ultimate dreams. The sad truth is that not everyone is blessed with porcelain skin that remains blemish-free forever.
Some are lucky enough to have coveted clear skin. Others have to deal with awful breakouts every now and then. There is nothing wrong with the latter. Acne and breakouts are a normal thing caused by our genetics, hormones, and external factors such as our environment.
While we have no full control of our breakouts, we can always prevent them from worsening and even treat them to improve our skin condition.
We get a sigh of relief when our embarrassing pimple heals as we can finally have the clear skin we desire. However, sometimes the aftermath of our pimples manifest. This can come in the form of blemishes, spots, and acne scars.
More often than not, we find these acne scars even worse than the pimples that cause them. They last longer, with some being permanent when not treated.
Fret not because scarring is not something you should totally raise the white flag for. With products and technologies that are now readily available, acne scars can now be healed with patience and the right treatment.
Stop, don’t pop
Prevention is better than cure. It is simpler and at times, even cheaper.
When you first catch sight of your pimple, stop yourself and resist the urge to pop it. There is the feeling of satisfaction when we pop our zits and see all the gunk gush out. We think it is better to let these fluids out, but you would be surprised to know that it is the opposite.
The fluid that comes out of our pimple can irritate our skin. When we poke our zits, we increase the risk of skin irritation. Instead of expediting the healing process, we make the area more prone to bacteria which may cause scarring and trigger more breakouts. This is because inflammation and irritation disrupt acne healing.
The first step to avoid acne scars is to stop yourself from popping your pimples. Keep your face clean by doing so. Surprisingly, it is as easy as that.
This does not assure, though, that you will not get acne scars as it differs on a case to case basis. However, the chances of getting acne scars and acne marks will be relatively slim.
Once your pimple heals, immediately take care of it through proper skincare and treatments.
Acne marks versus acne scars
When your pimple starts to heal, you may notice dark or pink marks in the area. We often think that these are acne scars, but these can simply be acne marks.
People often confuse acne marks with acne scars. There is a fine line that separates the two which makes them seem interchangeable. Before you decide on the next steps you will take, it is best that you determine first if what you have are acne scars or acne marks.
Differentiating the two is quite easy if you know the characteristics of each.
Nature and cause
In a nutshell, acne marks are stains or little patches of discoloration in your pimple area. Inflammation increases production of pigments in your skin or melanin which results to these stains. Acne marks are visible but they are only temporary. These spots can last for days, weeks, or even months.
Acne scars are caused by damage to the skin which triggers the abnormal production of collagen. Collagen takes care of dead skin cells by replacing them with replenished and younger cells. Unlike temporary acne marks, acne scars are permanent damage to the skin.
Texture
The easiest way to spot an acne mark is through touching or feeling it. Acne marks and acne scars have different textures.
Acne marks are smooth to touch as they are just color patches.
Acne scars, on the other hand, are either depressed or raised. You can determine this by touching your acne scars. Depressed acne scars are indented or have crates or pits. Raised acne scars have bumps.
Kinds of acne scars
Inflammation causes the skin to produce either too much or too little collagen, thus, creating acne scars. This is why acne scars have different kinds based on their appearance.
Raised acne scars are hypertrophic and are a result of the overproduction of collagen. If your acne scars are bumpy, you already know what kind of acne scar it is.
Depressed acne scars are atrophic and caused by minimal production of collagen. These are more alarming because depressed scars require more attention. On top of that, they take longer to heal and need more treatment.
5 Ways To Get Rid of Acne Scars
At one point in your life, you may have looked up on the internet ways to treat your acne scars. The web has a lot of solutions to your scarring problem. However, you should note that what removes acne scars for others may not necessarily work for you.
There are various ways to treat acne scars from clinical procedures to at-home solutions. Acne scar treatment cost can also range from affordable treatments to hefty procedures that may break your bank.
To keep things easy for you, we have trimmed down the list to five of our favorite acne treatments that will help you with your dilemma.
1. Laser treatment
Lasers do wonders. From removing hair to even taking care of acne scars, laser treatments have gone a long way in the beauty industry.
Laser treatment is one of the most popular procedures people turn to for acne scar removal. This treatment is usually done by a skin expert in a clinic with the use of a laser machine.
How does this work?
How this process works is simple. The laser removes the upper layer of the skin where dull and dead skin cells can be found. This makes way for the younger skin cells underneath to show. Not only does this give you fresher skin but it also minimizes the visibility of acne scars.
You must bear in mind, though, that laser treatments are not a one-time deal. These usually come in sessions depending on the severity of your acne scars and the condition of your skin. This treatment also does not completely eliminate acne scars. What it does is it gradually improves the condition of your skin by a significant percent
The more you invest on this treatment in terms of time, effort, and money, the greater the chances are of it being effective.
How much does this cost?
Laser acne scar removal cost may start from a hundred dollars to even a thousand. Your skin expert has to do a proper assessment of your skin to be able to give you the exact treatment and corresponding cost.
You may find this treatment costly but if it is within your budget, why not give it a try?
Please note though that this treatment, much like all the other scarring solutions, is not for everyone. There may be irritation especially for those with sensitive skin.
2. Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is a solution you might want to look into in treating your acne scars. You may have come across this term because it is a popular skincare trend nowadays.
Would you imagine that in 2016, there were 580,000 recorded microdermabrasion treatments in the United States alone? This is a figure provided by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Microdermabrasion for acne scars is one remedy that you can either do at home or at a skin clinic.
How does this work?
Much like laser treatment, microdermabrasion works by removing layers of dead and worn out skin cells to reveal a fresh layer of skin. While laser treatments make use of laser machines, microderambrasion makes use of a handheld device that serves as a magic wand. It is non-invasive and does not use needles for the procedure.
There are certain types of acne scars where microdermabrasion works best. If you have depressed acne scars or ones that forms crates, then this treatment is for you.
Microdermabrasion does not only work to take care of acne scars but it improves your skin in general. It unclogs dirty pores and gives you a radiant look with your fresh skin.
How much does this cost?
If you are willing to spend, you may get a microdermabrasion treatment in your skin clinic. You are paying for the expertise of a dermatologist or aesthetician so expect it to be costly.
However, those who are on a budget can still reap the benefits of this treatment by buying a microdermabrasion device. There are a lot of microdermabrasion tools available in the market. The pro of this is that you only get to pay once for the device and you can do the treatment multiple times at your own convenience. The con is that results may not be as good as procedures done by skin clinics.
3. Microneedling
If you are the type who does not get scared of needles, microneedling may be the procedure for you.
This multipurpose procedure has been a beauty practice for some time now having been introduced as early as 1995. MIcroneedling has been used by thousands of people for different purposes whether to stimulate hair growth or to get rid of acne scars.
How does this work?
Also known as collagen induction therapy, microneedling makes use of tiny needles to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin in the body. By using a dermaroller, a device with tiny sterile acupuncture-like needles, you make tiny superficial punctures on your skin.
The thought of having needles puncture your skin may seem scary but don’t worry as tiny and short needles are used for this procedure. Unlike needle insertions done in hospitals for IV drips and blood extraction, microneedling only gives a pricking sensation and hits the surface level of your skin.
The greatest effect of microneedling would have to be production of collagen and elastin. Do you know that when you age, your body produces less collagen? Wrinkles, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation are just some of the results of this. With your collagen boost through microneedling, you get to have radiant and fresh-looking skin.
On top of that, microneedling helps in product absorption. After your microneedling treatment, the products you use such as vitamin serums go deeper into the skin and thus, become more effective.
How much does this cost?
Similar to laser and microdermabrasion treatments, you have to spend more if you want a dermatologist to do the procedure for you.
If your budget does not allow it, you may opt to get your own dermaroller kit so you can do it at home. Microneedling kits are readily available in your skincare store or even online at a good price.
Dermarollers of home kits have shorter needles that are blunt. These are not for penetrating the skin unlike professional dermarollers. These stimulate blood flow instead. Manage your expectations in terms of the results.
Microneedling kits also need to be cleaned. You have the risk of getting skin irritation or worse, infection, if your device is not kept sterile on a regular basis.
4. Glycolic acid
If you enjoy checking product labels, you may have noticed glycolic acid in the many products you use. Glycolic acid is an ingredient used in making popular skincare products. Among the many things glycolic acid can do to improve your skin, it is also effective in clearing out acne scars.
The most common way to use glycolic acid for acne scars is through a chemical peel.
How does this work?
Chemical peels work by exfoliating your skin to slough off layers of dead skin cells that make your skin look dull and dry. Skin experts make use of a wide variety of chemicals depending on the need and preference.
Dermatologists and skin professionals recommend using glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid that comes from sugarcane. If putting chemicals on your skin worries you, you should not be alarmed as glycolic acid is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.
Glycolic acid has small molecules that goes deep into the skin. It removes lipids that put the dead skin cells together and prepares the skin for exfoliation. Not only is it good for removing acne scars but it also helps in improving acne conditions.
The more glycolic acid concentration your product or treatment has, the more effective it is because more glycolic acid would mean better penetration to the skin.
A glycolic acid chemical peel can either have mild, medium, or deep strength. How effective this treatment is depends on the strength you choose as each bears a different result. Medium and deep peels are typically done by skin professionals while mild peels are done at home.
One thing you will like about chemical peels among the other remedies out there is that it is safe and requires less recovery time. To add, it removes pimples, white heads, blackheads, and even minimizes pores. It also prepares the skin to absorb products better.
How much does this cost?
The best glycolic acid peel is done by a skin professional and this may be a bit costly depending on your skin clinic. It is highly recommended that before anything else, you have your skin assessed first by a dermatologist or skin expert. This is so you can check if a glycolic acid peel works for you.
There are also kits for peeling acne at home which you can buy at skincare stores. These are not as effective as clinical treatments, though, but they still do the job.
5. Natural remedies
Clinical treatments or at home devices may not be your cup of tea, but that does not mean you cannot do something about your acne scars. What works for acne scars for others are natural remedies. These are items you can readily find at home or at your local grocery.
Some of the popular natural remedies for clearing acne scars are:
- shea butter
- coconut oil
- raw honey
- aloe vera gel
- tea tree oil
- green tea
- witch hazel
How does this work?
There are skincare products that use these items as ingredients because of their individual properties. Aloe vera, for example, is added in lotions and creams because it helps heal wounds and reduce inflammation. Witch hazel fights bacteria and minimizes swelling.
Before using any natural remedy, it is best that you look it up first to ensure that it is what you need.
How much does this cost?
Natural remedies are far more affordable than clinical treatments so they fit well in your budget. These solutions take time and work best with constant use so you have to shell out a certain amount in the long run.
To wrap it up
Patience is needed in dealing with acne scarring. There is no best treatment for acne marks and acne scars because what works for others may not work for you.
Various treatments and remedies are available to clear your acne scars. There are some treatments done by professionals which may cost you a fortune but these are the safest. You are assured that there is proper assessment of your condition. Over-the-counter kits and remedies are also available for those who have little budget to spare.
Make sure that you know what your skin needs before getting treatments or applying products to your face. Should you feel uncomfortable and notice signs of irritation, immediately stop what you are doing or using.
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