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.
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