How to get rid of acne scars: Fighting acne is still easy, but getting rid of acne scars–not so much. Almost each and every one of us has suffered from acne at some point in our lives. But managing that acne isn’t the hard part. Getting rid of the scars and pits left behind by those zits–now that’s a toughie.
Acne scars are actually part of the healing process, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). After acne has cleared, the skin attempts to correct the damage that’s been done by the blemish. By producing collagen, it heals the skin. Too little collagen and you’re left with a concave scar. Too much, and you’ll have a raised scar.
What are the types of acne scars?
1. Atrophic scar: This develops when there is a loss of skin tissue.
- Ice pick scar: These are usually small and make noticeable holes in your skin.
- Boxcar scar: These are depressed areas that are usually round or oval with sharp edges and very similar to chickenpox scars.
- Rolling scar: These are typically seen on your lower cheeks and jaws where your skin is thicker. The indentations slope and produce uneven wavy skin.
2. Hypertrophic or keloid scar: These occur when the skin produces too much collagen to heal acne wounds and causes a mass of raised tissue on the skin. It can be itchy and tender.
Home remedies to get rid of those pesky acne scars naturally
1. Honey And Lemon Juice
Honey is rich in antioxidants and fastens the healing process while Lemon works as a natural bleach and helps lighten scars.
How to apply:
- Mix 1 tablespoon of honey with 10 drops of Lemon juice
- Apply this mixture directly to the affected area gently with your fingers
- Let it sit for 10-15 minutes and wash off with water
- Repeat once daily
2. Turmeric & Jojoba Oil
Turmeric is a natural antiseptic and contains healing properties while Jojoba oil repairs skin damage..
How to apply:
- Mix 1 teaspoon of Turmeric with 1 tablespoon of Jojoba oil to form a paste
- Apply it to the affected area and leave for 15 minutes
- Rinse off with warm water
- Use it 2-3 times a week
3. Aloe vera
Aloe vera minimizes scars and also improves skin texture. You can use the gel directly from the plant or buy an over-the-counter gel.
How to apply:
- Remove 3-4 healthy leaves at a time, choosing thick leaves from the outer
- sections of the plant.
- Cut them close to the stem.
- Wash and dry the leaves.
- Trim the prickly edges with a knife.
- Separate the gel from the outside of the leaf.
- Cut the aloe gel into slices or cubes.
- Mix it well & Apply it to the Skin.
4. Apple cider vinegar
Diluted apple cider vinegar may help remove the upper layer of your skin and reduce the appearance of acne scars. However, make sure the solution is diluted well. Concentrated apple cider vinegar can further harm the face.
How to apply:
- Combine 4 tablespoons of distilled water with 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
- Dip a cotton ball into the water-cider mixture and generously dab your scar
- Let it dry
- Do this every night before you go to bed, washing the area in the morning
5. Potato
Potato is known for its healing properties. Its astringent and antibacterial qualities can help reduce excess oil, blackheads, and scars.
How to apply:
- Rub a potato slice onto the affected area
- Leave the juice on your face for 15-20 minutes
- Rinse it off with water
- Repeat once daily until you get the results
6. Turmeric & Jojoba Oil
This may reduce bacterial growth due to its anti-inflammatory properties. It also helps skin regeneration and reduces scarring. Turmeric is a natural antiseptic and contains healing properties while Jojoba oil repairs skin damage.
How to apply:
- Mix 1 teaspoon of Turmeric with 1 tablespoon of Jojoba oil to form a paste
- Apply it to the affected area and leave for 15 minutes
- Rinse off with warm water
- Use it 2-3 times a week
7. Vitamin E
- Cut open a vitamin E capsule over the scar and squeeze the oil onto the scar (you might need more than just one capsule to get enough liquid for full coverage)
- For about 10 minutes, massage the oil on and around the scar
- After about 20 minutes wash off the oil with warm water
- Repeat this process a minimum of 3 times per day
Medical treatments
Several medical treatments are available to help reduce acne scars. A dermatologist may recommend different procedures depending on a person’s skin type and the extent of the scarring.
Medical treatments for acne scars include:
1. Injections
Injections of corticosteroids may help with the treatment of raised acne scar tissue if a person has either hypertrophic or keloid scars.
The treatment typically consists of a series of injections. A dermatologist can do these injections in their office once every few weeks, monitoring the results.
2. Laser treatment
Laser treatment resurfaces the skin without the use of chemicals or scrubs. It removes the uppermost layer of skin to reveal the younger skin cells underneath, which can help reduce the appearance of scarring.
Laser treatment is not suitable for everyone, however, as its success is mostly dependent on the acne scarring that a person has and their skin type. The treatment may also cause a reaction in some people, especially those with sensitive skin.
What causes acne scars?
Inflammatory acne can cause painful, swollen, red, and deep skin lesions that damage the skin and underlying collagen. As these lesions heal, the body produces collagen. Too much or too little collagen production results in acne scars that don’t look like the surrounding skin.
A few factors can increase the risk of scarring, including:
- genetics (i.e., a close family member who has acne scarring)
- delaying treatment for inflammatory acne
- picking or popping acne
- the severity of the acne, which usually correlates to the amount of scarring a person will experience
- Hyperpigmentation is a darkened patch where the skin has healed. It occurs when inflammatory acne increases the amount of melanin in the skin. This pigment gives skin its color. Dark spots usually affect people with darker skin.
Dark spots (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation)
While dark spots technically aren’t scars, they are a visible reminder of acne. The inflammatory process of acne can result in hyperpigmentation or deeper coloration where acne has healed. Hyperpigmentation can also be a temporary side effect of treatments for acne scars, especially in people with darker skin.
Acne Marks vs. Acne Scars
Most pimples leave behind evidence. Our hope is that their marks are superficial. If your skin remains smooth in dark or red areas, you simply have an acne mark. Those marks are not scars — they are just temporarily discolored. It usually takes 3-6 months for the marks to disappear.
However, if you have a scar, you’re dealing with permanent skin damage that needs treatment in order to disappear. An acne scar changes the texture of the skin. If acne has left indentations, or raised spots, the damage has occurred at a deeper level in the skin. This “cobblestoning” effect indicates scarring that needs more than a surface-level treatment.
Why Is Dermatological Treatment Recommended for Acne Scars?
When you have true scars that have changed the texture of your skin, you’ll need a medical procedure to see improvement. We use a laser specifically approved by the FDA for treating laser scars. Some people try chemical peels, which aren’t very effective. Others try dermabrasion, a technique like a sanding wheel on your skin, but there’s a high risk of permanent scarring. A laser gets much better results without the same risk.
What is cystic acne?
“Cystic acne is one of the more severe forms of acne,” explains Dr. Laurel Geraghty, board-certified, Stanford-trained dermatologist based in Medford, Oregon. “Deep, red, tender pus bumps or nodules can form on the skin. They often have a hard time draining or healing and can often leave dark marks and scars that can persist after they’ve resolved. That’s why it’s important to treat cystic acne—because a deep, cystic pimple may last a couple of weeks, but a scar could last forever. And the good news is that effective cystic acne treatments do exist.”
Causes of Cystic Acne
Cystic acne occurs when bacteria, dead skin cells, and sebum (the substance that makes your face feel oily) get trapped beneath the skin’s surface and become infected. This leads to a large, swollen cyst (bump) that can hurt just to touch.
There are a number of different reasons why this condition might occur more frequently or more severely in some people but not others. Understanding the different factors that contribute to cystic acne flare-ups will help you and your dermatologist devise a custom treatment plan together.
Home Remedies for Cystic Acne
1. Ice
Celebrity esthetician Angela Caglia tells us her go-to methodology: “Remove an ice cube from your ice tray and rub it in circular motions directly on top of the cystic acne spot. Continue the motion until it is too sensitive from the cold.” She suggests three times daily for best results.
2. Vinegar cleanser
Some advocates of natural healing cite vinegar’s antibacterial properties. They recommend using a diluted white vinegar cleanser on your skin twice per day. The suggested dilution is typically about 2 capfuls of vinegar mixed with about 3 cups of purified water.
Again, take care when applying vinegar to the skin, as it can cause irritation.
3. Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil’s antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties are used by proponents of natural healing to justify their suggestion of using it as a topical home remedy for cystic acne.
4. Honey
Honey has been used to treat skin conditions, such as acne, for thousands of years. It contains many antioxidants that can help to clear waste and debris from clogged pores.
Doctors use honey in wound dressings because of its antibacterial and wound-healing properties. Using a clean finger or cotton pad, rub a little honey into pimples. Otherwise, add honey to a face or body mask.
Also read: How To Remove Earwax At Home
5. Coconut oil
Like other natural remedies, coconut oil contains anti-inflammatory and antibacterial compounds.
These properties mean that coconut oil may destroy acne-causing bacteria and reduce the redness and swelling of pimples. Coconut oil may also speed up healing in open acne sores.
Try rubbing pure, virgin coconut oil directly to the area with acne. Look for coconut oil in the natural foods section of grocery stores or online.
Also read: Health Benefits Of Curd: Health Trends