Acne breakouts usually happen because of a number of reasons(such as stress, skin quality, medical conditions, and other external factors), they could easily be treated and prevented. If you are a person who usually experiences acne, most likely you’ve had some acne scars, so how can we get rid of these? In this article, we’ll be discussing different ways to reduce or completely remove acne scars if you have them.
Home remedies
Nowadays we, fortunately, have over-the-counter treatments and remedies for acne scars. You can get them at local pharmacies without the need for a prescription, but also keep in mind that you might not have the same results compared to other people when using these products.
- Lactic acid
Lactic acid helps reduce the appearance of scars and smoothes the overall texture of the skin. Lactic acid can also help lighten some dark scar tissue, although it can sometimes cause hyperpigmentation. Many acne products contain lactic acid. It is also found in diluted apple cider vinegar, which is a more natural and economical treatment.
- Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is a naturally occurring compound commonly found in acne skin care products. Salicylic acid helps to remove acne-causing dirt, skin cells, and other debris from the pores of the skin. Salicylic acid is beneficial for all scar types. For most acne sufferers, this is a great addition to their daily skincare routine.
- Retinoids
There are some topical retinoids that may help lighten acne scars because they help reduce inflammation, reduce acne lesions, and speed up cell regeneration. It’s important to note that retinoids can make your skin sensitive to sunlight.
- Alpha hydroxy acids
Also called AHAs, alpha hydroxy acids come from animals and plants. These acids can help remove dead skin cells and prevent clogged pores. Some professionals recommend the use of Alpha hydroxy acids to treat acne and reduce the appearance of acne scars. AHA is a mild form of acid that exfoliates the outer layers of the skin, revealing the fresh skin underneath, this process may help scar discoloration.
Medical procedures
- Dermal fillers
These are soft tissue fillers that help reduces the appearance of scars, including acne scars. Dermatologists usually prefer to use collagen-based products, but there are also other options available such as commercial fillers like polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), hyaluronic acid (HA), and poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA).
- Injections
If a person has hypertrophic or keloid scars, corticosteroid injections can help treat the raised acne scar tissue. This type of treatment will usually consist of a series of injections.
- Laser treatment
Laser treatments reshape the surface of the skin without the use of chemicals or scrubs. It removes the top layer of the skin to reveal the young skin cells underneath, which helps reduce the appearance of scars.
- Microneedling
Microneedling is a type of treatment where the procedure includes inserting thin needles into the skin around the scars to stimulate the body to produce more collagen. This collagen can reduce the appearance of acne scars by smoothing the skin.
