Finding remedies to treat acne breakouts is only half the battle. The real struggle starts when you have to deal with the scarring that follows.

There has been a growing concern about the marks left behind on your skin post-acne. After meticulous treatment of pesky pimples with an arsenal of skincare products, you are only left with even more stubborn scars that they cause on your skin. 

Fret not with patience, dedication, and the right treatment you can effectively reduce their appearance. Here we have listed for you all the tips from prevention to cutting-edge in-office treatments to get rid of acne scars. Dive in to learn more. 

What are acne scars?

To treat acne scars effectively you first need to understand what they are. Acne scars are small depressions or dents in your skin that occur as a result of moderate to severe acne. They refer to red or brown marks that appear post pimples giving way to blemishes and discoloration and thus a change in your skin texture. 

Types of acne scars

It is essential to know the different types of acne scars with the common ones being icepick, rolling scars, and box car. Icepick scars are characterized by deep narrow scars that give a punctured look to your skin. rolling scars are ones with shallow yet smooth edges. In comparison, box car scars are dejected scars with sharp edges. You ought to treat your scars depending on their type. 

You must be able to distinguish acne scars from superficial acne marks like red and brown spots. Though many of you tend to use these terms interchangeably, these have a different definition altogether. If not treated, acne scars become indented on your skin while acne marks are flat dark spots or red ones at the acne lesion site that eventually tend to resolve. 

So, an easy way to know if you have an acne scar or mark is by running your fingers over your face to notice any textural differences. If there are any changes then you have acne scars. 

The causes

Generally, scars occur when your skin gets injured or damaged. The skin as a reaction tries to repair itself leaving a scar in the process. The same is the case with acne. 

Depending on their severity acne breakouts affect the uppermost layer of your skin and down to the inner layers. When the inflammation settles down and the skin is healing, scar tissues ensue. Scarring can occur because of severely inflammatory acne, constant picking, and delayed treatment of acne. 

Acne scarring may also be a result of the excess production of oil, bacteria, and inflammation. Though most breakouts heal with time without leaving any marks behind, some blemishes are stubborn and are therefore likely to leave a scar. It is also noted that some skin types are simply more prone to being acne-scarred. 

1. Begin with prevention

To get rid of acne scars you have to treat the source that is causing it. So, begin with first controlling and treating the acne or you will only be hurtling more scars. Certain acne treatments may recover the appearance of acne scars and once you have the acne under control there is likely to be no new acne formation. Then you can start the treatments for acne scars.

2. Medications

To treat moderate to severe acne, like cystic lesions, red bumps, and pus bumps you may have to consult a dermatologist to present an acne regime. There are some over-the-counter medications to treat acne as well like willow bark extract and salicylic acid to lessen the inflammation and exfoliate the surface of your skin to heal the acne and the marks that follow. Prebiotics, calendula, sage, and polysaccharides are also among the best acne scar treatments, available to help with the healing and thus strengthen your skin barrier function. 

3. Targeting discoloration

When treating acne scars, you need to first address the discoloration that occurs within your scars. As the color of the scars is evened out, the textural changes in the skin are not likely to bother you much. 

Still, you must bear in mind that acne has a different impact on different skin types and you must consider that when identifying the acne marks and scars. Lighter shades of skin that tend to get sunburnt easily produce red marks post-acne, while darker skin tones that get easily tanned produce brown marks after acne. 

Vitamin C

Vitamin C serum is one of the strongest topical treatments for fading discoloration and thus the best product to get rid of acne scars. This is because it is packed with antioxidants that shield your skin from the harmful effects of free radicals that impact your skin upon sun exposure. 

Retinol

Moreover, retinol when strategically incorporated into your skincare regime also effectively treats discoloration in your skin after acne and thus helps you to get rid of acne scars. Being a derivative of vitamin A, retinol is one of the essential nutrients that boost cellular turnover and stimulate collagen synthesis in your skin. 

Niacinamide

If your skin tends to be sensitive, you may want to incorporate niacinamide in your skincare regime to reduce the redness and spots that occur due to hyperpigmentation and soothe your skin in the process.

Peels

Mild peels infused with acids are also great for gently exfoliating your skin. Chemical exfoliants such as alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids work on your skin to treat hyperpigmentation by eradicating dead skin cells leaving your skin feeling smooth and soft. 

If you have oily skin and seem to be dealing with active breakouts you may want to turn to a BHAs such as salicylic acid. These are the Best acne scar removal products as they will not only treat acne but also work on your skin to reduce redness and dark spots. You may also use AHAs like mandelic, lactic acid, and glycolic acid to treat discoloration on your skin. 

4. Sunscreen is a must

daily application of sunscreen is a must regardless of the skin type. It is one of the most effective ways to reduce the formation of acne scars. The scars on your skin tend to darken with sun exposure which makes them more visible. So, if you are hesitant to add yet another product to your regime for fear that it may make your breakouts worse, you can use a non-comedogenic sunscreen formula that doesn’t congest pores. 

5. In-office treatments

We regret to inform you that once you have an acne blemish it is permanent. Nevertheless, professional in-office treatments may help you to improve your appearance. You can choose from fillers, and intralesional steroid injections but the most common ones are:

Lasers

This is very effective in diminishing acne scars and marks. Lasers can be used to target your skin tone as well as texture. Dark spots can be addressed with light devices, Pico lasers, and intense pulse light. Pulse dye layers are used to treat the red spots that occur on your skin. 

There are ablative and non-ablative lasers as well that treat acne scars specifically the indented ones. Vascular lasers are often used by dermatologists to treat rarer hypertrophic and keloid scars that occur from acne. These are mostly used in combination with intralesional cortisone injections and topical cortisone to improve their appearance. 

Micro-needling

Micro-needling involves the creation of micro-injuries in your skin to stimulate new collagen production. This treatment targets depressed atrophic scars and is often performed with platelet-rich plasma injections. Though it is suitable for all skin types and tones, you must get it done by a licensed professional. 

Final verdict

Though there is no secret gadget that may make your acne scars disappear miraculously, the good news is that certain acne scar treatments will help diminish the discoloration that ensues and naturally remove acne scars. The consistent use of some over-the-counter medications in mild cases and certain in-office treatments like laser, peeling, and micro-needling, will help you to effectively reduce the appearance of acne scars.