How to get rid of acne scars
Acne – blackheads and whiteheads – is fairly common, particularly in adolescence. Acne itself is temporary, and usually disappears of its own accord over a period of weeks and months. However, acne can cause scarring, which can last a lifetime.
Acne is more simply know as spots. Both whiteheads and blackheads are forms of acne. They are caused by the pores of the skin being clogged with dead skin, remnants of sweat and makeup. Pus begins to build up underneath the pore. Acne is more likely to affect people with oily skin. Sometimes a good skincare regime is enough to ward off acne. However, oily skin can be caused by hormonal changes, for example in the run up to periods – these are obviously very difficult to avoid!
Spots can become infected or damaged by well-meaning but counter-productive attempts to remove them, and scar tissue forms around the damaged skin. Some acne scars are therefore avoidable.
However, some forms of acne are so severe that they can cause scarring on their own, even without anyone picking at them.
In short, it is possible to take action to minimise both acne and acne scars. However, not all acne or acne scarring is avoidable.
How to prevent acne scars
Although acne scars can be reduced, you should do everything you can to avoid them in the first place
Most importantly, leave your spots alone. Don’t pick at spots, and don’t squeeze them. If you do these things, then you can squeeze the pus further into the skin. Or, you can cause the area to become inflamed and infected. Both of these can damage and scar your skin tissue. If you absolutely have to pop a pimple, then clean your hands and your skin beforehand. Pierce the pimple with a pin, to encourage the pus to go out rather than into your skin. Stop squeezing as soon as the pus is gone, and daub your skin with antiseptic cream or a disinfectant afterwards. Do not re-squeeze the spot; leave it to heal. However, it should be emphasized that the best way to prevent scarring is to leave spots ALONE!
Some forms of acne cannot be effectively treated by anything apart from prescribed medicines. However, drinking a lot of water, having a strict cleansing routine, eating more fruit and vegetables or taking vitamin supplements, being meticulous about cleaning off makeup at the end of a day and using spot removal cream can all reduce the chances of you getting bad acne in the first place. If you already have acne, then it is well worth making a few basic changes to your routine to see if you can reduce your acne. And remember none of these suggestions will do you any harm, but may really help to clear up your skin.
Finally, don’t be afraid to seek medical help. If your acne does not respond to treatment, if you notice that you are particularly prone to scarring, or if your acne develops into large nodules or cysts, then see your doctor. Your doctor will be able to prescribe medicine that will clear up your acne, or will refer you to a skin specialist. This is a much better option than dealing with both the short-term acne and the long term scars that can result from it.
Removing acne scars
Acne scars can be unsightly, and can even make you paranoid about going out for the evening or taking part in normal activities. Although, like any scar tissue, acne scars are permanent, they can be treated by various non-medical methods:
Time: Acne scars will initially appear as red, inflamed marks. Over time, they will reduce in size and fade to silver colour – if you’re lucky, your skin will appear almost as normal.
Moisturise: Like any scars, moisturising acne scans will reduce their appearance and encourage them to fade faster. Moisturiser is cheap and easy to come by – this method is well worth trying as it requires little investment. Try to find a cream with vitamin E to get the best effect.
Acne scar cream: Most high-end cosmetic companies produce cream that is especially designed to reduce the appearing of acne scars. Many of them need to be applied before you go to sleep, and work overnight to improve your skin. These specialist creams can be expensive; however, if you are really bothered by your acne scars, they are much less expensive and invasive than some of the methods listed below.
There are also several methods to remove acne scars that need to be carried out by a qualified doctor or surgeon. These are all fairly intensive methods and can cause side effects – also, many of them have a small but unavoidable risk attached. Different methods are suitable for different types and sizes of acne scars. You should make an appointment with your GP or dermatologist to discuss these treatments further.
Laser treatment: There are several different methods of removing acne scars with laser, and a specialist doctor will be able to advise you on which is appropriate for your acne scars. Basically, all laser acne treatment works by damaging the scarred skin to encourage new collagen to grown in its place. Laser treatment can be very successful, but its main drawbacks are that it can be very expensive and also, your skin may look unsightly during the healing process. Laser treatments cannot be used on any areas that have active acne as well as acne scars.
Chemical peels: In this treatment, a doctor applies and extremely acidic mixture over the area affected by acne scars. This can be extremely painful, so most of the time the patient is put under general anaesthetic, or at least heavily sedated.
Steroids: Injection steroids into the scarred area will cause the swelling and redness to reduce faster than otherwise.
Augmentation: This is a cosmetic technique where a chemical filler, or fat from another area of the body, is injected into the scarred area. This means that the appearance of the scars is lessened and the skin looks younger and plumper than before.
Acne scars can be unsightly and last for many years. However, some acne scars can be avoided by taking care of your skin. Acne scars can be reduced by over the counter methods, but you can also seek expert medical advice to remove them. Whichever method you choose, remember that you are unlikely to completely remove any trace of acne scars, although their appearance can be much improved.
