While breakouts can be frustrating and a pain to deal with, nothing prepares us for the aftermath of a major acne episode – the scars left behind after battling zits and pimples. Acne scars are a traumatic reminder of a bothersome, painful, and possibly embarrassing condition from our past. Fortunately, thanks to the various acne scar removal techniques available today, you don’t have to carry this gruesome and bothersome memory for the rest of your life.
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Professional acne scar remover services can cost quite a tidy penny. Not everyone, especially in the prevailing economy, can afford to churn hundreds or thousands of dollars to improve their complexion if they don’t earn their daily bread directly from it.
Here’s where simple, affordable, but effective at-home treatment comes in. A disclaimer, though. Before commencing any home remedy for acne scars, you must seek a green light from your dermatologist to help you choose the best method for your skin type. They will also confirm that the marks on your face are indeed scars sustained from a past breakout and not another skin condition that would require a different approach.
Lactic Acid for Chin Acne:
Lactic acid is one of the key ingredients that you need for acne scar removal at home. It acts as a gentle exfoliator that helps peel off dead skin tissue that forms the better part of acne scars. In short, it can improve the overall appearance of the scars and smoothen the exterior-most texture of your face, particularly around the chin area. A 2010 study unearthed how dermatologists improved the general complexion of badly scarred skin by performing comprehensive lactic acid peels every fortnight.
What Do You Need for Acne Scar Removal?
Besides, lactic acid plays a critical role in lightening darkened scar tissue. It is even believed to aid in minimizing hyperpigmentation, and this explains why most OTC acne spot treatments, serums, peels, and ointments often contain lactic acid as one of the active ingredients in their formulation. Speaking of which, you can extract lactic acid from a dilute solution of apple cider vinegar in case you cannot find it at your local drugstore. It is also a more natural and affordable source, especially for beginners.
That being said, there are reports of some people being sensitive to lactic acid. As such, testing any acne scar treatment containing this ingredient on a small localized skin patch is advisable before using it extensively to manage acne scarring.
Routinization Using Retinoids:
Reports show that a few topical retinoids can help remove acne scars within record time. You see, retinoids are known for the following beneficial dermatological properties;
- Block inflammation
- Speed up the rate of cell regeneration
- Reduce the appearance of acne lesions
- Lighten hyperpigmented or darkened acne scars, even in people with darker skin tones
What Do You Need for Acne Scar Removal?
Combining the above factors minimizes acne scarring by adopting a weekly or bi-weekly optimization routine. What’s more, you can find a variety of serums and creams that employ retinoids over the counter at your nearest drug store. In this case, be on the lookout for treatments that contain retinol as one of the principal ingredients. They are best for minimizing the appearance of depressed or atrophic scars.
It is important also to realize that routinization can make your skin hypersensitive to the ultraviolet rays from the sun. Hence, it is advisable for anyone employing retinoids for long-term acne scar treatment to normalize wearing sunscreen whenever they are outdoors to avert predisposing themselves to more skin problems.
Salicylic Acid as an Acne and Dark Spot Remover:
There are high chances that you have already encountered salicylic acid – albeit unknowingly – at some point in your skincare journey; it is a naturally –occurring biochemical compound that is used in most acne treatment products, from the likes of face cleansers and lotions to spot treatments and pads. In other words, outside of lactic acid, salicylic acid is the major nexus in just all kinds of acne care treatment regimens available these days.
What Do You Need for Acne Scar Removal?
And it is easy to see why – salicylic acid is beneficial in removing dead skin cells, clearing dirt/grime from the skin, and opening up the skin pores to stave off future breakouts. Besides, it can minimize swelling and redness, which is instrumental in improving the overall appearance of recent acne scars. It is also a decent exfoliator when applied regularly, which explains why it ranks as the best accessible acne scar remover for the commoner. This makes it an excellent addition to one’s daily or bi-weekly skincare routine, particularly if you frequently battle acne.
Salicylic acid is useful for almost all scar types, unlike other acne scar remedies. Nonetheless, it may take a few weeks and a month or two before you start seeing a difference in some stubborn scars. The compound is also known to cause minimal irritation and dryness in some people; you should try spot treating before scaling up to extensive and regular use if you have sensitive skin.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids for Body Acne Scars:
There’s no denying that body acne scars are some of the most difficult and pertinacious scarring to get a hand on, especially if they have already morphed into keloid or hypertrophic scars. Fortunately, AHAs or Alpha Hydroxy Acids are beneficial in minimizing the appearance of such types of acne by making them less noticeable and removing dead skin.
In tandem with this, the mild acid contained in AHAs is believed to help exfoliate the exterior of those angry-looking scars, which makes them easier for the eye. There are also reports from past users that claim that acne patches that contain Alpha Hydroxy Acids are effective at clearing skin discoloration and getting rid of rough/scaly-looking skin.
A Combination of Sunscreen and Moisturizer:
It may sound like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised how many people overlook the benefits of wearing sunscreen daily over their acne scars. For starters, extensive research and even casual observation have shown that prolonged sun exposure darkens acne scars further, thereby making them more noticeable than they are. The explanation behind this is quite simple. Acne scars have a mildly different melanin composition, and this distinctiveness becomes even more contrasting in the presence of UV light rays from the sun, thus making them stand out more. And this increased mismatch between scars and unscarred skin does not do your complexion any favors.
Natural Remedies:
Some people skip the trip to the drug store and use natural kitchen remedies to help reduce post-acne scarring. Some of these traditional treatment options that have been used for generations to improve complexion include
- Lemon juice
- Raw/unprocessed honey
- Coconut oil
- Baking soda/yeast
- Aloe vera gel
- Shea butter
The science behind some of these approaches is unclear, but this does not mean they don’t work entirely. You may want to exercise caution to avoid further aggravating and worsening your symptoms.
Final thoughts :
The above face and body acne scar removal techniques should be your first port of call before advancing to other professional but potentially more expensive approaches, such as laser resurfacing, dermabrasion, chemical peeling, or full-on surgery.
