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How to help get rid of acne scars

It's easy to fixate on these little blemishes. But dozens of interventions can make them less noticeable.

Updated: September 20, 2024 |7 minute read

Written by: Lauren Arcuri

Illustration showing a person on a platform attempting to wipe away acne scars from a face the size of a large mural.

Acne can happen to anyone. It's a regular part of adolescence, affecting around four out of five teens,1 and it sometimes pops up again during pregnancy.2 In fact, up to 15% of women experience acne as an adult.3 Breakouts can also happen when life gets stressful or when a new medication is in the mix.4 So while acne may be annoying, it’s not unusual — at all.

The proper treatment and products can help keep breakouts to a minimum. Unfortunately, scars, a step in the skin’s healing process, are a normal part of having acne.5 And while acne scars are nothing to be ashamed of, many people would love to see them gone.

A range of products and practices can help diminish the appearance of acne scars. Some of them are available over the counter (OTC). Read on to see the options.

En este artículo:

Types of acne scars

Choosing the most effective treatment means understanding the different types of acne scars. Here are the shapes they can take:

  • Depressed or atrophic scars. Most acne scars leave a pitting in the skin.6 These types of scars come in a few varieties:
    • Box-car scars or pock marks. These indented scars are typically larger than ice-pick scars and have straight edges that extend down into the skin.7
    • Ice-pick scars. These scars are wider at the surface of the skin and narrower as they move deeper into the skin.8
    • Rolling scars. The edges of these scars are sloping, and their presence can give skin a wavy appearance. They're more common in areas where skin is thicker, such as the jaw.9
  • Raised or hypertrophic scars. These are small, raised scars that build up over a spot where acne damaged the skin.
  • Keloids. Keloids resemble hypertrophic scars, but they can grow larger past the original wound site and tend to take on a darker color.10 Genetics can play a role in keloid formation, and they are more common in African American skin, explains Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, a dermatologist and pediatrician in Beverly Hills, CA.11 “They tend to develop in areas of high tension or skin that lies over large, strong muscles with increased movement, like the upper back, shoulders and midline chest,” she says.

Types of depressed acne scars

Understanding how acne scars differ is the first step to managing them.

  1. Ice-pick scars
    Wider pitting at surface of skin, narrower as it moves inward.
  2. Boxcar scars or pock marks
    Indented scars, typically larger than ice-pick scars with straight edges right down into the skin.
  3. Rolling scars
    Sloping edges, wavy appearance and common in thick-skinned areas like the jaw.
A size and shape comparison of three different types of acne
scars through the epidermis and dermis skin layers.

Do acne scars go away?

“Yes, acne scars can fade on their own,” says Geeta Yadav, MD, a dermatologist in Toronto.12

Typically, darkened acne scars will fade in appearance over time, though sometimes it can take a year or more. "Healing skin continues to remodel for a year after the trauma, so sometimes waiting, together with good wound and skin care, is all that is needed," says Dr. Shainhouse.13

“However, if you have severe scarring, especially pitted or keloid scars, you will need in-office treatment to improve their appearance,” says Dr. Yadav.14 The good news: There are a lot of different options for treating acne scars these days.

Drugstore products for acne scars

If mild acne scars are the concern, an OTC acne treatment may be worth a try. Some can help reduce the appearance of acne scars and improve skin’s texture and evenness.

  • Retinol. Dr. Yadav's top recommendation for improving acne scars is retinol. "It's a powerhouse," she says. "It stimulates cellular turnover and promotes new collagen production as well as prevents new acne from forming - all of which are major assets in correcting the appearance of acne scars."15

Retinol products should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding.16 Ask a doctor before starting a retinol-containing skin care regimen.

  • Allantoin. This substance is found naturally in plants and helps protect skin from inflammation. It can help reduce redness and the appearance of scars.17
  • Silicone. Silicone is most effective at reducing the size of raised scars (hypertrophic or keloid).18 Silicone scar sheets and gels can be purchased over the counter at most pharmacies. They have to be used continuously to be effective. Be careful, because they can cause itching or irritation for some people.19
  • Vitamin C. Topical vitamin C can help brighten skin and fade hyperpigmentation. Over time, with consistent use, it can also help rebuild collagen.20

To try products with these ingredients, consider the following:

Retinol: CVS Health Refining Retinol Serum, LilyAna Naturals Retinol Cream o CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Face Serum.

Vitamina C: CeraVe Vitamin C Face Serum with Hyaluronic Acid and 10% Pure Vitamin C o La Roche-Posay Pure Vitamin C Face Serum with Salicylic Acid for Sensitive Skin.

Allantoin: A combination of allantoin and onion extract is available as a scar treatment gel21 en Mederma - Gel para cicatrices, fórmula avanzada.

Silicone: CVS Health - Suero para tratamiento diario de cicatrices, Mederma PM - Crema para cicatrices, intensiva, uso nocturno y ScarAway - Curitas de silicona para cicatrices.

Makeup for acne scars

An artful approach to makeup can also help conceal acne scars. A full coverage foundation, for example, can help. Two options recommended by the beauty experts at Byrdie are L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24 Hour Fresh Wear Foundation y Maybelline SuperStay Full Coverage Foundation.22

Before applying foundation, Dr. Yadav suggests using a primer that fills in fine lines and uneven texture to help with pitted scars.23

How to help avoid acne scars

The first step to avoid acne is to treat outbreaks in the manner that dermatologists recommend and use products that can help cleanse and support the skin.

Above all, Dr. Yadav says, "Keep your hands off your blemishes." Picking at acne will only push the pimple deeper into the skin, she explains, and the germs on fingers can cause an infection. People can also tear their skin when they try to pop a pimple with fingernails or a tool.24

Using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun-protection factor (SPF) of 30 or more every single day is also very important to prevent further hyperpigmentation of the scar, explains Dr. Shainhouse. Skin with more pigment will tan more easily and hold on to its color longer, so sun exposure will make scars even darker, and they will stay darker for longer. Minimize sun exposure and use sunscreen consistently.25

If inflammatory or cystic acne — a more serious form of acne — is the problem, it’s critical to see a board-certified dermatologist to get acne under control, according to Dr. Shainhouse.26 With proper treatment, acne can be prevented or controlled, and less acne means less scarring in the long run.

Este contenido es solo para fines informativos y no constituye un asesoramiento médico. Consult your health care provider before taking any vitamins or supplements and prior to beginning or changing any health care practices.

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