How to help get rid of acne scars

Acne can happen to anyone. It's a regular part of adolescence, affecting around 85 percent of people between ages 12 and 24, and it sometimes pops up again during pregnancy. In fact, up to 15 percent of women experience acne as an adult. Breakouts can also happen when life gets stressful or when a new medication is in the mix. So while acne may be annoying, it’s not unusual — at all. (For the purposes of this article, “women” and “men” refer to biological sex.)

The proper treatment and products can help keep breakouts to a minimum, but acne scars may still occur. 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).

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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 people who get acne scars get this type of scaring. These types of scars come in a few varieties and can leave a pitted type of appearance:
  • Ice pick scars. These are the most common acne scars. They look small but can go deep into the skin.
  • Rolling scars. This type of scar is shallow and wide and may make the skin look uneven and wavy.
  • Boxcar scars. These scars usually look like round or oval dents in the skin. They are typically wider than ice pick scars, but not as wide as rolling scars.
• Hypertrophic scars. This is a firmer raised scar that build up over time. Someone may see these on the jawline or on someone's chest or back.
• Keloids. Keloids may resemble hypertrophic scars, because they are both raised types of scars. They can grow larger than the original acne site. 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. "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.

Do acne scars go away?

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.

“However, if you have severe scarring, especially pitted or keloid scars, you will need in-office treatment to improve their appearance,” says Dr. Yadav. 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 over-the-counter (OTC) acne scar treatment may be worth a try. Some can help reduce the appearance of acne scars and improve skin’s texture and evenness.

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."

Retinoid (which includes retinol products) should be avoided during pregnancy. OTC topical retinol use can be considered with caution by breastfeeding parents, but that it's best to ask a health care provider before starting a retinol skin care regimen.

To try products with retinol, consider CVS Health refining retinol serum o CeraVe resurfacing retinol face serum.

Makeup for covering 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 lightweight foundation
• Milani Conceal + Perfect 2 in 1 foundation and concealer

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

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 hands off 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.

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.

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. 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. Consulte con su proveedor de servicios de salud antes de tomar alguna vitamina o suplemento y antes de comenzar o cambiar alguna práctica relacionada con el cuidado de su salud.