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Dealing with Acne Scars

There is a lot to say about scarring, but let's start right off with a dose of reality:

For deep acne scars, there is no non-surgical solution

No matter what some random "miracle cure" product on the internet might tell you, no cream, medication, scrub, mask or supplement is going to repair a deep crater in your skin. This might be hard to hear, but it's a fact. Severe acne scarring can only be dealt with by means of surgery.

That's why it's especially important to prevent scars before they happen

For shallow scars, there are treatment options

Assuming you've managed to avoid severe scarring, you may have some hope with traditional treatments. Most shallow scars will eventually heal on their own, but there are several steps you can take to speed the healing process.

As with any wound, you'll want to keep the area disinfected. That means practicing proper hygiene and using a good quality cleanser to prevent infection. An antibiotic gel like Neosporin can also be helpful for this, as well as for reducing inflammation. Just take care not to overuse a product like Neosporin for an extended period of time. Strong antibiotics will kill the good bacteria was well as the bad bacteria, and your skin may build up a resistance, leaving you more susceptible to infection in the long term.

Taking the right natural supplements can also help speed your healing from acne scars. Vitamin C, for instance, plays a vital role in the repair and growth of your skin tissue, and vitamin B5 enhances your blood circulation and helps redness and swelling fade faster. In fact, combining these two vitamins is one of the best ways to promote faster wound healing, so much so that some hospitals recommend that patients take them following surgery.

Lastly, exfoliation can also reduce the appearance of acne scars, helping your skin to even-out by shedding your top layer of dead skin cells. There are many options for exfoliation, some more serious than others. The chemicals salicylic acid and glycolic acid are frequently used in lotions to serve this purpose, as they effectively burn off your exterior dead cells, causing that layer of skin to peel away. An exfoliating scrub is another option that gives you a bit more hands-on control. These typically contain granular particles that scrape away dead skin cells as you massage them into your face. If you see a dermatologist, they may recommend a procedure such as laser resurfacing or microdermabrasion to precisely exfoliate patches of your skin.

Recognizing the types of acne scars

So if your acne is flaring up, remember to keep a cool head and not do anything rash that could leave you with lasting scars. Of course, it certainly helps if you can find a reliable treatment that will prevent you from breaking out in the first place, but if you do find yourself with any serious scarring, it's best to see a dermatologist who can evaluate your skin and help you choose the most effective solution.