How to Remove Acne Scars

There are a number of acne scar treatment options available.

Acne is a common skin condition that causes pimples or cysts on the skin. It affects most people, especially during adolescence. For some people, acne can cause permanent scarring. The scars are caused by damage to the skin's collagen from the inflammation caused by breakouts. Depending on the severity of the scarring, there are a number of treatment options available.

Instructions

1. Wash your face twice daily in the morning and at night. Use a gentle facial cleanser, light oil-free moisturizer and an over-the-counter acne treatment cream.

2. Exfoliate the skin or use a cleansing mud mask to help treat and prevent breakouts. Do this once a week.

3. Eat healthy foods and take a daily multivitamin to help improve your skin's condition.

4. Purchase over-the-counter creams, gels or liquids with ingredients such as hydroxy acid, benzoil peroxide, helpenzoyl peroxide, resorcinol, salicylic acid, sulfur or lactic acid. These can help slough off old skin cells, promoting the growth of new skin. However, common side effects of these products include itching, redness and peeling.

5. Apply lemon juice, baking soda, olive oil or lavender oil to your scars to reduce their redness.

6. Consult a dermatologist or esthetician for treatment of your acne scars, particularly if you have deep or dark scarring. A doctor will have access to more powerful topical creams, antibiotics or oral medications for more severe or older acne scars. Common acne scar medications are products containing Retin-A, silicone, adapalene and tazarotene. Your doctor may prescribe oral medications such as birth control to balance hormones or more powerful medications, such as Accutane.

7. Try treatments such as microdermabrasion, chemical peels, laser treatments and collagen injections for deep scars. Microdermabrasion removes the top layer of the skin by rubbing tiny crystals on it to erode it. Chemical peels use acid to peel off the top layers of your skin. Laser treatments target bacteria found in the oil glands deep within the skin. Collagen injections are used as "fillers" to plump up depressed scars. Redness, swelling and inflammation are common side effects of these treatments.

References

• Acne.org: Acne Scar Treatments
• DermaDoctor: Acne Scars