How to Make Acne Scars Fade

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

A good cleansing and treatment routine
Vigiliance & Patience
Vitamin E
Possibly some over-the-counter treatments
Sunscreen
For the worst scars, a trip to the dermatologist
Confidence

Step 1

Of course, you want to minimize the scars that are already there - but it's important not to develop any new scars. Prevention is important. Never pop any pimples: this is the major cause of scarring, because it forms scabs, which leads to further picking - and a scab that falls off before it is ready is what, ultimately, leads to the red lesion we recognize as an acne scar.
Step 2

How on earth, though, you might ask, can one leave them alone on one's face? One way to prevent milder breakouts is to invest in an over-the-counter anti-acne kit like ProAciv or Clean and Clear, both of which have been proven by studies to lessen breakouts. Frequent face-washing is NOT an option, since acne is not caused by dirt, and too much soap and water can dry out the skin, causing an overproduction of oils in the skin, making matters worse.
Step 3

The laser is hand-held, and looks a lot like a kitchen tool. Not scary.

Vitamin E - which you can get in any supermarket, or organic store - comes in tablets, which you can break open and use the liquid inside. That has been known to reduce scarring.
Step 4

If breakouts are severe, consider a visit to the dermatologist to obtain antibiotics or other prescriptions known to help. For the very worst scars, dermatologists can also use treatments like laser treatments, which excise the outer layer of skin (the patient will have a light anesthetic, like a cream, applied first.) These laser treatments can vary from strong, to lighter, with the lighter usually taking place three times over a period of months. The effect leaves the skin initially reddened, and the patient must be vigilant in caring for the skin afterward to guard against further infection while it heals.
Step 5

Some acne scars don't respond to lasers; they are too deep. In that case, the dermatologist will use tools to basically remove the scar, and let it heal into a nice, clean, nearly invisible line. This is called "punch excision" or "subcision" (Excision or subcision means to remove, like when a dentist removes a tooth, or a doctor "excises" a bad appendix.)
Step 6

Dermabrasion used to be popular, but is no longer the standard. Basically the procedure was to "sand" the skin of the face down, but now there is an alternative procedure called "microdermabrasion," which is much less invasive.
Step 7

Keloid scars are the most difficult to treat. They are scars that are raised or bumpy, usually pinkish, and they tend to happen (in acne cases) when pimples or pustules form in the same area over and over again. However, many advances have been made, even in the case of keloid scars, and cortisone and steroids have done wonders to reduce the swellings in keloid scarring.
Step 8

It is important to remember that your skin - although many people forget this - is one of your major organs, like your heart and your liver - even though it's on the outside of your body. Therefore, it is important to consult a physician - preferably a specialist, like a dermatologist - when something goes wrong, despite the fact there are many, many over-the-counter "recipes" for fixing what ails you. Better to get a recommendation from an expert for an over-the-counter treatment. There are so very many out there, your practitioner will be able to recommend the best one for you.
Step 9

Now you see it, now you don't.

It is also important to remember that everyone - including the most beautiful or handsome movie star or model you've ever seen in the media - has suffered acne. NO ONE escapes it. So you are NOT alone. Next time you are in a movie theater, or watching a close up on television, take a good look: you'll see where the heavy makeup has covered little bumps on the actor's faces.
Step 10

Don't be surprised if you never see a blemish in a magazine, though. There's tons of software to make everyone look absolutely, unrealistically perfect - enough to make the rest of us feel like every blemish, no matter how small, makes us freakish. Here's an example: I have a mole on my forehead. In the pictures here, side by side, you'll see that on the left, it's visible. On the right, i've used the same industry software that the magazines use to elongate the necks of supermodels (and make them look skinnier than they already are) to remove it.
Step 11

So keep in mind: your scarring may not be as bad as you think. If YOU feel good about yourself, others will see you as beautiful or handsome. Never forget, it's what's INSIDE that really counts. However, good health is very important, as well - so if your acne is troubling you, by all means, visit a doctor, because you want to prevent infection and future breakouts if you can. But truly, do keep in mind - it is very likely that YOU are your OWN worst critic.
Step 12

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Never forget: you are as beautiful as you feel. So feel confident, feel beautiful, and never forget it's good health and a good attitude, and plenty of confidence that really count.