You Thought Acne Was Bad? Avoid Acne Scars When You Can!
by Lorena Jimenez on Jan 17, 2019
Acne Scar Removal Methods
Acne scar laser treatments are up to this day one of the best solutions to eliminate acne scars and pigmentation in the most professional way. However, laser is expensive and sometimes requires numerous sessions and time to heal, so I understand that for many, this is not their number one option.[video width="900" height="476" mp4="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0610/7719/2884/files/You-Thought-Acne-Was-Bad-Avoid-Acne-Scars-When-You-Can-Insert-Video-2.mp4"][/video]BUT, no need for despair! Laser treatment is not the only way out to acne scars. A good acne scar treatment at home is the next best thing you can do. Nowadays there are many good products that can help you minimize and even eliminate a big part of any possible scarring that you might have. All you need to do is to choose and use the right products for your specific needs.In order to build the best acne scar treatment for your specific case, it is important that you understand the difference between three main concepts: Acne scars, pigmentation, and blemishes. Since those three terms even when slightly related are separate issues that require specific treatments. Let's start by saying that the main difference in between these three probably lays in how they form. So let's get some background info on them:[video width="900" height="476" mp4="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0610/7719/2884/files/You-Thought-Acne-Was-Bad-Avoid-Acne-Scars-When-You-Can-Insert-Video-3.mp4"][/video]A. Blemishes
We first have blemishes, some of the most common forms being:• Moles• Acne• Eczema• Sunspots• Blackheads• Open injuries• Even pigmentation among others can be considered a form of blemish.B. Pigmentation
Pigmentation in both of its varieties, hypo or hyper. One being blemishes or areas of a lighter color and the other one being darker than the own skin tone, can also appear as a result of acne scarring when the scarring ends up affecting the melanin production.Pigmentation has also many other causes from sun, to medication or even pregnancy, but basically, the main difference is that the discoloration from pigmentation comes from the melanin production. Meaning it usually comes from a cellular level.C. Acne Scars
Whereas acne scars are the effect off blemishes that due to lack of the proper treatment or their improper manipulation, have left a dent or mark on the skin.There are many types of scarring that can occur due to acne but some of the most common types are:• Icepick scars• Keloids scars• Boxcar scars• Rolling scars• And hyper-pigmentationIf you want to know more about the specific types of scars and how to help treat them, here you have an in-depth video about this part of the subject.Acne Scar Treatment
As you have seen all the previous terms are related, but at the same time, they are all different. Blemishes can cause both pigmentation and scarring, but not all pigmentation is scaring and not all scaring is pigmentation. And pigmentation and scaring do not always have to come forcefully from blemishes.But do not worry because, being blemishes a common denominator, proper blemish treatment, and prevention, will significantly reduce the possibilities of developing acne scars and pigmentation.How to Get Rid of Acne Scars?
In order to provide the perfect acne scar treatment, first, you need to pinpoint where the acne scars are coming from to treat them properly. But here are some of the best things you can do to avoid, and treat them, to achieve proper acne scar removal results.1. Avoid and Treat Blemishes Properly
This will help minimize the possibilities of developing scars and hyper-pigmentation. This does not only mean to treat your face well before but also during and after the blemishes are there.• Create a routine suited to your skin needs in order to prevent them on the daily.• If blemishes arise, the way to avoid more damage during this stage is to try not to touch them and work on treating the blemish properly instead.• The way to avoid blemishes after the pimple is fading is to address the skin with ingredients and methods that will help the skin recoverA good routine is very important because as you will be able to see on this video, applying regenerating ingredients will not highly minimize the appearance of the current scars and hyper-pigmentation but also prevent many new ones from forming.2. Give Proper Treatment to the Current Scarring
As we already went through there are many types of scars that you could develop. If the scars happen to affect your texture, along with the regenerating ingredients used on the previous step (like Centella Asiatica), you might want to also search for highly moisturizing ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E or Allatoin.These ingredients will plump up your skin to help minimize the appearance of those scars and if you use them together with ingredients that target pigmentation, the treatment will be double as effective. Niacinamide or some types of acids can help with that, by minimizing the melanin production, brightening the skin and helping exfoliate the outer layers of skin.The Top Star:
If you want to help the hyper-pigmentation while boosting the collagen production, a good dose of Vitamin C can help you reduce both the texture and discoloration of acne scars while also providing a slight exfoliation. Using a combo of mixtures like vitamin C and E together will be one of the best acne scar treatments you can get for your skin since both vitamins maximize each other´s effects.Be Aware:
• Remember to not mix Vitamin C with other strong actives.• To stick to a dosage that suits your skin type, up to 5% for sensitive skin types or more for a more resilient skin.• To add the active ingredients slowly if your skin is sensitive or is not used to those actives yet.• To always wear sunscreen when you are using any types of actives.“So the three key points to give proper treatment to scarring are to regenerate, to hydrate and to treat.”3. Avoid Sun Damage at All Costs:
Along with all the other prevention steps, preventing sun damage is another huge way to avoid skin scarring and hyper-pigmentation. As I already mentioned many times before, you should always do proper sun care, especially if you are going to be using Vitamin C.I know that finding the right sunscreen that does not trigger skin is tricky but make sure you use a sunscreen that fits your skin type. Especially if your skin is sensitive.“Choose products light enough to not clog the pores while being strong enough to protect the skin.”
As an example, this is what one of you Wishtrenders Kjellah A** had to say about the Soft Airy UV Essence :"My skin is extremely sensitive to products with SPF, with my face often breaking out in spotty and itchy rashes in some areas when the product is spent (i.e. the time just before needing to reapply). I'm grateful for a SPF product that isn't a cushion (I've only found ONE that I don't react to) and that doesn't break me out. It absorbs very quickly with no sticky residue."My recommendation is then, that just as Kjellah did, try to go for sun care with similar qualities. Sunscreens that fit your specific skin type and necessities.If you are still indecisive about what kind of sunscreens could potentially work for you, here you have a video going through some options:Well guys that was all, but if you are suffering from teen acne or if you want to get extra tips to avoid acne scars and pigmentation you can read more about those subjects on these articles.“You are beautiful already, scaring or not”
Lastly, I want to tell you that if you are struggling with any of these skin conditions, do not despair, slowly incorporating these habits will make a big difference in your skin, but on the meantime just remember that you are more, much more than just your skin. You are more than beautiful already, scaring or not. So keep your head up hun and have a beautiful day!