What are acne scars and how to treat them at home?

For those us who have suffered from acne we are all aware of the frustration and problems that come with acne. But once the acne problem has gone away many of us are left with acne scars. There are a number of ways to treat acne scars, but you must make sure that the acne problem has completely gone away since a new breakout can lead to new scars.

Let’s take a deeper look and see what really acne scars are. Acne scars occur and are formed when an acne breakout has been able to penetrate deep into your skin and has caused damage to the tissues below your skin. Also, another important fact that you must note is that  acne scars come in different forms and before treating them you must know the type of acne scar you have to treat it properly.

Acne scars may come in the form of Atrophic scars which are the most common type. These scars are formed when during the healing phase not enough collagen is formed. Atrophic scars can come in three forms: Boxcar, Ice pick and Rolling.

The other form of acne scar is the hypertrophic scars and are mostly found in acne that appears on the chest and back. They are formed by too much collagen during the healing process and stand above the surface of the surrounding skin.

Please note that dark spots are not scars. Many people who have had pimples are left with a mark that can be purple, red or brown and it is not a scar. This mark will gradually over several months go away on their own.

Now that we have defied what acne scars are and their different types let’s investigate how to treat them at home. It is strongly advised that you visit a dermatologist before starting any acne scar treatment! By doing this the best method of treatment can be identified.

At home treatments may include the use of Alpha hydroxy acids also known as (AHAs) which are commonly found in products that are used to treat acne. AHAs are great since they prevent clogged pores and help to remove dead skin.

Another home treatment can be done by using Lactic Acid. You can find many creams, serums and face masks that have lactic acid to help treat acne scars.

In addition, the importance of using sunscreen as we have mentioned in numerous previous blogs is again important when it comes to treating acne scars! By using sunscreen over the scars, you prevent the sun making the scars darker and more noticeable.