From dealing with painful breakouts to dealing with acne marks and scars, managing acne can be demoralizing and difficult. Luckily, there are a plethora of cosmetic options that promise to not only treat breakouts but also clear acne scars for good. Here's all you need to know about how to get rid of acne scars and achieve that flawless look you’ve always admired.

What causes acne scars?

When people ask what causes acne scars, the only right answer is acne itself. Without acne, there would be no scars or marks. When you experience breakouts, the skin begins healing, and sometimes it leaves a sign behind. Acne scars are more likely to occur if you have cystic acne, which causes intense inflammation. Deep acne breakouts cause acne scars, although this does not negate the fact that whiteheads and blackheads can also cause acne scarring.

Types of acne scars

Since there are different types of acne breakouts, there are also different types of acne scars, and you could suffer from one or more of them:

Keloid Scars: Keloid scars happen when there is an excess buildup of collagen, leaving a bump of skin tissues. Sometimes keloid scars can hurt or even feel itchy.

Atrophic Scars: Atrophic scars are deep ridges or depressions caused by little production of collagen during healing. There are different variations of atrophic scars and they are rolling scars and boxcar scars.

Acne marks vs. acne scars

The results of acne breakouts can either be acne marks and/or acne scars. Yet, both skin conditions are often used interchangeably, especially when they mean different things. A common way to compare acne marks vs acne scars is to observe them intently.

Acne marks are often called dark spots or hyperpigmentation, and they are a result of inflammation. They arise when the skin sends white blood cells to increase the flow of blood and inflame the poked or pinched pimple. However, the arrival of white blood cells accompanies melanocytes, a compound that produces melanin and darkens the skin.

On the other hand, acne scars are due to the body's inability to properly heal inflamed skin. When you pick acne, the body's platelets seal them to stop bleeding and therefore attach to them to secrete collagen and additional healing compounds. The body may sometimes secrete more of the required amount of collagen to cause keloid scars or secrete little to cause atrophic scars.

In addition, both skin conditions are treated differently. Acne marks are usually treated with melanocyte-reducing compounds like azelaic acid, hydroquinone, or retinol. While acne scar treatment includes laser therapy or high-trichloroacetic acids.

How to prevent acne scars

A good way to manage acne scars is to prevent them from happening in the first place. Acne scars are hard to treat, so it's essential to adhere to the following simple methods on how to prevent acne scars:

Don’t pop pimples

If you are fond of picking or popping your pimples, you are at risk of having acne scars. When you pick your pimples without the right or sterile pimple-popping equipment, you introduce sebum, bacteria, and other dirt from your nail beds onto the open wound. The introduction of foreign contaminants can cause scarring and delay healing.

Wear sunscreen

Sunscreens are important skincare products that every skincare enthusiast must have. It protects your skin against harmful UV rays and also protects your breakouts from scarring. An SPF of 30 or more provides coverage for at least 2 hours.

Hydrating and moisturizing

To promote healing and prevent scarring, you must hydrate and moisturize your skin to keep it healthy. Acne-prone skin should avoid alcohol-based products that dry out the skin and choose water-based cleansers and moisturizers like Dermaclara Hyaluronic acid Moisturizer and Dermaclara Claraprep Cleanser respectively.

Treat your breakouts

While the body is designed to heal acne breakouts, treating them with the right products can speed up your healing and also prevent future breakouts. Use products that contain either benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or azelaic acid.

How to Get Rid of Acne Scars

If you are looking for ways to get rid of acne scars quickly, there are numerous treatment options you can choose from. Thus, you should choose the right treatment option for your acne scar. If you want to know how to get rid of acne scars fast, consider the following treatment options:

Laser treatment for acne scars

If you want to know how to get rid of red acne scars, try laser therapy. Ablative laser resurfacing, a type of laser therapy is one of the best treatment for acne scars. Laser treatment for acne scars yields positive results in little time as long as you adhere to the after-care processes like proper hydration and the use of sunscreen to prevent photodamage.

Microneedling for acne scars

This is another face treatment used to treat scars and wrinkles on the face. Microneedling for acne scars involves using tiny, sterile needles to make multiple indents on the skin repeatedly to increase collagen production and also elastin fibers, which smooth and tone the skin. The results may vary from person to person, and the scars can either be mild or moderate. You may need multiple sessions to achieve your desired results, and healing can take up to 6 months.

Chemical peel for acne scars

Chemical peels are also great for acne scars, especially deep atrophic acne scars on the skin. The healthcare provider will apply spe8 chemicals that slowly peel the topmost layer of the skin to reveal new and flawless skin. Chemical peel for acne scars only work for atrophic or deeply indented scars, so choose alternative treatment options for hypertrophic scars.

Retinol for acne scars

Retinol treats a wide range of skin conditions, but does retinol help with acne scars? Well, Retinol can also treat acne scars the same way it treats fine lines and wrinkles. However, retinols are only effective for less severe acne scars.

Niacinamide for acne scars

Since retinol treats acne scars, does niacinamide help with acne scars too? Like retinol, niacinamide can manage acne scars by concealing the texture and tone. This water-soluble nutrient also promotes collagen production to fill up depressions.

Derma roller for acne scars

Derma roller for acne scars employ the same mechanism as microneedling. Both procedures use sterile, tiny needles to go over the acne scars repeatedly to break down excess skin debris on the surface and to also boost collagen production.

How long does it take for acne scars to fade?

Many skin enthusiasts with acne scars often ask questions like “How long does it take for acne scars to fade?” If you want to know how long it takes for acne scars to fade, you must take into account the severity of your scars and your choice of treatment. The average healing period for acne scars can range from 2 months to 12 months.

How to remove acne scars naturally

Healing acne scars is relatively easy if you want to know how to remove acne scars naturally in the comfort of your home. Although the potency of this choice of products is yet to be approved, there have been positive reviews. You can use the following products if you want to know how to remove acne scars naturally in a week:

• Diluted apple cider vinegar
• Turmeric powder
• Coconut and tea tree oil
• Manuka honey
• Acupuncture