First, a primer on what causes acne scars. Many acne scars are the result of picking pimples (and not a punishment for bad behavior in a past life). Whitney Johnson, Global Education Developer at The International Dermal Institute, says that popping zits and picking at your skin are guaranteed ways to get acne scars.
Instead of messing with a zit, apply acne treatments that contains salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide or sulfur. These ingredients will help to diminish the zit faster, giving you less time to even think about squeezing it.
We recommend: Kate Somerville DermalQuench Clear, $58, has micro-encapsulated salicylic acid that distributes throughout the day, along with hyaluronic acid to keep skin moisturized, so you don't wind up with flaky, irritated skin.
Good for: Skin prone to hyperpigmentation and redness
Most acne or pimple breakouts cause redness, and Johnson says that calming initial redness can help the pimple heal faster so you're less likely to end up with acne scars. She recommends looking for acne treatment products that feature ingredients that help with inflammation, like licorice, yeast, horse chestnut, green tea or oats.
Good for: When it's too late to stop yourself from picking
If you really couldn't help yourself from popping (no judgment) and you do end up with an acne scar, you need to fight it when it's fresh. Acne scar treatment begins with a mild exfoliant to help get rid of the scarred skin cells. The ingredients to look for: rice extract, salicylic acid or lactic acid. These will help skin cells turn over quickly, bringing fresh new skin to the surface.
Just make sure you don't go nuts with the exfoliating -- too much can irritate your skin and cause more pimples, the things you are trying to avoid in the first place.
Even if you have old acne scars from years ago, the fight isn't lost -- there are still acne scar treatments that can help you get a clear, even complexion. Dermatologists agree that exfoliating and brightening skin care products can help fade old red or brown spots.
Johnson recommends a lightly exfoliating ingredient like rice extract, a superstar spot-fader like vitamin C and a skin regenerator like vitamin A (found in over-the-counter retinol products) to help diminish acne scars. Board-certified dermatologist Ava Shamban, MD, recommends using all three together for best results.
Don't get us wrong -- the most effective way to treat deep acne scar depressions is in the doctor's office (more on that next), but you can help raise depressions and even out skin texture yourself with regular exfoliation. Use a gentle product, like a chemical exfoliator, so you don't further aggravate the scar. Chemical exfoliators include beta hydroxyl acids (BHAs) like salicylic acid and alpha hydroxyl acids (AHAs) like lactic, glycolic and citric acid. In the right concentration, these acids exfoliate just the right amount, meaning your skin is left glowing rather than peeling. If you aren't seeing a difference after exfoliating once a day for several weeks, another option is an in-office dermatologist treatment.
Wondering how to get rid of acne scars? We feel you, girl. Though the lifespan of a pimple is usually about three days, acne scars can last for weeks, months -- or even years. The good news is that there are acne scar treatments and skin-care technologies that can obliterate hyperpigmentation and retexturize skin to make acne scars a thing of the past.
Whether you're interested in how to prevent a pimple from scarring in the first place or the best acne products, we're filling you in on how to get rid of the annoying remnants of past breakouts and pimples.
We chatted with skin care experts to find out the newest treatments for acne scars, so you can finally get the clear skin you've always wished for. They filled us in on the ingredients that will diminish acne scars and the treatments that will zap them away. Plus, M.A.C. makeup artist John Stapleton shared his tips about how to hide acne scars as you wait for these acne scar treatments to kick in.
