If you’ve dealt with acne at any point in your life, there’s a strong chance you’ve experienced acne scars too. While acne is temporary, acne scars can be permanent, or can often last for a very long time. Acne scars can last for years and are a serious pain to deal with, but rest assured that any type of scar is part of your body’s natural healing process. If you want to know how to get rid of acne scars, we’re letting you in on the best products and remedies to get your skin back.
Acne scars can lead to self consciousness and prevent you from leaving your house sans makeup. They’re tricky to cover up with concealer and even trickier to get rid of. But banishing acne scars isn’t impossible. In fact, you can get rid of acne scars with products in your cupboard!
What Causes Acne Scars?
Acne scars are often caused by an inflamed lesion such as a papule, pustule or cyst. Lesions become inflamed when the follicle or pore becomes filled with excess oil, dead skin cells and bacteria. The pore eventually swells, causing a break in the follicle wall.
Scarring happens when this break is deep and the infected material spills out into the dermis and destroys healthy skin tissue. To repair the dermis, the skin forms new collagen fibres, which we’ve come to know as scars. The more inflammation there is, the more scarring will occur.
Blackheads and white heads rarely result in scarring because they don’t injure skin tissue, but deeper breakouts and inflammatory acne like cysts and nodules can increase the risk of scarring. You’re also more prone to acne scars if you touch or pick your acne. Picking causes trauma to the skin that is more likely to result in scarring and prolong the healing process.
5 Natural Remedies for Acne Scars
1. Honey
Honey isn’t just a sweetener for your tea or toast, it’s also one of the best natural remedies for acne scars. Honey is known to increase the rate of healing as well as reduce the potential for scarring. One of the enzymes in honey contains hydrogen peroxide, which has amazing antibacterial properties that can vanish scars and dark marks. Honey also prevents more acne by fighting infections that could lead to pimples.
2. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is one of your skin’s favourite natural products, and that goes for treating acne scars as well. It’s packed with antioxidants and vitamins K and E that not only repair your skin, but promote the growth of healthy skin tissues. Its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties can prevent the growth of new acne lesions, and the fatty acids help maintain moisture and keep skin smooth.
3. Black Seed Oil
Black seed oil has antibacterial and anti-viral properties, plus it’s anti-inflammatory. It reduces inflammation, aiding in scar reduction, and it speeds up wound healing. It can also even out pigmentation, helping your scarred skin get back to normal!
4. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has anti-inflammatory properties that reduce inflammation and reddening of acne scars, helping them fade. It also has antimicrobial properties that help keep acne at bay, preventing future breakouts. Note that since apple cider vinegar is highly acidic, you should dilute it before applying it to your skin. Use water, coconut oil or aloe vera to dilute the ACV and make sure your skin comes out moisturized and feeling great!
5. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is amazing for scarred skin. It contains polysaccharides and gibberellins that enhance the skin’s healing so your complexion can get back to normal. It also contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that promote the repair of damaged skin. It will help fade post-inflammatory hyper pigmentation due to its compound aloin, which helps to lighten dark areas on the skin.
5 Best Skin Care Products to Fade Acne Scars
1. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
This product is magic! Niacinamide (also known as vitamin B3) reduces the appearance of skin blemishes and congestion, while zinc balances sebum activity and minimizes pores. It’s known and loved for reducing acne scars and the redness that comes with them.
2. SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic
Made with vitamin C and E ferulic acid, this combination stimulates collagen production and diminishes the appearance of blemishes. Vitamin C is able to resurface dead skin cells faster and decrease pigments left by acne marks. And as an added plus, it helps protect against damaging UVA/UBA rays, which can be extremely damaging to your skin and make acne scars darker!
3. Paula’s Choice Triple-Action Dark Spot Eraser 7% AHA Lotion
This product contains glycolic acid and hydroquinone, a lightening agent that improves the appearance of skin discolourations, while refining and hydrating the surface of the skin. It improves the appearance of dark spots, exfoliates dead skin cells and promotes luminous skin. Use it day and night and watch the transformation happen right in front of your eyes!
4. Origins Super Spot Remover Acne Treatment Gel
This blemish fighting formula contains 1.5% salicylic acid, which helps eliminate excess oil that can lead to breakouts. It also helps banish and correct discolouration. It’s an acne spot remover that fights, fades and prevents future blemishes for flawless looking skin.
5. DERMA E Scar Gel
Formulated with botanical extracts, this gel helps soften and smooth the skin, and diminish the appearance of scars. It encourages healthy skin with enriched ingredients, such as allantoin, that deeply conditions the skin to diminish scars and dark marks.
If you’ve been struggling with getting rid of acne scars, try these skin care products and natural remedies to banish them once and for all!
