The Ultimate Guide to Preventing Acne Scars

Without a doubt one of the most common skin issues that we spot everywhere everyday is acne scars, and 90% of the people don’t even understand what they are, what causes them, what triggers them to worsen, and how to prevent acne scars. Well, just like any other skin concern, every skin is different and takes their time to recover according to the skin type, texture and other conditions.

So, what you first have to do is to understand your skin type so you know which kind of skincare ingredients and products you can use on your skin. Secondly, look for products which are specifically for acne-prone skin and use them until you feel the decrease of acne appearance on your skin. Lastly, don’t get tired and hopeless if you don't get desired results in a few uses, remember that these kinds of skin problems take a lot of time and patience sometimes.

While one more thing you can do to help lessen acne is to create a healthy eating routine and take care of what you put in, as it highly affects your skin. So, It is recommended to cut down on junk and start eating your greens, fruits, hydrating drinks, and anything that’s healthy for skin and body.

Types Of Acne Scars

Before getting into the details of how to prevent acne scars, it is important to understand which kind of acne you have as there are various kinds of acne out there and all of them have different appearance and treatments. So, let’s get right into it and have a quick overview of types of acne scars.

• Ice Pick Scars: These are deep, narrow scars that resemble small puncture marks on the skin.
• Boxcar Scars: Characterized by broad, rectangular depressions with defined edges, boxcar scars give the skin a crater-like appearance.
• Rolling Scars: These scars create a wave-like texture on the skin due to fibrous bands pulling the epidermis downward.
• Hypertrophic Scars: Raised and firm, hypertrophic scars result from an overproduction of collagen during the healing process.

How To Prevent Acne Scars For Good

Now that you know what kind of acne scars there are, what are you facing with, let me tell you how to get rid of acne scars with simple steps and skincare.

Be Gentle

How many times should I say this? Even a million times won’t be enough. Whenever someone asks me for skincare advice or discusses a skin concern I always say the first thing: please be gentle with your skin! I have seen a lot of people roughly rubbing and excessive motions while they are cleansing their face or exfoliating (please stop this). What you should do is to be gentle and keep your movements slow and soft especially when you are exfoliating as the exfoliants have harsh and scrubbing particles which can instantly irritate your skin when rubbed roughly.

Instant Treatments

Promptly treating acne is the first step in preventing scars. Avoid picking, squeezing, or popping pimples, as this can worsen inflammation and increase the risk of scarring. Instead, use gentle cleansers, spot treatments, and non-comedogenic moisturizers to manage acne.

Helpful Skincare Ingredients

Incorporate skincare products that promote skin healing and reduce inflammation. Look for ingredients such as:

• Salicylic Acid: Helps unclog pores and reduce inflammation.
• Glycolic Acid: Promotes exfoliation and collagen production.
• Vitamin C: Fades hyperpigmentation and supports collagen synthesis.
• Retinoids: Stimulate cell turnover and reduce the appearance of scars.

SPF

I cannot stress this enough how many people still skip SPF in their daily skincare routine. If you truly understand how much sunscreen is important in a routine to protect your skin from UV rays which ends up damaging your skin and leaving you with acne scars and other skin issues. What I will suggest to you is to apply SPF every morning after your moisturizer (going out or not). And if you are out and constantly in the sun don’t forget to reapply the sunscreen every now and then and use a 30 SPF or above to get better results.

Professional Treatments

If you're prone to severe acne or scarring, consult with a dermatologist. They can provide personalized advice, prescribe medication if necessary, and recommend appropriate treatments based on your skin type and condition.

Until the time you aren’t getting any appointment from your personal dermatologist, Let me suggest to you some of the most preferred professional treatments for acne scars by dermatologists. Derms mostly suggest chemical peels which helps in exfoliating your skin that helps in instant promotion of cell turnover and it helps your skin health getting better with a few sessions only. Another great option is Laser therapy which instantly targets acne scars and helps with collagen production which gives you supple and luscious skin. Last one we have is Microneedling which we have heard a lot about, also it promotes collagen synthesis by creating mini injuries around the affected areas and they heal real quick without a lot of pain.

Conclusion

Getting rid of acne scars takes a lot of time, effort, skincare, and patience to stay put throughout the process. Like I said every skin is different and requires different treatments and the same goes for acne scars as well, out of three acne scar types you need to understand what type you have and then you can opt for these tips and treatments to minimize the appearance of acne scars.