Acne breakouts can be frustrating, especially for those who are prone to scars. For people fighting acne and the unavoidable formation of scars, emerging out of it unscathed is a daily battle. The scars and pigmentation can linger for months, even years.
The good news is that acne scars can be managed. Here, we will look at some of them to determine their effectiveness.
Popular Home Remedies
Home remedies remain as one of the most popular treatment options because they are easily accessible and affordable.
- Vitamin C: Vitamin C is believed to brighten the skin and even out the skin tone. Hence, it is commonly used as a depigmentation agent for decreasing melanin formation. Lemon juice is a good source of Vitamin C, as a whole lemon provides 83mg of it. It also contains antioxidants, which helps to keep your skin tone even, resulting in a smoother appearance. Take a cotton pad, dip it in a glass of lemon juice and apply it on your scars.
- Grapeseed Extract: Grapeseed fruit has significant health benefits. One of them is its efficacy to lighten dark spots and even skin tone when applied as a topical treatment. It works well for clogged skin as well by regulating the build-up of oil in the skin pores. According to a research conducted, taking grape seed extract for six months was found to significantly lighten hyperpigmentation.
- Aloe Vera: There are thousands of advocates for aloe vera across the world, mainly for its positive impact for soothing skin and lightening dark spots. Hence, aloe vera is also a commonly used product for treating acne spots. While home remedies remain popular, the fact remains that most of these have little to no clinical support. The evidence is mostly anecdotal and hence, may be not as effective on different individuals.
Silicone Gels For Scars
One of the most effective remedies for treating acne scars are silicone gels and sheets.
Silicone has clinically proven to be not only effective for healing scars, but also in preventing
them.
How do they work?
The silicone forms a protective layer over the scar and keeps it moisturised and allows it to ‘breathe’. It protects the scarred tissue from bacterial invasion and prevents bacteria-induced excessive collagen production in the scar tissue. It also reduces itching and discomfort associated with scars.1 Although the gel forms a protective barrier, it has a porous surface. The tiny holes in the material allows the skin to breathe and speeds up the healing process.
What Type of Silicone Gel Should I Use?
Dermatix Acne Scar is a topical silicone gel formulation that has been proven to be effective in improving the appearance scars with reported improvements in skin texture and hyperpigmentation. This product has been created under the guidance of dermatological experts in Europe and combines silicone, vitamin E, antioxidants, ActivGCS beauty enhancers and nicotinamide.
It works to sooth and moisturise the skin while lightening dark marks and spots, and also provides a priming effect on the skin. Learn more about Dermatix Acne Scar and how it can help reduce your acne scarring.
Invasive Treatments
Invasive treatments are usually considered as a patient’s last resort, and might be required if the scars are extremely intense. Different kinds of invasive treatments are available in the market to treat acne scarring – lasers and microdermabrasion, micro-needling, and the like. While they can be effective, in most cases they are quite expensive as well.
Moreover, patients need to be sure about the expertise of the person who is going to perform the procedure. A lot of the success rate the depends on the experience and skill of the professional performing it. If the person lacks knowledge and expertise on using laser
treatments2 to treat scars, the result can even be dangerous.
Please note that these are treatments for acne scars, and not treating the acne itself. Therefore, only start these treatments after your acne inflammation has reduced. If you have been suffering from acne scarring issues for a long time, put a stop to the anguish and consult a dermatologist today. Getting expert advice can go a long way in overcoming the problem.