It is extremely rare for acne to go away without leaving telltale signs in the form of scars. It’s as if you had not suffered enough with the acne, now you have to put up with scars as well. And to make matters even worse, those scars seem to have taken up permanent residency on your skin and will not go away. The frustration is understandable and it is utterly unfair but it is what it is.
Before the subject at hand, how to get rid of old acne scars, is approached, there should be some understanding about the composition of skin. Skin is comprised of three major layers; the deepest layer is the hypodermis, the middle layer is the dermis and the outer layer which the one affected by acne scars is the epidermis. The epidermis consists of four sub-layers and skin has the marvelous property of continual self rejuvenation by rotating these sub-layers. As the uppermost layer of the epidermis ages, its cells fall away and the layer beneath it now becomes the outer layer even as a new layer is forming deeper within. This is the natural exfoliation process of healthy skin. Assuming that there are no obstructions such as excess access oil or dead skin cells, any scars or blemishes that affected only the uppermost layer will fall away with the rest of the skin cells.
Medical Procedures To Remove Acne Scars
Acne scars that penetrate deeper and affect several layers of the epidermis will naturally take longer and sometime when the scars are very deep, they will not go away and will eventually becomes old acne scars. However, all hope is not lost because the following is a list of ways to get rid of old as well as new acne scars.
The subsequent two procedures require trained medical personnel:
Microdermabrasion – This treatment is most effective for shallow scars rather than the very deep ones. It involves scraping off the outer most layers of the skin with a device that uses abrasive crystals to expose a new unscarred layer. This procedure must be performed in a medical facility.
Chemical Peel – This treatment is more effective for deeper scars and it involves chemical application that causes the top layers of the skin to peel off and expose fresh smooth skin from beneath. There are many different types of chemical peel treatments and you should consult your dermatologist to determine which is most appropriate for your particular skin condition. In some cases these treatments can be administered at home while in other cases medical facilities are required.
Home Remedies For Acne Scars
Home remedies can be just as effective while being less evasive and less costly. There is no way of knowing which will work for whose skin and which will not. Therefore, several of the following mixtures may have to be tried before finding the one that works like magic:
Honey and Pearl Powder – This is useful for active acne but will also expedite the rejuvenation process of your skin and therefore expose smoother skin quicker. Apply it for fifteen minutes once a week.
Lemon Juice – Lemon juice will lighten the dark spots left by acne and pimples. Wash your face thoroughly and apply a cotton ball soaked in pure lemon juice to the scared area. Leave it on for ten minutes and rinse off with lukewarm water.
Tea Tree Oil – This will help rid your old and new acne scars and will also work effectively to prevent future scars from appearing.
Pureed Fruit – Fruit such as pineapple or apple contain ascorbic acid that fades old scars and exfoliates the skin. Puree them, apply to affected areas and leave on for twenty minutes before rinsing off.
Vitamin E – Apply pure vitamin E to your scars about three or four time a day and you should see results within two weeks.
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November 29th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Acne has left me with a few scars so I’m gonna give a few of your suggestions a go!
February 23rd, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Do you know the difference? How can you reduce acne scars? How can you fade acne marks?
May 29th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
When my father died and left me a substantial sum of money, I finally had the means by which to address my old acne scars. I was thrilled. I went to several doctors, and had countless treatments performed. I bought the best products. After 11 years of being able to afford what I wanted, there was not the slightest change in my skin. Not the slightest,
Face it – pardon the pun. Some of us are destined to walk through life with moth-eaten faces.
June 7th, 2009 at 8:41 am
The lemon juice worked best. Luck to you all:)
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:43 pm
are there any fast effects, like probably 3 days and the acne scars will fade. cause i’m having an important event and i dont wanna use make up to cover it……. so is there anny fast and natural methods?
November 10th, 2009 at 3:42 am
I began using the Dr Max Powers “Stretch Mark Treatment” every single day about two months ago and it works WONDERS. First you can use it for stretch marks and you can use it for scars and to moisturize your face and neck, ladies!
You must follow the instructions even though they are pretty simple. If I am using this for acne scars, skin discolorations (sun exposure), uneven skin tone I apply either over makeup (may not be recommended as this could remove your makeup)and on a freshly washed face.
I use the lengths of my fingers not fingertips since they produce the oils that could cause you breakouts from YES touching your face. I rub into the affected area or scar (even works on cystic acne scars) atleast two to three times a day when I am able to. But if not I do this at night before going to bed. Be patient and wait one to two weeks before you notice a big difference as the scar gets lighter your face appears to be glowing and skin discolorations slowly fade.
Keep on it atleast everyday. I thought it was only for men who workout – based on the way the product looks, but I am glad I bought this and one bottle lasted me over two months and I used it everyday! Give this product a try, be patient, follow the directions and you will not be disappointed.
April 30th, 2010 at 5:05 am
Guys, I have moderate-severe acne and more critically, it’s the red-brown spots left overs which create more stress. I have personally tried Vitamin E (Evion 400/600) tabs orally and applying them directly onto the affected areas afetr exfoliating. It has drastically reduced the appearence of spots and acne has come down too. I have an oil skin but still one/two breakouts are ok, since vitamin E is oily. Try massaging the oil directly onto skin and then after 1 min take few drops on water and massage gently. the oil will get absorbed by the water. Use a medicated soap like aCne-AID. It helps too. drink water and green tea. No fried stuff and cover face with scarf while driving. Regular use of vitamin e will help greatly!
April 30th, 2010 at 5:09 am
vitamin E is fantastic on scars too. always remember, whatever you use, be regular and consistent with it. all products show results with time and patience. No smoking. Tea tree oil (which I just got from Body Shop0 is equally good, but work on the marks which are left. DO NOT PRICK! exfoliate with gel.
March 20th, 2011 at 4:17 am
i’ll try the home remedies recommended, i pray they work. I’m so embarrassed with these old scars on my legs!
August 2nd, 2011 at 4:39 am
I have these dark brown spots on my face, due to popping my pipples. I should have listened to my mom! And now I’m about to start high school. I need this acne scars gone A.S.A.P!! I sure do hope these home-remedies work!
August 2nd, 2011 at 4:42 am
Best of luck to everyone with their ance scar problems!:)