Getting Rid of Acne Scars and Marks
Acne can really make your life miserable. Severe acne or breakouts can lower your self-esteem and make you feel ashamed of your appearance, besides the obvious discomfort of having inflamed and irritated skin. Even if you do manage to successfully clear your breakouts, many acne sufferers have to suffer with the aftermath of acne, namely scars and dark marks. Fortunately, there are ways to get rid of these scars and marks, or to at least make minimize their appearance. Read on to learn more:
Microneedling
Microneedling is a procedure in which tiny needles are used to prick the skin. This helps your skin to generate new collagen and skin tissue for a firmer, smoother and more toned appearance. It is mostly used on the face and is an effective treatment for various scars, wrinkles and large pores. Coastal Skin Solutions in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina offers this treatment for patients who have managed to clear their acne and now desire smoother and tighter skin.
The thought of hundreds of tiny little needles pricking your skin may not sound very appealing, but thanks to their state of the art equipment and techniques, Coastal Skin Solutions’ micro-needling treatment causes most patients little to no discomfort during sessions. One of the best things about this treatment is that it comes with little to no downtime. You won’t have to deal with red or peeling skin for weeks, which can be embarrassing and uncomfortable.
How many sessions you’ll need will depend on your unique situation and the condition of your skin. Coastal Skin Solutions customizes the treatment to each patient’s needs. After treatment, you can expect tighter, firmer, more elastic skin, as well as a dramatic improvement in your skin tone and texture.
Chemical Exfoliants
If you aren’t quite ready to invest in a treatment like micro-needling, you can still reduce the appearance of scars and acne marks with the help of chemical exfoliants. Facial acids such as salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and lactic acid work by gently exfoliating dead skin cells and increasing skin cell turnover so your skin sheds its dead skin cells faster. This reveals the fresh, new skin underneath, so your acne scars and marks will appear less prominent.
When using chemical exfoliants, practice care and listen to your skin. Some skin is very hardy and can tolerate acids every day, while others are more sensitive and can only tolerate using acids a few times a week. If your skin starts to feel irritated or sensitized, reduce the frequency of use. When starting out with chemical exfoliants, it’s a good idea to start using them only once a week for a couple of weeks, then slowly increase the frequency until your skin can tolerate them every day or every other day.
Another important thing to remember when using chemical exfoliants is that some of them can make you extra sensitive to the sun. You’ll have to wear sunscreen every day, which is something you should be doing anyway if you want to avoid early signs of skin aging and sun damage such as fine lines, wrinkles, sunburn and skin cancer.
Acne scars and marks can be an unwanted reminder of the battle you’ve had to go through, but fortunately, they don’t have to be permanent. Several treatments and remedies are available to you, it all depends on your budget and what you’re willing to try. For best results, consult a dermatologist to determine the right solution for you.