Dealing with Scars

Scars are a prominent issue when it comes to acne, and they can pose an even bigger threat to our self-esteem than the acne itself. Nevertheless, many acne scars generally go away almost entirely within a year of being acne-free. In many cases, where scars are persistent or if we are trying to accelerate the skin regeneration process, there are several natural alternatives to laser and painful cosmetic treatments that we can resort to.

1) Reduce exfoliation: scars result from a lack of tissue, over-pigmentation, and ruptured follicles that arise from acne. If you are still breaking out, minimize exfoliation as much as possible. Even though exfoliation with abrasives such as sponges and micro particles help the skin shed dead skin-cell accumulation, it also causes scarring by rupturing follicles, and aids in the cross-contamination of acne bacteria in different areas of the skin.

Exfoliation can also remove new skin cells on scar tissue, slowing down its regeneration and in many cases, worsening the scar altogether. Allow you skin cells to renew themselves and use natural exfoliants such as vinegar solutions, lemon juice, or alpha hydroxy acids. These are non-abrasive and gentle on the skin.

2) Don't pick: as is the case with exfoliation, picking on acne lesions ruptures follicles, collapsing its contents (bacteria and pus) into surrounding skin. Their rupture can result in the worsening of the acne lesion, inflammation, and infection. When you use your fingers to pick, not only are you breaking the follicle walls, you are incorporating bacteria and dirt that worsens the conditions of the lesion. This is a terrible habit that causes scarring to become worse, and sometimes, permanent.

3) Use regenerative topicals: natural topicals such as Aloe Vera, olive oil, and Retin-A help the skin regenerate more rapidly, reducing acne scars and strengthening tissues.

4) Laser and Cosmetic Procedures: as a last resort, you can experiment with cosmetic scar reducing methods such as laser and chemical peels. Always consult a doctor first, as they can enlighten you on what is best for you particular case.