The presence of acne is its own skincare struggle but there are few things more frustrating than your pimple clearing up while the evidence of the blemish still clings to your skin in the form of scarring. While makeup is always a solution for hiding acne scars, the ideal would be eradicating these spots for a clearer and brighter complexion.
We spoke with board-certified dermatologist, Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD for her top four tips on smoothing your skin and ridding your complexion of acne scarring once and for all, and with a combination of specific ingredients and preventative measures you can achieve the skin that will make you want to go makeup-free.
Stop Picking
This may be the most common sense solution of all, but picking at healing blemishes and old acne scars is a surefire way to make sure they stick around for years to come. Instead, leaving your blemishes and skin on the whole alone will allow it to heal more effectively, limiting the likelihood of scarring in the first place. “Picking at breakouts or already existing scars can often lead to more inflammation and make the scarring worse, so it is best to avoid squeezing, poking or touching any scars,” explains Garshick.
Wear Sunscreen
Sunscreen is one of the most important steps within any skincare routine, and not only can it help to reduce sun damage and keep premature aging at bay, but it may also be useful in fading acne scars as well. “Wearing sunscreen is essential to help reduce acne scarring as proper sun protection can help to reduce hyperpigmentation and prevent worsening discoloration,” notes Garshick. “This is important not just for days at the beach, but even for daily use. It is best to use SPF 30 or higher and be sure to reapply every 2 hours.” The earlier you get into the habit of wearing sunscreen daily, the better for the future of your skin.
Treat Your Scars Like Wounds
Treating old breakouts and existing scars like wounds and using healing ointments as topical solutions can help to regenerate that area, and maintaining hydration on your scarred patches will allow for stronger and healthier skin that will reflect the care you’re putting into it. “Often after people pick at their acne spots, they end up looking like a cut or an open wound. During this time it is best to avoid using anti-acne medications and ingredients like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid as this can dry the skin out, but rather focus on healing remedies such as Vaseline ointment which can help facilitate healing of the skin and reduce scarring,” suggests Garshick. Particularly if you have open breakouts or new acne patches, steering clear of exfoliating products that will only further irritate the skin will be effective for healing in the long term.
Use A Retinoid
As for ingredients to include within your skincare routine for fading acne scars, Garshick suggests easing into a retinoid to reduce the pigmentation of the scar while working double duty to fight against signs of aging. “Even if your acne breakouts have subsided, using a retinoid is still helpful as it helps to boost collagen production and regulate skin cell turnover which can improve the appearance of blemishes and scarring,” she says. While you can’t expect to see results immediately and will need several weeks of consistency before you can begin to see the changes reflected in your complexion, with patience and care the discoloration from residual acne should fade for a smoother, more even complexion.
