How to get rid of acne scars fast ?

Do you feel embarassed or frustrated with your pesty acne scars?  Do you wonder how to get rid of acne scars fast to get that flawless face that would not require tons of layers of foundation or hours to apply cover makeup ? We can help.

The root of those scars usually dates back to your teen years.

As teens, you have probably gone first through the “breakout” phase, and you have pretty much struggled with finding different remedies to make your nasty pimples or acne go away. As adults, regrettably, we find out that we are still fighting against pimples and acne. Yep, many of us know this all too well.

Unfortunately, acne breakouts often leave us with ugly marks that are more commonly known as acne scars.

Our favorite application filters or photoshop are probably perfect to get rid of those acne scars before uploading our latest selfie to the social networks but in real life this is another story.

The good news is that you no longer need to hide or feel bad about them because there are countless ways of erasing them or removing them that have proven to be very effective.

In this guide that explains you how to get rid of acne scars on back, on face or any other area, we will cover the different types of scars, the clinical or professional treatments as well as the at home treatments and finally the home remedies for those who prefer the DIY option.

Depending on your case, those treatments will help you totally get rid of them or drastically minimize their appearance. There is not  one best way to get rid of acne scars. Dermatologists might need to combine several treatments for your case.

Of course, don’t expect overnight results. You need to be patient, wait for your skin to heal and renew itself. It will take some time but eventually, you will certainly be satisfied with the look of your new skin 🙂

Ok, what are we waiting for? Let’s get started.

What is an Acne Scar?

An acne scar is basically what remains after acne or pimples have healed. When a breakout happens, engorged or inflamed pores  affect the skin, which can result to red spots, hyperpigmentation, deep pits, and even rough patches on the face.

Though these marks vary in appearance, they’re generally referred to as acne scars.

How does an Acne Scar form?

To further understand acne scars, let’s zoom in on the process of how acne is formed and healed.

Acne develops due to plugged hair follicles whether there is hair or not.

It starts with the accumulation of dead cells and sebum (the oily substance that is responsible for your shiny nose, and secreted by the sebaceous gland).

When sebum and dead cells build up within the hair follicle, it clogs the pore and can cause either a whitehead or a blackhead.

Conditions like this inside the hair follicle cause natural occurring bacteria (called Propionibacterium acnes) to proliferate and cause inflammation in the dermis, which is the inner layer of the skin found underneath the epidermis.

The result? You are the lucky owner of a pimple.

With acne, the inflammation will develop to the extent that the follicle is ruptured and a pustule with fluid is formed. As a result, pimples and acne cause inflammation that can result to severe damage to the skin.

And, this is how acne scars are formed.

What are the different types of Acne Scars?

When acne heals up, the result could be different acne scar variations.

The scars or marks vary because of specific reactions that happen underneath the skin.

Broadly speaking, there are mainly 5 types of acne scars.

• Depending on the appearance of the « hole » you can either have an ice pick, a box scar or a rolling scar. They belong to the group of atrophic scars or “indeted” scars
• If you have a bump, this would be an hypertrophic scar or keloid.
• There is also what we call hyperpigmentation: brown marks that are not scars per se but can last for years before they fade if you don’t do anything.

Ice Pick Scars

This kind of scar is called “ice pick” because they look like holes that have been made by an ice pick or any other sharp, pointy object. An ice pick scar extends until the dermis, which could look like an open pore.

You can have either a shallow or deep pit.

How this scar is formed:

An ice pick scar is formed when an inflamed blemish reaches the surface of the skin. When the blemish heals, the follicle empties, forming a column-like scar that runs from the surface to the inner layer of the skin.

Box Car Scars

When compared to ice pick scars that appear more column-like, box car scars look more angular with very sharp vertical edges that look, like a box (hence the name). The depression for this kind of scar is wider than the ice pick’s, giving the skin a pitted appearance.

How this scar is formed:

The box car scar has a depressed appearance because of some tissue loss. When the skin over the inflammation heals and is left hollow without support, this creates a depression. The amount of tissue loss will determine the severity of the scar. It could be superficial if the inflammation didn’t run too deep.

Rolling Scars

Rolling scars basically look like waves. They’re also referred to as rolling hill acne scars sometimes because they can look like tiny hills sitting on top of your skin. These tend to be shallow, but they appear more grouped together.

You can aso have shallow or deep rolling scars.

How this scar is formed:

Rolling scars are formed by the pulling of the epidermis from beneath the skin. The pulling is caused by a fibrous connection that is formed between the upper layer and deeper skin structures. This pulling is what’s causing shallow depressions that look like waves.

Hypertrophic Scar or Keloid

A hypertrophic scar or keloid  appears more raised. It appears like a small mass of tissue that’s slightly raised and bumpy. It’s rare for a scar like this to grow larger on the face, but it has been observed to do so, more commonly, when found on torso.

How this scar is formed:

The previous scar variations are commonly caused by a tissue loss. In the case of a hypertrophic scar, this is the contrary, there’s an overproduction of collagen, which is why it appears like a mass.

Brown or dark spots

Those brown spots left on the skin after an acne breakout is what’s called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or PIH.

Most would consider this a scar, but it’s actually not because it’s a normal part of the healing process. Once your pimple or acne heals, it’s going to appear darker. Without treatment, these spots will probably take one or 2 years to disappear. It could take longer, depending on how dark your spots are, but that’s where effective treatment comes in – to quicken the process of lightening the spots. (Check the microdermabrasion method or topicals that we explore below)

How hyperpigmentation is formed:

Inflammatory products trigger the melanocytes, the cells that make the pigment (melanin) that gives color to your skin, to increase the synthesis of melanin. The increase in melanin leads to some pigment transfer to the surrounding skin cells (also called keratinocytes which are the cells found in the epidermal layer of the skin and are responsible for making keratin.)

The result? Dark or Brown spots called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Note : if you have red marks, these are called PIE  (post inflammatory erythema) they are the pink or red discolorations caused by inflammation and acne lesions. They usually need some time to disappear. They are usually very senstive spots. So be very careful not to increase inflammation.

How to know what type of acne marks you have?

It is pretty simple: use angled lighting.

You know now the differences between the 5 types of acne scars. so, you can imagine that if you use direct lighting, you won’t see much. But if you start changing angles, dimming lights, this helps to reveal the depth, the angles and so the kind of scars on your face.

Note that usually, you don’t have only one type of scars but a combination of them. Yeah, I know it sucks…

Why do I scar and not the others?

This question is not easy to answer.

The tendency to scar is mostly related to our genes and the extent or intensity of our inflammatory response to acne. (thank your parents haha)

The more inflammation people develop during acne phases, the more they tend to scar. So depending on your inflammatory responses, you may scar more easily than others.

What are the different treatments to acne scars?

Before we delve into the treatments, it’s important to remember that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to acne scars.

Most dermatologists don’t use only one method, they usually like to combine several methods to fade or remove scars according to your specific skin type and scar type.

Keep in mind that the deeper the method can go, the more types of acne scars you can treat.

This is pretty important for people who want to know how to get rid of deep acne scars: you need a method that goes deeper.

Now, let’s take a look at different medical treatments or procedures that could apply to the kind of scar you have:

How to get rid of acne scars with medical treatments

Resurfacing lasers for acne scars

If you wonder how to get rid of those acne scars and if you suffer from very severe acne scarring, resurfacing lasers are definitely the first medical solutions that should come to mind.

The idea behind is pretty simple: lasers focus high energy on the surface of your skin; they literally “burn” the skin and remove it to let new skin take its place. That is why you will often hear people use the expression: skin ablative resurfacing lasers.

Heat produced around the treated skin areas also help stimulate collagen production, which leads to younger and healthier looking skin texture.

There are many types of lasers that dermatologists can use depending on your case.

Dermatologists can also choose the depth of penetration into the skin, which is why it can also be very dangerous too if you don’t consult with a real professional with a proper training: lasers can really damage your skin if not used properly.

Today lasers are mainly classified between 100% resurfacing vs fractional mode

100% resurfacing:

• 100% CO2 laser (CO2: carbon dioxyde gas)
• Erbium laser or Er: YAG laser (erbium doped ytrium aluminum garnet)

Fractional:

• Fractional CO2
• Fraxel (erbium type)

100% resurfacing VS fractional

The first lasers to be used were aggressive, 100% resurfacing; which means they would treat the whole skin area, leading to open healing and prolonged recovery time and redness. Those drawbacks led to the advent of fractionated lasers.

Instead of resurfacing the whole area, as 100% resurfacing lasers do, fractional lasers can target very tiny columns of skin with surrounding areas of healthy skin untouched. It means that those lasers can simply target the scars and avoid the healthy skin areas.

As you can guess, this fractional mode enables faster healing and side effects are fewer than if the whole area had been treated.

Here, only the scar areas will need to heal, and the “healthy” untreated areas surrounding the treated areas help provide the damaged areas with new skin cells.

But it doesn’t mean that only fractionated lasers are used. It really depends on the severity of your case and what you are looking for.

Both lasers will give results: one will give more dramatic results (100% resurfacing: being more extensive) but more recovery time whereas the other one will give good results results too with less recovery time.

CO2 VS erbium type

Whether it is a 100% resurfacing laser or a fractional laser, erbium types are more gentle than CO2 types.

It means that CO2 types are more powerful and can usually treat more deeply but that means more recovery time too.

That is the reason why you often need only one session of CO2 laser whereas you need several sessions or erbium type lasers to get the desired results.

As a result, erbium type lasers are usually better for younger patients with mild to moderate acne scarring while the C02 lasers are more suited for older patients with much older and deeper acne scarring.

Cost: $4000-$6000 per treatment with most lasers. With fraxel, the cost is usually lower, like $1000 per treatment but you usually need 5-6 treatements (resulting in a total of $5000-$6000)

How is the procedure done?

The doctor will assess your skin thoroughly, determining what skin and scar type you have and what laser is appropriate. Your scars will then be mapped and, sometimes, photographed.

When the day of your treatment comes, your scars will be marked and anesthetics will be applied locally. The laser treatment via the laser wand can now begin.

Once finished, a special ointment will be applied and the area will be dressed.

Are there side effects to laser Treatments?

Yes there are. Post-treatment redness is expected. It’s even possible for a patient to have prolonged redness for some weeks or months, especially for patients with a history of face flushing and blushing with dilated capillaries on the skin.

Skin bleaching is another possible side effects. Lasers, by going too deep, carry risk of loss of pigment (depigmentation). That means you may get some lighter skin patches.

Hyperpigmentation can also be another side effect of this treatment, which means darker skin patches.

Excessive swelling, scarring and infection are also possible.

Downtime:

The downtime is completely dependent upon depth, strength and aggressiveness of the resurfacing treatment.

• Fractional laser: recovery is complete in 4-5 days, Redness takes 3-5 weeks to resolve
• 100% resurfacing laser: recovery time is 10 days to heal, 3-4 months for redness

What type(s) of scar is this procedure good for?

Because lasers can really reach deeper layers of skin, you can almost treat every scar.

• Box car scars
• Rolling scars
• Hypertrophic scars
• Ice pick scars
• brown marks or dark spots

Dermabrasion (Microdermabrasion)

Dermabrasion is a medical procedure that uses a tool with an abrasive end.

There are different kinds of ends with dermabrasion tool. There could be a metal wheel or a wire brush.

As soon as the end starts rotating rapidly, the doctor will gently move the tool over the scars area to remove the top skin layers and help your skin regenerate. This is the same principle as with the lasers, except we don’t go as deep, so the downtime is usually shorter with less swelling.

Dermabrasion helps to remove superficial acne scars, reduce deeper scars and smooth out the skin texture for a younger and fresher skin complexion.

Cost : $1500-$2000 per treatment, repeated treatment is sometimes necessary

If the cost is too high, note that microdermabrasion (a lighter alternative to dermabrasion) is available for home use with specific devices, which is much more cost effective if you don’t have very severe acne scarring (check our best microdermabrasion machine reviews here)

How is the procedure done?

During the procedure, the face is prepped with an antiseptic cleaning agent. Next comes the numbing cream with lidocaine for example. You doctor will apply it over the affected area to numb it. A freezing spray may also be used to make the skin a bit firmer for deeper abrasions. The dermabrasion tool is then gently applied on the skin.

Note that for deeper abrasions, or for a full-face treatment, stronger anesthesia is usually proposed (pain killers and even general anesthesia)

Expect your skin to be red, swollen and tender after the procedure. A special dressing will usually be applied afterwards.

Are there side effects to a Dermabrasion Procedure?

Slight swelling is possible but usually lasts a few days while regrowth of skin occurs.

As for any skin resurfacing procedure, skin redness is expected; it usually fades away after a few weeks. (In the meantime, with the help of some make up to cover it, you are good to go)

What type(s) of scar is this procedure good for?

This procedure is mostly good for scars that are not too deep.

• Box car scars
• Rolling scars
• Brown marks or dark spots

Subcision

Also known as subcutaneous incisional surgery, a subcision is a minor surgical procedure that’s commonly suggested to treat depressed cutaneous scars.

This is a type of procedure that’s performed in an out-patient basis under local anesthesia.

A needle is inserted under each scar to break up the underlying scar tissue that holds back the skin, causing the hole or indentation.

Once the scar tissue responsible for tethering the skin downward is broken up, the skin can snap back to the surface and some blood usually fills underneath and clot, which helps form tissue to level skin with the surface: the hole and scar is gone 🙂

So to the question : how to get rid of acne holes? This subcision technique is pretty effective as the scar tissue below the hole is broken.

Cost: $200- $800, it depends if the doctor charges per scar or per session.

How is the procedure done?

After cleansing the face, and the use of some local anesthesics, a needle is punctured into the scar. The sharp end of the needle will break the fibrous strands that connect the skin’s upper layer to its lower layer. This releases the connection and stimulates the production of new collagen to improve the scar’s appearance.

Are there side effects to a Subcision Procedure?

There are side effects like bruising and swelling but they’re usually very manageable and don’t last longer than 2 weeks in general, especially when the procedure is done by someone with experience.

If not done professionally, it could lead to injury to blood vessels, no improvement, infection and hypertrophic scarring.

What type(s) of scar is this procedure good for?

• Box car scars
• Rolling scars

Punch excision

Punch excision is different from subcision. Instead of trying to reach the tissues under the scar to release the depressed tissues, the doctor will simply cut and remove the scar.

They use a round knife (a cookie-cutter like tool called a « punch ») to literally cut the scar out. Once the scar is excised, the wound edges are simpled stitched together.

It will probably leave a much less visible and obvious linear scar that is easier to remove with some light resurfacing treatment or microdermabrasion.

Cost: $250-$300 per scar, some additional resurfacing treatment may be necessary to remove the linear scar.

How is the procedure done?

After cleansing the face, and the use of some local anesthesics or sedation if necessary, a round knife is used to cut and remove the portion of the scarred area of the skin. It is usually limited to one scar.

Once the scar is removed, the skin can then be sutured with either steristrips or stitches, and left to heal.

The sutures are then usually removed within 5- 7 days. You usually have to wait 6-8 weeks for complete healing.

Are there side effects to a Subcision Procedure?

• Bruising for a week or 2
• Scabbing
• the new but smaller/less noticeable scar, which was supposed to be smaller and less obvious, may sometimes lead to a hypertrophic scar, a raised bumpy mass that may require another session of skin treatment.

What type(s) of scar is this procedure good for?

This is ideal for narrow, deep ice pick type scars

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are used to add volume and fill in fine lines, wrinkles and acne scars on the face.

As the name suggests, filling substances will be introduced into a hollow area of the face to “fill it in”, eliminating or minimizing the depression.

There are different filling agents used to add bulk to the tissue. It can be a bit complex but to keep it simple:

what you must keep in mind is whether the filler will be strong enough to plump the skin and and how long the filler will last.

– Acid hyaluronic acid :

• Restylane (lasts about 6-9 months)
• Juvederm (lasts 9-12 months). Juvederm is considered by many doctors as being smoother and easier to inject than restylane.

– Calcium hydroxyapatite:

Radiesse: it is a thick gel and is resorbable after 12-16 months, it is usually a good option for wide and deep scars because it is “stronger” than hyaluronic acid.

Some still prefer the acid hyaluronic acid route because if you don’t like the results, hyaluronic acid is very easy to dissolve, while radiesse would have to be to surgically removed

– Fat:

You can use your own fat to fill the holes. The doctors usually take it from your thighs or belly. They reinject it in the depressed scars to raise the skin and improve the look of very deep scars. The downfall is the reabsorption rate. Usually 40-60% of it will be reabsorbed by your body after 6-12 months so a touch up might be necessary.

Note: you can only use your own fat. Yeah for those of you who are too skinny, you will need to gain weight first if you choose this option. (I wish I could give you some of my fat haha)

– Microdroplet silicone:

The good point is that it is permanent, unlike the other dermal fillers, but it requires a more specialised technique that must be perfomed with care by a skilled professional. A mistake is harder to correct.

– Polymethylmethacrylate:

Bellafill (formerly called artefill) is a permanent filler (lasts 7-10 years) consisting of microspheres of polymethacrylate. Here again, caution and gradual filling is better to avoid any weird looking overfilling

Other substances or techniques are under study to find a filler that would last much longer.

Average cost for fillers: $600-$2000 depending on the volume and quantity of fillers required

How is the procedure done?

The area on the face where the lines or scars are found is cleansed. The filling agents are then introduced into your skin via a fine-needled injection. It’s quick (depending on the number and depth of your scars ) and the procedure is rather simple.

You will then be asked to avoid any excessive facial movement for 24 hours to let the fillers settle in and avoid any migration of the fillers.

Are there side effects to using Dermal Fillers?

There may be some side effects associated with using dermal fillers like bruising, allergic reactions, slight infections, vascular injury and numbness. These, however, happen very rarely.

What type(s) of scar is this procedure good for?

This is ideal for atrophic and depressed scars

• Box car scars
• Rolling scars

Chemical peel for acne scars

The other way to get rid of acne scars if to use chemicals that will help deep exfoliate the top skin layers.

Chemical Peel is an effective skin resurfacing technique that requires the application of a chemical to the face or to specific areas so to remove the outer superficial layers of skin.

By removing these top layers with acne scars, pimples, blemishes; the skin is able to regenerate by creating new skin cells for a scar free complexion. A new layer of skin grows back on top of the peeled off skin.

Chemical peels usually come in a range of different strenghs depending on the acid that is used and its concentration. That is why you have 3 types of peels: light, medium or mild and deep peels.

Broadly speaking, the kind of acids that are used for each level 🙁 keep in mind if you use a high concentration of the acid, a light peel often becomes a medium peel, same with medium to deep)

• Light: alpha hydroxy acid AHA (glycolic acid, lactic acid, citric acid) or beta hydroxyacid BHA (salicylic acid)

• Medium peel: TCA (trichloroacetic acid)

• Deep peel: phenol. Phenolic peels are the strongest of the peels. It can be a bit toxic to the kidneys, and can bleach skin, which is why it is less and less recommended for the treatment of acne scars. Usually TCA is used instead.

When you consult a dermatologist or a plastic surgon to remove your acne scars, they usually will recommend a medium or deep peels (especially if you suffer from severe acne scarring).

These peels require very acidic solutions (high concentrations 50-70% or even higher). So these peels must be performed by a qualified professional, often with general anesthesia or heavy sedation.

They also require some follow-up care such as sun protection, a particular cleansing regimen or antibiotics to prevent infection as the deep peels get rid of a big part of your skin, which is your natural protection to harmful bacteria.

Cost: $2000- $5000 for full face

If your acne scars are not severe, you can probably ask for a lighter peel. There are many affordable home kits available out there that are very effective like this one. You will probably find every strenth you need depending on your skin condition.

But please if you do choose this route, please be very careful and follow strictly the instructions to avoid any severe burn. Always start with lower concentrations. Make sure to keep it out of reach of children too.

How is the treatment done?

First, your doctor cleanses your skin because the skin has to be clean and oil free before getting a chemical peel. It is good to wash the face a few times with a mild oil removing soap or use an alcohol wipe

Then he or she will apply the peel itself to the face avoiding the eyes and lips. The doctor will let it sit on your skin for a few minutes and then the doc will wash it with water to neutralise the acid and stop the reaction on your skin.

Fanning, at this stage, can be necessary to cool your skin down because you’ll experience some heat as your skin reacts to the peel.

Afterwards, your doctor can either apply a thick coat of cream or vaseline to protect your skin form further irritation and you’re done.

You won’t be able to wash you face for probably 1-2 days, so to let your skin heal. (Some patients may have to wear a protective mask with strips of tapes and openings for the eyes and nose and mouth, yeah the very sexy mummy mask ;))

What’s going to happen after a Peel treatment?

Don’t be surprised if the skin sloughing off is not flaky. It will be thicker than flakes, almost like the skin’s outer layer is being peeled off. This is what it means to have a deep peel. Your recovering time will be around 2 weeks.

Are there side effects to getting a Peel Treatment?

Yes. If you do not do the peel right or if you scratch the spots where the sloughing off of the skin is happening, further scarring can take place. So leave your face alone a few days.

Irritation could also happen as well as skin damage due to non-compliance of the doctor’s after-care instructions.

Risk of skin bleaching is possible especially with deep chemical peels

It goes without saying that you will have to avoid direct sunlight for several months or wear a high SPF factor sunscreen

The deeper the peel, the longer the recovery time and downtime. That is why people often prefer to do several light to medium strength peels instead of one deep peel treatment. In fact you can often achieve similar results with multiple light / medium peels vs one single deep peel : that means less risk and shorter recovery time

Caution: keep in mind that BHA’s are not recommended during pregnancy.

What type(s) of acne scars and skin problems is this treatment good for?

• Rolling acne scars
• Boxcar acne scars
• Ice pick scars
• Brown marks or dark spots

TCA cross Procedure

Instead of applying chemical peels all over the face, doctors can simply apply acids only to the scars. This is the case with TCA cross.

CROSS stands for Chemical Reconstruction of Skin Scars. There are other types of CROSS, but this one in particular uses TCA or trichloroacetic acid.

TCA is only introduced to the scars in small amounts, but in higher concentrations, to cause a local reaction, which will result to the formation of new skin and collagen fibers.

Cost: $400 -$1000 per session. It usually needs several sessions

How is the procedure done?

The doctor will cleanse the skin on the face before he introduces the TCA. He or she’ll then use an instrument with a blunt tip (commonly a sterile tooth pick) to get a tiny amount of TCA and then apply it to the base of each scar. Once frosting (white substance) on top of the scars appears, the instrument is removed. The doctor will then repeat the steps to the rest of the scars and then cleanse the skin again once all the scars have been treated with TCA.

Are there side effects to a TCA CROSS?

Side effects include irritation, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation to name a few. These side effects can, however, be avoided when the TCA CROSS procedure is done by someone who has extensive experience with the procedure.

What type(s) of scar is this procedure good for?

• Box car scars
• Rolling scars
• Ice pick scars

Skin needling / rolling

A needling procedure involves fine needles being inserted into the skin to create a micro-wound.

It is minimally invasive, non-surgical, and often uses a micro-needling device to cause the controlled injury.

The microinjury triggers the skin repair process by producing new collagen and elastin in the skin’s dermis, thereby improving the appearance of scars and rejuvenating the skin. This is what we call a collagen induction therapy.

Standard microneedling with dermarollers is more for superficial scars, while motorized microneedles pens (dermapen, micropen) and microneedles combined with radiofrequency can treat more severe acne scars.

Cost: $200-$600 per session. Usually patients require 4- 6 sessions.

How is the procedure done?

Numbing cream will be used before the actual procedure begins. Using a needling device, the doctor will move a sterile needle studded roller across your affected skin areas with scars. this will puncture your skin. As a result, you skin will heal and produce collagen.

It will take some time to see the results (usually 6-9 months)

Are there side effects to a Needling Procedure?

Side effects are very minimal, some bleeding and oozing for the first hours, then redness and swelling for 2-4 days.

What type(s) of scar is this procedure good for?

• Box car scars
• Rolling scars

Steroid injection

The scientific term is intralesional corticosteroid injection, but people simply call them steroid shots or cortisone injections.

The principle is simple:

Steroids are simply injected into the raised hypertrophic scar. The steroids will reduce the inflammation process and as a result the scar is reduced. Yet, to get better results, those steroid injections should be administered as early as possible, meaning it is often not as effective on hypertrophic scars older than 2 years.

Cost: $70-$100 per injection. Repeated injections (one month apart) are often needed to get better results.

How is the procedure done?

Your face is washed and some local anesthesics (numbing cream) is used on the area of the raised scar. After 20-30 minutes, once the area is numb, the doctor will inject the steroid right directly into the scar or immediately below the skin. That is it. It is painless. You simply need to wait a few weeks for the results to be visible. (4-6 weeks)

Are there side effects to a Needling Procedure?

The main issue with this procedure is that too much steroid could cause atrophy or death to the surrounding tissues. So it is better to do several injections instead of one injection with too much steroid.

Some bruising can occur too but it is very minimal.

What type(s) of scar is this procedure good for?

• Hypertrophic scars
• Red marks

How to get rid of acne scars with At home treatments

Microdermabrasion for acne scars

Microdermabrasion is a lighter alternative to dermabrasion.

The tool is similar, but for home based devices, tiny diamond crystals can be found at a microdermabrasion wand’s end instead of a metal wheel or brush.

With dermabrasion, you can reach deeper skin layers than with microdermabrasion, so you might need several microdermabrasions sessions to get similar results with only one dermabrasion session.

Keep in mind with microdermabrasion, you won’ be able to treat very deep acne scars. If you suffer from severe acne scarring, lasers or deep chemical peeling would be more suited to get a more drastic resurfacing treatment (with longer downtime and higher risks though).

Yet, microdermabrasion could still be recommended later on as an additional treatment to improve skin appearance. It is basically an exfoliation and skin rejuvenation procedure that leaves skin looking softer and brighter.

Cost : this is the cost of the machine (between $180-300) which is way more economical than going to the spas for several sessions (cost $150-$300 per session).

You can use the machine as often as you like and even rent it for a small fee if you want. We reviewed the best microdermabrasion machines here.

How is the procedure done?

First you will wash your face with a gentle cleanser to get rid of impurities, dirt and oil.

Apply the diamond tip to the face which will both exfoliate and suck the dead skin cells, you will use short strokes to cover every area of your face that needs exfoliation to fade the acne scars. This exfoliation will also stimulate your skin regeneration.

Once you covered all the areas, wash your face to get rid of any skin debris from the exfoliation. Then apply your usual serum, as it will better penetrate your skin.

Are there side effects to a Microdermabrasion Procedure?

Because it is minimal, there aren’t a lot of side effects associated to microdermabrasion. It can cause some temporary redness and sensitivity that often disappear within a few hours to 24 hours depending on the pressure your applied.

What type(s) of skin problem is this procedure good for?

• Hyperpigmentation : brown marks
• light acne scars
• Wrinkles
• Dull skin

What about Topicals ?

The previous scar treatments (lasers, dermabrasion, medical peeling) are really effective if you suffer from deep acne scars.

Topicals are certainly not as effective in that case but they can still help too, by diminishing the appearance of acne scars.

They might require you to be a bit more patient to get noticeable results but they certainly are worth trying.

They are much more affordable and the other advantages is the fact it won’t lead to the same downtime or recovery time as was the case with more aggressive treatments.

Topical Retinoids

Retinoids are basically chemical compounds that are related to Vitamin A. Topically, retinoid creams can speed up skin cell turnover, unclog pores, fade pigmentation, shrink pores, and retexturize the surface of the skin.

They’re great for acne scars because they encourage the surface of the skin to turnover and slough off at a quicker rate, making way for new cell growth underneath to replace the scarred tissue

It’s actually promoting healthier growth and turnover for the skin, and puts the breaks on melanin production to lighten and even up the skin’s color.

The popular form of retinoids is tretinoin also called retinoic acid. The most famous market names are: Retin-A, Renova and Refissa. Most products are prescription creams to be used under the advice of a medical professional as the side effects need to be monitored (burning, redness etc..)

The over the counter alternative to tretinoin is retinol.

What is the difference ?

It is simple, retinol is converted to tretinoin in the skin. Retinol is not active per se, it needs to be converted to become active.

Because that conversion can take some time the amount of active tretinoin on your skin is limited which means fewer side effects.

That is why retinol is usually better tolerated for sensitive skin and why you don’t need a prescription.

You can find many retinol based products, we are still testing a few here. We tested a retinol based serum that gave good results here. We also liked the fact they offer a 30 day guarantee in case you are not satisfied. Check it here on their official website. For one of our reviewer, he found it a bit too strong at first meaning it gave him some light redness for the first 2 days. After the 3 rd day, he did not notice any side effects though. So give your skin some time to adapt if you try it.

Peeling gel for home use

We already mentionned the use of deep chemical peels by dermatologists to treat depressed acne scars and even improve skin tone. The intensity of peel mainly depends on the type of acid and its concentration.

• Light peels mainly use AHA ( glycolic acid) and BHA (salicylic acid)
• Medium peels use TCA
• Deep peels use phenol or TCA

Because the cost of a deep peel for full face can be pretty high ($2000-$5000), many affordable home kits are now available. There are even professional peel kits with high concentration of TCA that are available.

The advantage is that some people can now get medium peel at a much lower price than what they would have paid in a doctor office or a salon spa. The prices range between $20- $60.

One of the serious brand we got to try was this one here that we bought on Amazon; they offer almost any strength you want. The products are really well formulated and very effective,

One bottle (around $30) often contains 15 to 20 facial peels…. I let you do the math.

However, because the products can be very concentrated, we really recommend you to be careful and to follow the instruction to a T.

Steroid creams

Primarily, these types of products (mostly with hydrocortisone or derivatives ) are recommended for inflammation or allergic reactions.

We commonly use them for skin itching or eczema. They penetrate the cells and cause the decrease in the release of inflammatory substances. But they can also help flatten out the hypertrophic scars by reducing the inflammation process. .

This is why your doctor may prescribe a hydrocortisone cream for your raised hypertrophic acne scars.

Yet, one side effect that many have noted is that it can cause hypopigmentation or skin lightening. So be careful and follow your dermatologist recommendations.

Silicone sheets

One solution to help with hypertrophic keloid scars is to use silicone sheets.

Silicone gel sheets have been commonly used on burned victims ever since the 1980s. A study conducted showed that silicone gel sheets actually worked better that some creams or oils that many recommend. They really make it less noticeable.

How does the product work?

According to the study, which you can read about here, doctors are unsure what the silicone does, but the sheet does a good job in covering the scar which prevents water from evaporating from the skin. According to Dr. Jennifer Wu who is a Los Angeles dermatologist, moisture is the main factor for allowing skin to grow back evenly.

Are there side effects to using Silicone Gel Sheets?

There are very few side effects related to using silicone gel sheets. The main one would have to be that they are uncomfortable for some people to be worn on the face. Other than that, there aren’t really big side effects that you should watch out for.

What type(s) of acne scars is this product good for?

Silicone gel sheets work well with hypertrophic scars. They have been known to soften, flatten and improve the appearance of scars, but they won’t disappear totally. The most famous brand is this one ( on Amazon).

What’s a good alternative to Silicone Gel Sheets?

Because wearing silicone gel sheets can be uncomfortable, you can try silicone gel such as this product on Amazon, which you can wear under makeup. It’s more incognito than the sheets especially when you want to go outside not looking like you’ve wounded your face.

Aside from these treatments, there are definitely more treatments out there for you to try. Newer products and procedures are being introduced into the market almost every year.

The best way to determine the best treatment for the kinds of acne scars you have is to go to a doctor and have your skin condition checked. A great skin doctor will be more than willing to guide you through your post-acne scar-self with careful assessment and expert counseling.

How to get rid of acne scars Home remedies

There are home remedies available for minimizing the appearance of acne scars.

In fact, you can find several on the internet, but before doing any of, there are a couple of reminders that you need to keep in mind when applying home remedies for acne scars:

• Home remedies work great for hyperpigmentation marks in the long run. Yet, keep in mind, they won’t remove your scars overnight, they will help fade the marks but that will take some time to get results.
• Most home remedies work for well with superficial to minimal scars. This means that if you are more interested in knowing how to get rid of deep acne scars or if you have very deep ice pick, box car, rolling or hypertrophic scars, it may be best to see a doctor and undergo a treatment in the clinic or stick with the treatments above.
• Do not use these remedies if you have red marks or inflamed acne : avoid the irritated areas.

Homemade salt scrubs should not be used on inflamed, broken or sensitive skin as it can irritate the area

Here are our 7 recipes for DIY natural remedies for acne scars.

The lemon coconut exfoliator

A lot of DIY, home remedies contain lemon in them because lemons have a lot of benefits to the skin. It’s popularly used in DIY skin whitening recipes and DIY anti-acne recipes because it contains alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) that help remove dead skin cells and help stimulate the skin repair damages.

Similarly, you can lighten scars with recipes that have lemon as the main ingredient since it promotes the fast turnover of skin.

IMPORTANT: Lemon juice makes the skin sensitive to sunlight so when using lemon recipes, make sure to avoid sun as much as possible.

Coconut oil is is an amazing moisturizer for the skin with antibacterial properties. We at myawesomebeauty.com think it is a must have for skin, hair that gives awesome results. No wonder many celebrities swear by it.

The baking soda on the other hand, provides gentle exfoliation and it controls oil production on the skin. In this recipe, it serves as, not only an mild exfoliation but, a thickening agent.

Ingredients:

• Lemon juice – 3 tsp
• Baking soda – 3 tsp
• coconut oil to cover your face – 3 tsp (we love this brand on Amazon that offers an excellent quality oil for a good price)

Procedure:

• In a small container, mix 3 tsp of lemon juice and 3 tsp of baking soda with 3 tsp of coconut oil
• Once mixed well, apply the mixture on your face using a cotton ball avoiding the eye area.
• Gently massage your face with your fingers with circular motions
• Leave it on for about an hour
• Rinse with lukewarm water and pat your skin dry.

Duration: Do this recipe and this process twice a week.

Best for:

• Hyperpigmentation
• Blackheads and whiteheads
• Minimal acne scars

The apple fizz perfector

Did you know that apple cider vinegar has skin exfoliating properties?

Thanks to the exfoliating malic acid ( another alpha hydroxyacid), it’s great for acne scars. It also has antibacterial properties that help prevent the formation of new acne and pimples. If you have dull skin, apple cider vinegar will fix that right up too.

It is also an awesome product to try for detoxification.

IMPORTANT: If you have sensitive skin, you have to watch the amount of apple cider vinegar you put as it may cause irritation. If you find a mixture to be too harsh, dilute it with water.

Aside from the obvious effects of aspirin when ingested, did you know that it contains salicylic acid?

If you read carefully our long article, you know salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid that is used for peeling.

This is why it’s so effective when combined with apple cider vinegar. The salicylic acid found in aspirin will help exfoliate the skin to fade the acne scars, prevent new acne from forming and it will help skin have a brighter complexion. Plus, it has the added anti-inflammatory benefit which can really help with red patches on your skin if you have any.

Sea salt will help exfoliate your skin and get rid of dead skin cells to promote skin renewal.

Ingredients:

• Apple Cider Vinegar – ½ oz ( our all time favorite is this brand through Amazon)
• Mineral water – 3 oz
• Plain Aspirin Tablets – 5 pcs
• Sea salt 4 tsp

Procedure:

• In a small container, pour in the 3 oz of water and the ½ oz of vinegar.
• Crush the 5 pcs of aspirin tablet.
• Add in the crushed pieces into the water-vinegar mixture and the sea salt.
• apply the mix to your face.
• massage gently your face to help the mix work and remove dead cells.
• Let it dry a bit for 30-60 minutes
• wash it

Duration: Use once a week

Best for:

• Hyperpigmentation
• Oily skin
• red patches
  

The milky coconut scrub

Yep you can also use milk, some plain, full-fat milk to get rid of your scars.

Why ? Because milk contains some lactic acid (an alpha hydroxy acid) that works as a mild, natural exfoliant to remove dead skin cells and even out the tone of your skin. So it will also help reduce scars and blemishes

Sugar is one the simplest ingredient to use to exfoliate your skin. Sugar is also less abrasive than salt because it dissolves more easily. Plus you probably won’t need to buy any as you surely have some in your kitchen. Any types of sugar (plain white, brown) will work fine but keep in mind brown sugar is usualy the finest and least abrasive so it is best for sensitive skin. So if you have sensitive skin, stick with brown sugar.

Ingredients :

• 1 cup of brown sugar
• 1/2 cup of raw coconut oil such as this one on Amazon
• 1 tsp of plain milk

Instructions :

• combine the sugar and the coconut oil and the milk in a bowl
• mix to make a nice paste
• apply the mix to your face
• gently massage the scarred areas
• let it sit on your skin for 30 minutes
• rinse with lukewarm water

Duration: Use once a week

Best for:

• Hyperpigmentation
• red patches

The Oatmeal honey scrub

If your skin is too sensitive for sea salt or sugar scrubs, then you might need to stick with an oatmeal scrub.

Oatmeal is much more gentle. Yet, don’t underestimate its properties. It contains saponins which is a a naural plant based cleanser that will help remove dirt and oil. It has also anti inflammatory and antioxydant properties that will help with red patches.

Honey is an awesome ingredient that can retain moisture to keep skin hydrated, supple and fresh, which helps promote skin growth. According to the US National Library of Medicine and National Institute of Health, honey has also been praised for its antibacterial property, which is why it can also be used for pimples or zits.

Coconut oil as you already know provide deep and real moisture, with antibacterial properties too. It contains a nice blend of vitamin E and fatty acids with anti-inflammatory effects that will strengthen the underlying tissues to decrease the inflammed areas. Well coconut oil is a must have. You know we love it.

Ingredients :

• 2 tablespoons of oatmeal
• ½ cup of water
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 2 tablespoons of coconut oil via Amazon

Instructions :

• boil the oatmeal in the ½ cup of water
• let it cool
• add the honey and the coconut oil
• mix
• massage the mixture on your face
• leave it on for 30 minutes
• rinse with lukewarm water

Duration: Use once a week

Best for:

• Hyperpigmentation
• red patches
• sesnitive skins

The Witch hazel peeling gel

Aloe vera contains substances that are really soothing and help reduce inflammation while boosting cell repair and growth. (This is perfect by the way to use on skin as an after sun gel, yep only pure aloe vera gel with witch hazel on sunburns is really effective)

Witch hazel is a multiuse product that we love at my awesome beauty. (Check our article here which lists 18 uses for witch hazel) Here, in this recipe, we use it for its anti inflammatory properties.

Apple cider vinegar is perfect to promote mild skin exfoliation to fade those acne scars.

Ingredients :

• 1 cup of pure aloe vera gel ( we used this brand onAmazon  for the recipe )
• ½ cup of witch hazel extract ( we love this brand which is a huge bestseller among beauty experts on Amazon)
• ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar via Amazon

Instructions :

• mix all 3 ingredients to make a gel
• apply the gel on your washed face (avoid the eyes and mouth area)
• let it sit on skin overnight
• wash it the next day in the morning

Make sure your skin is not sensitive to apple cider vinegar

Duration: Use every night if possible

Best for:

• Hyperpigmentation

The detox and dirt skin remover

Calcium bentonite clay is mostly used by salon spas for facial mask or body wraps. (Check our article about homemade body wraps here)

The reason why it is so popular is because bentonite has the ability to draw out toxins and impurirties. It also gently exfoliates your skin which makes your skin silky soft. That exfoliation will definitly improve the look of your acne scars in the long run

Coconut oil will help moisturise your skin and avoid any dryness.

Chamomille extract has been widely used for centuries in tea as a sedative and relaxing tea but it also has many skin benefits : it has antiseptic and anti inflammatory properties that really help with skin rashes, eczema and acne. That means chamomille can help speed skin repair for acne prone skins.

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup of calcium bentonite clay (our favorite brand is this one from Amazon, don’t buy a chinese brand as we are not sure of lead contamination)
• 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
• 1 oz of organic chamomille herbal tea ( we used this one from Amazon, cheap and good quality)
• Optional : 2 drops of peppermint oil via Amazon

Instructions :

• prepare the herbal tea
• let it cool
• mix all the ingredients until it is well blended with a nice paste consistency
• wash your face first
• apply to your face and let it sit for about 30 minutes
• massage a little and wash it

Duration: Use twice a week

Best for:

• Hyperpigmentation
• red patches

Potent Scar Serum Recipe with Essential Oils

Most essential oils are great for the skin. They can be used alone or in combinations that make a potent serum. This recipe is going to make just that. Though essential oils are a bit on the expensive side, you’ll still get your money’s worth and your skin will thank you for it.

In this acne scar home treatment,  you’ll be using a combination of 5 essential oils and the famous tamanu oil. Here’s what each one can do for your acne scars:

• Tamanu oil is the go to therapeutic oil for scars, acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis and other skin problems. It’s a great anti-aging oil that prevents UV related cell damage. it is anti-inflammatory for skin and has amazing regenerative properties. it is probably one of the most underestimated therapeutic oil for skin ( I always keep one bottle handy to heal my skin when zits or itching occurs)
• Lavender essential oil, as most people know, is used for calming the senses. What the majority overlooks, however, is its ability to heal the skin and reduce redness.
• Helichrysum italicum essential oil is actually considered medicinal in some cultures. It is from the everlasting or immortal flowers that is famous for its ability to rejuvenate the skin, improve the appearance of scars, wrinkles, and stretchmarks, and providie an overall youthful and glowing appearance.
• Carrot seed oil is known to be a very effective skin detoxing oil. It also helps smooth out the skin with regular use.
• Elemi essential oil is dervived from the resin of the elemi tree. It has been used for skin conditions for centuries due to its very specific collagen building property. This essential oil is said to stimulate the collagen production, and increase cell turnover to fade the scars.( I often add a few drops of elemi essential oil in my vitamin C serum to enhance its rejuvenating properties )
• Lastly, frankincense essential oil. Frankincense is said to help rejuvenate the skin with anti-inflamatory and healing properties. The major role of this essential oil is to encourage skin cell regeneration. This essential oil is particularly healing for “problem” skin.

Ingredients:

• Tamanu oil (we used this brand of pure tamanu oil via Amazon)
• Lavender essential oil via Amazon
• Helichrysum italicum via Amazon essential oil
• Carrot seed via Amazon essential oil
• Elemi via Amazon essential oil
• Frankincense via Amazon essential oil

Tools:

• A small, cylindrical container with a roller cap or dropper like this one you can find on Amazon (prefer glass bottles as essential oils can interact with plastic) . It helps if the bottle is opaque. This is to preserve the potency of the oils.
• A small funnel.

Procedure:

• Make sure that your small bottle is clean. Add in 5 drops of each essential oil.
• Now, using the funnel add in the tamanu oil. The amount is up to you, but you’d essentially need to fill the bottle. If it has a dropper, makes sure that you do not fill it in all the way.
• Put the cap. Gently tilt it back and forth so the oils mix well together.

Duration: Use 2  times a day. You can have a routine like first application in the morning, and the last application before bed time.

Best for:

• Hyperpigmentation
• Minimal or small acne scars
• Moderate scars

FAQ on Acne Scars

Can I eat my way to being scar free?

If only the answer is yes and if only the food that prevents acne scarring is pizza. Alas, you cannot eat your way to being scar free. This is especially true if you’re a keloid former.

If I clean my face enough times in a day, will that prevent acne?

No it won’t. Frequently washing your face with soap can actually dry it out. Dry skin is susceptible to wounds and sensitivity. You can wash your face twice a day if you have normal skin. People with oily skin types might need to wash their face more often. Check our best over the counter acne treatment reviews here.

If I’m undergoing a treatment for my scars, should I still be wearing makeup?

No, in most cases. On our list of 9 procedures or treatments for example, you shouldn’t wear makeup post procedure unless your doctor tells you it’s ok to do so. You’re skin is going to need some recovery time so give it a break and let it breath.

Does any of the scar treatment hurt ?

It’ll depend on the kind of treatment you’re going to get. Peels, for example, have a more tingly sensation on the skin while being applied, but the peeling process shouldn’t cause you any pain. Some of the procedures will also require for your doctor to apply numbing cream or local anesthesia to minimize the discomfort.

There shouldn’t be a significant amount of pain involved when doing procedures to reduce acne scars, but if this is something that’s bothering you, make sure that you talk to your doctor about it.

Other Tips and Advice on how to clear acne Scars

• Protect your skin after undergoing any acne scar treatments. Always wear creams with the right amount of SPF, (our favorite sunscreen brand is Laroche posay ( on Amazon), which holds the patent for the best sun filters… ) follow your doctor’s suggestions when it comes to products and stay away from direct sunlight on your face.
• Exfoliate regularly. This is very helpful when you want to get rid of dark spots from acne, but you have to know how often you need to exfoliate. For oily skin, you can do it twice a week depending on how oily your skin is. For normal skin, you can do it once a week.
• Hydrate your skin by drinking plenty of water. Water has always been your body’s best friend so make sure that you get enough of it. hydration and moisture enables better skin growth.
• Eat right by identifying foods that cause you to break out. Yogurt and other dairy products are the most common causes of pimples or acne because of hormonal triggers.
• Vitamin C can be very useful to boost your collagen production and help your skin growth after the scar treatment. Check our complete reviews of best vitamin C serums and what to know here.
• If you have current pimples or current acne, keep in mind that scars usually stem more from picking than from the acne itself. The best way to get rid of acne scars is to avoid creating new ones, so avoid popping every zit you come across, resist the urge to pop them as it will result to scarring and darker spots.
• Bio oil for acne scars ? We don’t really like it. Don’t waste your time and money. Have a look at our detailed review of it for stretch marks, it is not for scars per se but it could give you some hints. It is here.
• want to know how to get rid of acne scabs? first make sure not to remove it as you want to let your skin heal first. Once the skin is ready and the scar is not inflamed, you can try the treatments we covered in the previous paragraphs.
• Note that the tendency to develop acne scars often runs in the family so if you have blood relatives who have acne scars: chances you may have to cope with the same issues. Be proactive and don’t let dead skin cells or sebum build up, as you know this is the starting point of acne. Use a daily cleanser and exfoliate regularly.
• If there are any unusual changes in your skin after the procedure, don’t hesitate to call your doctor or dermatologist and ask if the change is normal or not  to be on the safe side.

We hope this article really helped you get a better understanding of how to get rid of old acne scars and what you could try to clear your acne marks.

Knowledge is power. You should also be able to have a good view of what your dermatologist could recommend you. However, keep in mind it can take time. Feel free to let us know your results 🙂

In the meantime, have fun and be awesome 😉