What You Can Do About Acne Scars

Updated April 25, 2016

Acne is one thing, scars are another. Acne will eventually go away (really, it will). Scars, on the other hand, are a bit tougher to deal with.

Doing things like picking at and popping pimples can definitely damage your skin and cause scarring. But sometimes, even if you're really careful with your skin, scars can still develop. Severe blemishes, those that are very inflamed, are more likely to scar. And for some people, even minor blemishes cause scarring.

If you have noticed some scarring, there are a few things you can do. First things first -- acne needs to be brought under control. If you haven't seen a dermatologist yet, do it. If you're already being treated by a dermatologist, follow their directions exactly and let them know if you have any concerns. Once your skin is fairly clear, then you can decide on what steps need to be taken next.

Darker spots on the skin (usually brown, red, or purple) are super common. I'd say nearly everyone with acne gets them to some extent. It's called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and it can be treated. In some cases, it even fades away all by itself without treatment. Typically topical creams do a good job at speeding this up.

Pitted or depressed scars need more than just topical creams. They're a bit tougher to treat, but there are treatments that can help improve the look of these scars. You'll definitely need a dermatologist to help you here, and you're looking at laser treatments and dermal fillers.

The hardest to treat are raised scars (hypertrophic or keloids). Again, your dermatologist is your greatest ally here. Scar treatment has come a long way in recent years, so there are treatment options if you're willing to invest some time.

Many people choose not to get their scars treated, and that's OK too. I've got some mild scarring; so does my son. I've never felt the need to get them treated. I don't think I ever will. I don't love them, but I'm OK with them.

Whether you've made peace with your scars, or you can't wait to get them treated, you'll probably want to take a look at the following articles to learn even more about acne scarring.