There’s nothing more frustrating than waiting until your ’20s to finally have the skin you always dreamed of and then coming to the realisation that brutal breakouts don’t end when your adolescent years do. Unexpected bouts of acne plague the best of us, not to mention the scars that linger years after the acne itself has subsided.
While complete elimination of scars is unlikely, the good news is there are several treatments worth investing in that will significantly reduce the visibility of your scars and have you glowing in no time.
Say goodbye to your pimpled past and hello to a blemish-free, clear complexion with these skin-smoothing treatments below.
Treatment Number 1: Stop Squeezing Your Blemishes
We’ve all heard it before. The countless warnings from dermatologists and aestheticians to refrain from popping our pimples. Yet, how many of us actually adhere to their advice? We thought so. If you’re honest with yourself, you’ll admit that there’s been more than one occasion where you’ve picked at your pimples. As it turns out, squeezing your pimples actually causes more damage to the infected area and should be avoided at costs. Squeezing a blemish aggravates the skin even more and leaves it highly susceptible to permanent scarring and discolouration.
Treatment Number 2: Wear SPF
When it comes to treating your acne scars, prevention is key. So, if you don’t currently wear SPF, then you might want to reconsider incorporating it into your daily beauty regime, pronto. Scars are sensitive by nature so skipping your daily sun protection will only worsen your existing scars, causing them to be more pronounced. Protecting your face from excessive sun exposure will mitigate any further redness and ensure that your scars do not darken.
Treatment Number 3: Chemical Peels
If you’ve never had a chemical peel before, you might wonder why anyone would consider getting one. After all, the name itself sounds painful. Despite evoking unpleasant and uncomfortable mental images, chemical peels work wonders when it comes to reducing the appearance of scars and targeting pigmentation. Acne peels are pain-free and consist of an acid solution that remove the outer layer of skin thereby exfoliating it on a deeper level to promote cell rejuvenation.
Treatment Number 4: Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers can be used to temporarily smooth over deep, indented scars. This injection immediately improves skin texture as raises the scars to the surface of the skin and stimulates collagen production. Once it’s injected, the collagen goes to work immediately, adding volume and lift to soften acne scars. The results are estimated to last between 6 to 12 months however the amount of time the filler lasts depends on where it is injected, in addition to the severity of the area being treated.
Treatment Number 5: Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture
If you’re wincing at the thought of having your face pierced with a needle, there’s no need to worry. Cosmetic facial acupuncture isn’t as nearly as painful or intimidating as it sounds. Ultra-fine, painless needles are gently inserted into the face through the skin, piercing the muscle layer. This naturally boosts blood circulation to promote healing. By stimulating the increase of collagen, the unevenness of scars is softened as the skin is encouraged to renew and regenerate new tissue. While cosmetic acupuncture is not instantaneous, you can expect to see improvement as quickly as 2 treatments. Regular treatments are recommended every 4 to 8 weeks for optimal results.
Treatment Number 6: Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is a non-invasive resurfacing procedure that enhances the healing the process of the skin through boosting collagen and elastin production. Abrasive crystals gently exfoliate and remove the top layer of skin from the face, leaving it feeling softer and smoother than ever. The nature of this procedure improves blood circulation which increases the oxygen and nutrition delivered to the skin, speeding up cell production. Microdermabrasion is safe and suitable for all skin types and produces almost immediate results.
Treatment Number 7: Laser
If you’re ready to finally close the chapter on those notoriously difficult acne scars and have exhausted all traditional scar-removing remedies, then laser might do the trick for you. One of the most precise and effective techniques for targeting the appearance of scars and hyperpigmentation, laser treatments utilise light therapy to remove the outer layer of skin. The heat generated from the laser beam deprives the topmost layer of skin of all the nutrients and oxygen, causing it to slough away. Multiple sessions yield desired results however it should be noted that treatment of acne scarring on olive or darker skin types are more prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
This article originally appeared on InStyle
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