How to get rid of acne scars naturally and medically?
Before answering that let’s discuss few basic things first. If you want to know about acne scars quickly then skip to the bottom of the article.
What is Acne or pimples or zits?
It is one of the most common skin conditions which is bothering humans especially girls since the invention of mirror.
Why they occur?
Hair follicles of your skin has some oil glands attached to them. They produce oil (sebum) which comes out of the pores of your skin. It helps in preserving the moisture of your skin.
Acne occurs when the production of oil (sebum) increases. It gets trapped along with dead cells of your skin which then clogs(blocks) your skin pores. All that sebum, dead cells along with dirt get trapped inside pores. It provides a good place for bacteria to grow. Their infection will result in inflammation, redness and pain. When clogged pore ruptures, these trapped bacteria get spilled out to other areas of skin. It results in skin lesions or pimples or zits.
Who are prone to acne?
Teenagers (due to increase in androgen hormone during puberty), young adults, females and people taking corticosteroids or anabolic steroids are more prone to it. It can happen at any age.
What are the different types of acne?
These mainly include 2 types.
Whiteheads (when clogged hair follicles remain under the skin and look white) and Blackheads (when clogged follicles reach on the surface and sebum gets exposed and turns black). When they get inflamed and become tender they are known as papules (those red bumps on your skin which are painful to touch). When these papules get filled with pus, they are known as Pimples (pustules).
In extreme cases, these pimples can turn big and form solid lesions known as cystic acne (pus-filled nodules lodged deep into the skin)
What treatment options are available?
Your doctor will prescribe different medications in the form of gel, ointments and lotions containing antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide, retinoids (a form of vitamin A), Alpha-hydroxy acids, Lactic acid, sulfur or salicylic acid to treat your acne. You may need oral treatment if no improvement occurs with topical ointments and lotions.
If that too doesn’t work, then your doctor may recommend laser/light therapies, chemical peeling or surgical procedures.
What if you get acne scars? How to get rid of them?
First, let’s discuss natural remedies available at home.
Many people get benefits and are able to reduce their acne scars by using different natural products on the face which may include honey, baking soda, lemon juice, aloe vera or coconut oil. But not everyone will be benefited from them as everyone has different skin type and texture.
Moreover, it can cause an allergic reaction so it is wise to take precautions before applying them on your face. You can test them first on your arm skin with little amount and observe if there is any skin reaction to them.
If that doesn’t help, then there are many medical treatment options available. Your dermatologist (skin doctor) may prescribe various treatment options like chemical peeling (peel containing trichloroacetic acid or glycolic acid), corticosteroid injections (for hypertrophic or keloid scars), soft tissue fillers (like collagen, polymethylmethacrylate, hyaluronic acid, poly-L-lactic acid.
Other options are micro-needling (inserting tiny needles into the skin to stimulate collagen growth) or laser treatment (to remove the uppermost skin layer to bring out younger skin).
