Acne scars can take a toll on your emotional health. Though acne is usually considered a short-term problem, the scars it leaves behind might last for a lifetime. The fact that acne scars, no matter how unpleasant they are, are a result of our body’s natural wound healing process makes them extremely difficult to get rid of.
Even in the case of wounds that are only a few centimeters deep, scarring is a common phenomenon. Scarring can develop on any area of the skin after dermis injury. The good news is that if you know the underlying cause of your acne scars, you can avoid them to a great extent.
Let’s look at how and why acne scars occur and the most effective ways to deal with them.
Why Do We Get Acne Scars?
Most of the time, our seemingly harmless habits, such as using products with harsh chemicals or popping or squeezing breakouts, can result in stubborn acne scars that are tough to eradicate. Scars usually form when your body attempts to heal the acne. Your body’s response to the wound influences whether you will get scars or not.
Collagen is a protein produced by the body during the healing process. Raised scars form when there is too much collagen produced in the skin. On the other hand, indentations or pits are a result of tissue loss and lack of collagen.
As per dermatologists, acne scars can be divided into four categories. Let’s take a look:
1. Rolling Scars: Rolling Scars are shallow and have soft and smooth edges. The skin may develop a kind of wavy texture due to these scars.
2. Boxcar Scars: Boxcar Scars are shallow but have well-defined and sharp edges. They usually appear as little markings on the surface of the skin.
3. Ice Pick Scars: Ice pick scars are deep and thin. These scars may look quite similar to open pores. They are also the toughest ones to remove.
4. Hypertrophic or keloid scars: Hypertrophic scars appear like red patches and are often elevated. In certain cases, these scars can feel itchy or irritating.
How To Prevent Acne Scars?
Although some level of scarring is unavoidable in most cases, you can lessen your chances of getting acne scars by following some simple steps.
1. Treat Your Acne Immediately
Getting your acne under control immediately is the best step you can take to avoid acne scars. So, make sure to get effective treatment for your acne without wasting any time, and if it doesn’t clear up with over-the-counter treatments, see a dermatologist right away.
You can dramatically lower your chances of getting acne scars with early treatment. Using proven acne-fighting ingredients like AHAs and BHAs in the form of mild yet effective skincare products like Deep Facial foaming cleanser and AHA & BHA Daily Clean toner from Zali Cosmetics will also help in preventing your acne from progressing to an advanced level. This, in turn, can help prevent scarring.
2. Reduce Damage from Inflammation
Significantly inflamed and larger pimples can cause more severe scarring as compared to non-inflamed blackheads or acne. Therefore, your goal should be to minimize inflammation while avoiding anything that irritates your skin. It is best to avoid exfoliating your skin with harsh products.
Always use a mild chemical exfoliating cleanser like Deep Facial foaming cleanser to get rid of excess oil and keep your pores clean and unclogged. Potent plant-based ingredients like Kalanchoe extract in Zali’s high-quality products can help soothe and calm your skin and prevent inflammation.
3. Avoid Popping, Squeezing, and Picking Pimples
Refrain from picking or pinching a pimple. This can drive debris further into the dermis, causing infection to spread to adjacent tissues. Popping or squeezing pimples can worsen inflammation. In extreme cases, it might also result in deep and severe imperfections like cysts and nodules.
Keep in mind that squeezing or picking pimples can delay healing and may lead to permanent scarring. Instead, let the lesion heal naturally. However, if you’ve previously picked a pimple, apply the right products to help it heal and protect your skin. Always choose trusted and reliable brands like Zali Cosmetics that test their products stringently for safety and effectiveness on all skin types.
4. In The Case Of Cysts or severe Breakouts, Consult a Dermatologist
While minor acne can still leave scars on the skin, the larger and more severe cystic acne causes the most severe damage. Since they go deeper into the dermis, cystic breakouts are responsible for injuring skin tissues that often lead to permanent scars. Immediate and Effective treatment is the key to reducing the chances of getting deep scars.
5. Include the Most Effective Acne-Fighting Ingredients in Your Skincare Routine
One of the best ways to prevent acne and acne scars is to take proper care of your skin by incorporating potent acne-fighting ingredients in your regimen. BHAs like Salicylic acid serves as a great but mild exfoliant. It has the ability to break down dead skin cells and clear up the pores from deep within. Another proven ingredient is lactic acid. It is an alpha hydroxy acid. It is an excellent choice for beginners due to its mild nature.
If you’re looking for expertly formulated products with the right balance of AHAs and BHAs along with healing and soothing ingredients like Kalanchoe extract, be sure to check out Deep Facial foaming cleanser and AHA & BHA Daily Clean toner from Zali Cosmetics.
