Acne is a very common skin condition, and as a result, many are left with scars. Acne scarring can be really upsetting to those who suffer from it, as it is very noticeable, and many believe it to be permanent. However, there is hope. There are quite a few skin care ingredients that can help with acne scars, but to know how to treat them, we need to identify the two major problem areas of acne scarring: post-inflammatory redness and sunken scars.
Post-inflammatory redness is just that: redness that remains on the skin after inflammation. This is a similar issue to rosacea, and redness can lead to scars being much more pronounced and visible. The best way to treat post-inflammatory redness is to use ingredients that help fade pigmentation issues, such as the following remedies:
Glycolic Acid
We’ve definitely talked about Glycolic acid before. This ingredient is great for performing at-home facial peels and is mild compared to many other harsh facial peel chemicals. Using
Glycolic peels to exfoliate your skin and reveal new skin will also help reduce pigmentation issues.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a real powerhouse when it comes to skin care. It’s a powerful antioxidant, protecting your skin from the damage caused by free radicals. Vitamin C can considerably reduce hyperpigmentation and redness, and it also helps to build collagen, making it effective at treating sunken scars, too.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E has a long history of being used to diminish scars. In fact, doctors and nurses will advise you to use vitamin E on a recent burn or newly healed cut to reduce and help prevent scars. Vitamin E is an anti-inflammatory that can reduce redness and inflammation, and is also an antioxidant, protecting skin from further damage from free radicals.
Licorice
Ok, so licorice is pretty polarizing. Many people hate the smell or taste of black licorice. However, when used in skin care products in the form of an extract, licorice is excellent at fading hyperpigmentation and dark spots and evening out skin tone. It’s an anti-inflammatory, an antioxidant, and an antibacterial, and even helps to regulate oil production in the skin.
Kojic Acid
Kojic acid is a substance that can be found in several types of Japanese mushrooms and is also a byproduct of the fermentation that occurs when making sake (rice wine.) Kojic Acid is a powerful skin-brightening agent that is best used in brightening products with other ingredients, as it can be somewhat harsh on its own.
Sunken scars, also known as atrophic scars, appear as depressed marks and are quite literally sunken into the skin. These scars typically look like pits, valleys, or gouges in the skin. These are also very noticeable, as they affect the texture and look of your face. The best way to lessen the appearance of sunken scars is to use ingredients that help to rebuild collagen, such as:
Retinol
Retinol, a form of vitamin A, is another skin care ingredient that people can’t seem to praise enough. It helps to clear away dead skin cells, increase the rate at which new skin forms, speeding up healing, and build collagen, helping to add structure and smoothness to skin. Retinol can increase sun sensitivity, so be sure to use sunscreen during the day after applying it.
Snap-8
Snap-8 is an elongated form of Argirelene, the most popular skin care peptide. Like Argirelene, it’s a fragment of the same protein that Botox interacts with to reduce wrinkles. Snap-8 visibly enhances skin’s smoothness by minorly inhibiting certain muscular contractions in the face and boosting the production of collagen, improving your skin’s overall structure.
Additional Tips:
- Don’t pick at your pimples; treat them with topical products or a warm compress
- Wear high-SPF sunscreen to reduce redness
- Don’t use rough scrubs when exfoliating
- Use products with salicylic acid to help control breakouts
- Don’t wash your skin with water that’s too hot
It’s important to note that these ingredients will not completely cure your acne scars or make them disappear, but they can significantly improve and fade their appearance.
Looking for products with these ingredients? Here are our suggestions:
Organica Skin Brightening Serum uses a blend of organic extracts, vitamin C, vitamin E, Kojic acid, Glycolic acid, and licorice extract to reduce hyperpigmentation and redness in the skin.
Bio-Vive Tri-B Complex Serum uses an antioxidant-rich blend of B vitamins to even out skin tone, and Snap-8 peptide to build collagen. It also includes copper gluconate, a naturally anti-microbial ingredient used in many acne washes to fight infections that can cause further breakouts.
