3 Tips for Fading Acne Scars & Dark Spots

For those who get breakouts, you’ve certainly experienced the dark, purple or red scars and marks that are leftover long after the blemish has healed. I truly believe these are far worse than the blemish itself simply because a blemish only lasts for 5-7 days, but the acne scars can last up to 8 months in some cases.

In this post, I’ll share my tips to fade acne scars much faster than ever before so your skin can be clear and even-toned—and you don’t have to feel like you have to hide under makeup (yes, please)!

How to Fade Acne Scars

What causes the skin to have red or dark marks after a blemish has healed?

Red or dark acne scars and marks are the result of inflammation within the dermis that triggers the skin to produce pigment cells. In addition, capillaries get dilated (or can even break) during the blemish cycle which brings out some additional redness. The blemish must be cared for properly to expedite the fading and healing process to prevent long-term damage to the skin.

The severity of a dark mark from a blemish will vary based on the following factors:

• Your skin color

Deeper skin tones will scar easier than fair skin tones due to the increased amount of natural melanin content in the skin.

• The type of blemish you have

If the infection came to a head and broke through the surface of the skin the way papules, whiteheads and pustules will do, then you’ll get even more of a mark. Versus, if it’s a cyst and your body reabsorbed the infection and it never broke the skin’s surface, you’ll have less of a mark.

• How long your blemish lasted

Some people’s healing process may be slower than others. Additionally, every type of breakout seems to have a life of its own, and some will last longer than others based on size and the location on the face.

• If it was picked at, overdried and messed with.

Every move you make once a blemish appears will greatly affect the outcome of the scar. This is why you have to be so careful in how you treat it. FACT: Less picking = less scarring. More picking = more scarring. Trust me on this one!

Why did I still get a dark scar even when I barely touched it?

Even if you didn’t touch it, it can still leave a red or dark mark because if the infection broke through the skin’s surface it will automatically trigger a melanin response. If it was a cyst and never broke through, the bump (inflammation) underneath stretched and damaged the surrounding tissue which also resulted in increased melanin activity. Unfortunately, even when you are so careful about not picking a blemish, you’ll still get a dark mark. The good news is that messing with it less should ensure a much quicker recovery.

What can I use at home to fade my acne scars and marks to make them go away fast?

Once the blemish is all healed and you’re left with a red, dark or purple mark, now is the time to focus on doing THREE things.

1. Exfoliate to dissolve and lift away discoloration from damaged cells.

When cells are damaged and discoloration has formed, using a gentle acid exfoliant will work very well to loosen scarred cells to get marks to fade quickly. Also, a gentle facial scrub (that uses non-plastic, round beads) massaged very lightly over the area twice a week is also effective to ensure the discolored cells are getting lifted off. The combination of the two (not used on the same days) will be very beneficial to fade acne scars. 

2. Brighten/fade to calm and suppress melanin activity.

When you’re exfoliating the skin and loosening up the surface damaged cells, a skin brightening product can absorb deeper within the mark and help to settle down active melanin so the mark can go away faster. Many forms of vitamin C (particularly magnesium ascorbyl phosphate) work very well to gently calm redness and fade acne scars. This can also help for PIE (post-inflammatory erythema) that I’ll discuss further in this post. 

3. Protect to prevent UV light from keeping pigment cells active.

This is really important and one that is not often thought about. While the sun and daylight is never your friend when it comes to keeping the skin free of wrinkles, it’s also not good for blemish scars and marks. Any UV light (even on cloudy days) that sees your skin will naturally want to activate melanin cells. Since the red, dark mark is an indication of pigment, UV light will make the scarring stay visible for longer. You must use sunscreen every single day and avoid getting daylight on your skin. If you’re blemish-prone, it’s important to use one that is lightweight and non-pore clogging. The last thing we want is your sunscreen to actually cause you breakouts since no breakouts = no marks or scars to have to deal with. 

Of the three types of products mentioned, which one is the most effective to fade acne scars?

Hands down, sunscreen. From the moment the sun rises to when it sets, all of the daylight that gets on your skin (even on a cloudy day during winter) is keeping the dark pigment cells awake. Sunscreen gives them an opportunity to go to sleep to fade your acne scars. Of course, adding in an exfoliating product and a skin brightening product will dramatically fade acne scars faster, if I had to choose just one, I’d say sunscreen.

What if a blemish left an indent in my skin?

Generally, the deep cystic ones will cause the most injury to the skin and affect the actual skin tissue. This can lead to keloid, hypertrophic or atrophic scars. Atrophic scars are the ones most commonly associated with acne. This is where the damage occurred very deep in the skin causing it to indent. Sometimes they can be temporary and bounce back, but some can last a lifetime.

How can I prevent acne marks from appearing?

The ideal scenario would be to never break out again, but I realize this is easier said than done. To prevent breakouts, consult an aesthetician for the best requirements for your skin and how to prevent acne scars and how to get rid of them! At Botanica Day Spa, we have the facial treatments and experienced staff who would love to help transform your skin into beautiful, healthy, and radiant! Call us today to start your routine facials with us at 727-441-1711!

Love,

Gen