Even if you’ve managed get your acne breakouts under control, post-acne marks can remain on your face and body for a long time after the actual acne has disappeared. That is why a lot of people wonder how to make their skin go back to normal after acne and get rid of post-acne marks. Here are a few tips that might help.
Acne occurs when pores on your skin become plugged with sebum (skin oil) and dead skin cells. Clogged pores are the perfect environment for the growth of Cutibacterium acnes, a type of bacteria associated with a number of skin disorders, such as acne vulgaris and folliculitis. The rapid growth of C. acnes can trigger inflammation, leading to severe acne breakouts.
If the bacteria multiply actively, breakouts are extensive, and the person with acne exacerbates the condition by picking their pimples, the skin affected by acne doesn’t have enough time to repair itself, which results in post-acne marks.
Such marks can look like dark spots or actual scars, hence their alternative name “acne scars”. Their severity may vary depending on a number of factors. After a mild case of acne that was treated properly, post-acne marks usually look like red spots that gradually fade away due to the skin’s natural renewal. However, severe cases of acne with nodules or cysts usually result in atrophic or hypertrophic scars.
They say that it is easier to prevent something from happening than to repair the damage later, so it is important to treat acne properly in order to minimize the risk of post-acne marks. However, sometimes you get them no matter what you do. In case of severe scarring, you should consult a beautician or dermatologist to figure out the best scar removal strategy. If your post-acne marks don’t look too bad, you can try to remove them yourself. Here are a few tips on how to get rid of post-acne pigmentation at home.
Try Skin Whitening Products
The inflammation associated with acne stimulates melanocytes (pigment-producing skin cells) to produce more melanin, which results in dark spots known as postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. To get rid of these dark spots, you can use skin whitening creams, lotions, face masks or serums formulated with special ingredients that reduce pigmentation, such as lemon, tomato, strawberry and parsley extracts, vitamins A and C, arbutin.
Try Alpha-Hydroxy Acids
Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) are used for chemical skin exfoliation. They help to slough off dead skin cells and reveal new and healthy skin. When used to remove post-acne marks, skincare products with AHAs stimulate skin regeneration and renewal, make the skin smoother, and remove pigmentation or at least reduce its appearance.
Try Chemical Peels
If creams and serums with AHAs don’t help, you can try chemical peels that contain a higher concentration of alpha-hydroxy acids or other types of organic acids. For at-home exfoliation, use chemical peels with a maximum concentration of 20% as higher concentrations may damage the skin. Popular acid peels for at-home include gluconolactone, glycolic, lactic, succinic, mandelic, and salicylic.
Use Skincare Products that Boost Microcirculation
Cosmetics that stimulate microcirculation in the epidermis speed up skin cell metabolism, making post-acne marks fade sooner. Common ingredients that can be found in such products are green tea extract, wheat germ oil, pomegranate extract, vitamin B3 (niacinamide), honey, ginger root extract, algae extract, and various essential oils (citrus, cinnamon, lavender, rosemary, etc.).
Protect Your Skin from the Sun
If your post-acne marks result from postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, sun exposure will make them worse because UV radiation stimulates the production of melanin. So while you’re trying to get rid of post-acne pigmentation using skin lightening products, you need to protect your skin from the sun with the help of sunscreen or moisturisers with SPF.
Both acne and post-acne marks can cause a lot of distress. The best way to deal with them is to consult a professional (either a dermatologist or a beautician, depending on the severity of the problem) who will help you to choose the best treatment regimen, as well as buy the right skin lightening and healing products.
In our online shop Organic Store, you can buy chemical peels, moisturisers, face masks, and other natural products for removing post-acne marks. We offer a wide selection of high-quality products at reasonable prices, secure and convenient payment methods, and international delivery to make your online shopping experience as pleasant as possible.