Treat Dark Spots and Acne Scars from it are unfortunate side effects of getting pimples. Both can leave you feeling embarrassed, especially if they occur on visible areas like the face or neck. But there’s good news! Even though they might seem like permanent blemishes, both acne scars and dark spots from acne will heal with time. Keeping your skin clean, exfoliating regularly, and using specific skin care products can also hasten their recovery. In this article, we share everything you need to know about how to treat dark spots and acne scars. Keep reading to learn more!
What is the Difference Between Dark Spots and Acne Scars?
Both dark spots and acne scars are the result of inflammation of the skin that occurs when you break out. For that reason, both are usually found on the face, chest, or back where acne is most common. However, there are some differences between the two.
– Acne scars are caused by a particularly nasty breakout, whereas dark spots come from a variety of factors.
– Acne scars are permanent, but dark spots will fade with time.
– Dark spots occur on the upper layers of your skin, while acne scars go much deeper.
– Dark spots are caused by melanin (the stuff that gives your skin colour) that leaks out of your skin cells.
– Acne scars are caused by your body’s immune system attacking your skin cells, causing them to die and be replaced with denser, firmer tissue.
How to Treat Dark Spots and Acne Scars
How to Treat Dark Spots
As we explained above, dark spots are caused by excess melanin in your skin. Fortunately, there are a few different ways to treat them.
– Lightening creams: These are a great place to start if you’re treating acne-related dark spots. They’re designed to even out your skin tone, reduce inflammation, and fade dark spots. Most of them are formulated with ingredients like vitamin C, retinol, kojic acid, or salicylic acid.
– Chemical peels: These are treatments applied to the surface of your skin to exfoliate the top layer and get rid of old, dead cells. They usually also contain ingredients that lighten your skin to tackle dark spots as well as acne scars.
– Microdermabrasion: This is a more intense version of a chemical peel that grinds off the upper layers of skin. It’s great for treating both dark spots and acne scars because of its exfoliating, lightening properties.
– Laser and IPL treatments: While lasers and IPL (intense pulsed light) treatments are primarily used to treat acne scars, they can also be effective at fading dark spots.
How to Get Rid of Acne Scars
As we mentioned above, acne scars are much deeper than dark spots and won’t respond to the same treatments. Instead, you want to focus on reducing inflammation and promoting new skin cell growth.
– Retinol: A non-prescription acne scar cream that contains retinol is a great place to start. Retinol is a powerful anti-ageing ingredient that also boosts collagen production and reduces the appearance of scars.
– Vitamin C: This antioxidant-rich vitamin promotes skin regeneration and is great for fading acne scars. You can find it in a range of acne scar creams, serums, and gels.
– Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs): These naturally occurring acids help to stimulate new skin cell growth. You can find them in a variety of acne scar creams, gels, and serums.
– Peptides: These are amino acids that help promote new skin cell growth. Many over-the-counter acne scar creams and serums contain them.
Natural Treatments for Dark Spots and Acne Scars
If you’d rather go natural with your skincare, there are a few products you might want to try.
– Tea tree oil: This anti-inflammatory ingredient works great against acne and dark spots. Simply dab a few drops of tea tree oil onto your spots and scars each night before bed.
– Almond oil: This natural remedy is great for treating acne and acne scars. Mix a few drops of almond oil with 1 teaspoon of baking soda and apply it to your face, neck, and chest every night before bed.
– Green tea: Green tea has many skin benefits, including reducing redness, fading acne scars, and preventing dark spots from forming. Brew a few cups of green tea and refrigerate it to make a great face mask.
– Honey: This natural ingredient is great for your skin. You can mix honey with a few drops of turmeric or cinnamon and apply it to your face, neck, and chest every night before bed to help treat acne and dark spots.
Acne Scarring Treatment With Medication
If you’ve tried everything above without success, you might want to consider an acne scarring medication. There are a few different options that work in different ways to reduce the appearance of acne scars:
– Retinoids: These are the same anti-ageing ingredients we mentioned above. They work great against acne scars and are often the first line of defence against acne-related scarring.
– Azelaic acid: This naturally-occurring acid reduces inflammation and promotes new skin cell growth to reduce acne scarring.
– Vitamin C: This potent vitamin can help treat acne scars, but it’s important to choose a high-quality product to avoid side effects. Avoid vitamin C-based products that contain alcohol because they can be very drying and irritating.
– Niacinamide: This vitamin is often added to acne medications because it helps to reduce redness and marks left behind by acne.
Also Refer :- How to Get Rid of Pimples and Prevent Them!
Conclusion
In this article, we discussed everything you need to know about how to treat dark spots and acne scars. Dark spots are caused by excess melanin in your skin, while acne scars go much deeper and are caused by your body’s immune system attacking your skin cells. Treating dark spots involves lightening your skin and fading them naturally, while acne scars respond better to intense but nourishing treatments. For best results, combine a few of these treatments to fade your dark spots and acne scars faster.