Prevent Acne Scars

Discover How To Prevent Acne Scars Before They Form

Acne scarring can be painful and humiliating for some individuals. Even when acne scars are not severe, it is easy to be self conscious about them; especially if they have forms in a highly visible part of the skin such as the face, neck, chest, and back areas. Perhaps one of the easiest ways to avoid embarrassment and pain is to get rid of acne scars before they form.

Preventing acne scars is not always possible for those with severe acne, but it can work much of the time to at least minimize the appearance of acne scars. It is important to remember why acne scars form in the first place when considering how to prevent them.

Acne scars form because of damaged to the tissues and structures in and around the pores where acne develops. A scar develops on the skin any time a wound is present and the body sends collagen to replace any damaged parts. So, for those with acne, the wound happens within the pore and often occurs deep within the layers of the skin.

As collagen fills the areas of damage, the wound becomes full of new connective tissues. Unlike normal skin, which is connected through fibers that are woven together much like a basket, scar tissue fibers grow in straight lines and are obviously different than other skin surrounding it.

The more severe the acne is, the worse the potential scar can appear to be. Deep damage, such that occurs with infected cystic acne, causes deep depressions to form in the skin because the scar tissue is pulled downward, toward the original point of damage. However, it is not only cystic acne that can result in acne scars.

While very mild acne will rarely leave a scar if left to heal on its own, picking at the skin and trying to manually rupture pimples can cause significant damage that will lead to acne scars. Just like the damage that occur deep within the pore, surface damage from manipulating blemishes can also cause scar tissues to form.

Getting Rid of New Acne Scars through Prevention

The best way to treat acne scarring is to treat the acne that causes the tissue to form. By stopping the acne life cycle, individuals can drastically minimize the appearance of scars once the acne wounds have healed. This is especially true of cystic acne.

The first step is to regularly care for the skin. Skin should be cleansed, mildly exfoliated, and moisturized on a daily basis. Even for those with oily skin, replacing moisture prevents damage that can lead to more acne and in turn, more scarring.

If acne develops, treat it immediately. Do not try to rupture a pimple with your fingers, since that can also lead to scarring. Instead, try over the counter acne spot treatments that may help with mild acne.

Cystic acne is much more likely to scar, so it may be necessary to see a doctor or dermatologist to help clear it up before scars form. It is difficult to get rid of acne scars caused by severe cystic acne, so prevention is critical.