How To Reduce Acne Scars

Acne scars fall in one of three categories: depressed-type scars, raised scars and skin discoloration. Of the three, most people developed depressed-type scars, which appear as saucer-shaped indentations in the skin. Skin discoloration appears as red, pink, brown or purple dots as pimples heal. This type of mark eventually disappears, and therefore isn't technically a scar, but still can be treated. Raised scars, which appear as uneven bumps on the skin, tend to be the most difficult to treat. Even though people outgrow adolescent acne, they may be still left with ugly and embarrassing acne scars. Luckily, there are ways to reduce or minimize the appearance of acne scars. The treatment you may need will depend on the severity of the scars.

1. Use natural treatments if you have mild scarring. Rose hip oil, lavender oil and aloe vera juice or gel may help reduce acne scars.

2. Apply a mixture of sandalwood paste in rosewater and leave it overnight and wash off the next morning. Repeat this process till there is marked improvement in scars. The usefuleness of sandalwood in skin care is so well known, that it has been one of the essential elements of make-up kit of women in India traditionally. Even now, there are several brands that prepare soaps with sandalwood as one of the key ingredients. 

3. Fenugreek: It is commonly used in the treatment of acne scars. Boil some fenugreek seeds in water and cool it before applying to the scars. Application of face mask made of fenugreek leaves paste is also equally effective. 

4. Honey: Honey is a natural moisturizer, which is used in the treatment of acne scars. Intake of honey and application of honey mask on the face are found to be effective in acne scar treatment. 

5. Water is probably best available natural method to treat the acne scars. Drink plenty of water, as it helps in flushing out the toxins from your body and making it revitalized. Water also assists you in shedding dead skin cells and the formation of healthy skin. Drinking lukewarm water in the morning helps in flushing out toxins. This is one of the best natural acne treatment.

6. Over-the-counter treatments that work on depressed acne scars include vitamin C, retinol and glycolic acid. According to the AAD, these can help make shallow saucer-shaped scars less noticeable. For those with skin discoloration, creams that contain the ingredient hydroquinone can fade the colored dots in less time than it would take them to fade naturally. 

7. Diminish acne scars by getting dermabrasion treatment or a chemical peel from a doctor. In a dermabrasion treatment, a rotating machine removes damaged skin after the application of anesthesia to numb the area. Scabs will form and the face is red for a few weeks. Chemical peels can improve mild acne scars.

Before using any at-home product to improve the look of your skin, talk with your dermatologist. Safety can be a concern. With improper use, at-home products such as microdermabrasion and chemical peels can actually make the scars more noticeable. Sometimes an active ingredient in a product can cause an unexpected skin reaction.

Article Source: http://goarticles.com

About Outhor: By Charles Zoe. Author is an online medical researcher on acne treatment and skin care. Click read more on natural acne treatment, mild acne scarring.