#10: Fading Acne Scars in 5 Easy Steps
We all have experienced it. The occasional break-out that frustrated us to no end. The only thing that is more upsetting is the potential scarring acne can leave behind. During my teen years I suffered from moderate acne but things kicked up a notched when I entered my twenties.
By the age of 25, my face was covered with so many dark marks that I wouldn't leave the house without make-up on. Then one day I woke up and decided that there had to be a way to even out my complexion, a method that was both easy and as natural as possible. Now a year and a half later I love the days when I attack the days sans foundation.
I must remind you that my regimen below is what worked for me and may or may not work for you. As with any new skin treatment, be sure to test a small area of face and wait 24 hours before applying any product to your entire your face.
Let me know in the comments below of tricks to fade acne scars below or any tips on how to maintain clear skin. I would love to try some of them out!
My shade in M.A.C. MatchMaster Foundation is a 7.5 and in the Black Radiance True Complexion BB Cream I wear Café.
1. Protect your skin against the sun on a daily basis to prevent furthe darkening. - Acne marks are essentially scar tissue. This type of damaged skin is more sensitive to UV rays which means prolonged sun exposure can permanently darken a scar.
Wearing sunscreen, moisturizer or some type of foundation with SPF is essential to shield your skin against the sun. Although I spend the majority of my day inside a classroom, I still like to mix my favorite BB cream and foundation (both pictured to the right) to protect myself during those brief moments outside during the day.
Bio-Oil can be purchased at your local drugstore. I prefer the Aura Cacia brand of essential oils at Whole Foods.
2. Use creams and oils that are targeted to fade scars and acne marks. - At night, and only at night, after cleansing my face and neck I apply a THIN layer of Bio-Oil, a product that helps with fading dark spots and stretch marks.
Bio-Oil also acts as my carrier oil prior to my applying a few drops of lemon and lavender essential oils to my face and neck. Lemon (not the same as lemongrass) helps increase the skin's immune system thus causing less breakouts. It is also helpful with lightening dark spots. Why not use fresh lemon juice? Essential oils are much more concentrated and therefore more potent in their healing properties.
Lavender oil helps with flaking or peeling of the skin as it helps reconnects the dermis and epidermis (Yes, I did just bring you back to 10th grade biology lol!). In layman's term, lavender is very soothing to the skin and helps balance out the lemon.
I purchase this from the Birchbox.com store.
3. Use a gentle facial exfoliating scrub once or twice a week. - This step is essential to getting rid of old skin cells and allowing the newer ones to surface as your acne scars begin to fade. The only one I have ever really used is the Vasanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator. However, there are many drugstore and D.I.Y. face scrubs to choice from.
4. Refrain from picking at new or old blemishes. - It's like picking at a scab...you are disturbing the skin's natural healing cycle. This leads me to my last tip...
5. Be patient! - It is just that. A healing cycle. As I said in the beginning of this blog post I started this journey to clear skin a year and a half ago. Was it easy waiting that long? Heck no! Yet, as usual, it was worth it all in the end.
What are your methods for fading acne marks?