It's always important to use sunscreen to protect your skin, but be even more diligent about applying sunscreen while using a retinol product," warns Christenson.įor hyperpigmentation that doesn't respond to retail products, and for the deeper indentation scarring, Christenson recommends the more advanced treatment options a medical aesthetician can provide, including:
How long does it take for acne scars to fade skin#
"The one watch-out about using retinol is that it can make your skin more sun-sensitive.
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"The best course of treatment depends on the type of scarring you have, with indentation scarring often requiring more advanced treatment," says Christenson.įor discoloration acne scarring, start by trying the at-home retail topicals aimed at counteracting hyperpigmentation, such as brightening serums or retinol-containing products. Christenson says there are definitely things you can do to reduce acne scarring once you have it. Plus, if your hands aren't clean, picking at your acne can lead to a small, localized infection or your acne spreading to other areas of skin," explains Christenson. This, in turn, makes scarring even more likely. "Inflammation-related acne scarring aside, aggressively pinching or squeezing a pimple or whitehead just makes the underlying inflammation worse. So.scarring can happen whether you pick at your acne or not, but here's why you should still avoid the urge to pop. I have a Hispanic background and my skin hyperpigments fairly easily, so I myself am prone to discoloration scarring after a breakout," adds Christenson.
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Some people's skin discolors easier than others, for instance. "In most cases, acne scarring mirrors how your skin generally scars. Indentation scarring – more common with severe acne, occurs when the top layer of skin doesn't fully heal and regenerate - leaving an indentation in the skin.Discoloration scarring – hyperpigmentation that causes the affected skin to remain darker after the blemish has healed."Whether there's scarring and how exactly it presents depends on your skin type and the extent of damage."
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This inflammation causes trauma to skin tissue - leading to scarring," says Christenson. "During a breakout, inflammation is happening underneath your skin. While acne often makes its presence very known above the skin, the reason it leaves scarring behind actually has to do with what's happening underneath the skin. We're all guilty of picking at our acne - sometimes rather aggressively - and the visual outcomes are almost always a reminder of why we should resist the urge next time.īut, even when you do find the strength to leave your acne alone, sometimes you still scar.Īnnie Christenson, medical aesthetician at Houston Methodist who practices with our ENT specialists, is here to explain why. The only thing worse than an acne breakout is the scarring it can leave behind.