Acne Scar Cream

Acne is a common skin ailment that affects mainly teenagers, but adults can be affected as well. Hormone changes are theorized to be the main cause of acne. Acne by itself is not harmful to the body. However, untreated or severe acne can leave behind scars. These scars can have a devastating effect on an individual’s self-esteem. Healthcare professionals recognize the importance of a good acne scar cream1. An acne scar cream is one type of treatment that may be beneficial for treatment of acne scars.

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The Characteristics of Acne Scars

It is important to learn how to recognize an acne scar before you begin looking for an acne scar removal cream. Your results may be affected by the type of scars you have and the severity of these scars.

The color of the acne scar may be dependent upon your natural skin tone. Individuals who have deeper skin tones may notice a darkening within the scars. This is referred to as hyperpigmentation. Those who have a lighter skin tone will have a redness within the acne scar. This is known as erythema.

Acne scars may be shallow, or they be a deeper box-car shape. Deeper and narrow acne scars are known as ice pick scars. The deeper the scar the harder it is to treat. If you have active acne, it is critical that you avoid things that will make your acne scars worse. If the scars become too deep or severe even the best acne scar cream cannot get rid of them completely.

How to Keep Acne Scars From Becoming Severe

One of the worst things you can do to your acne is to pick at the scabs or try to squeeze the pus out of the pimples. When the skin has an injury, the body sends collagen to the site to repair the damaged skin. Picking at the scabs will lead to further inflammation and injury to the skin which can produce deeper scarring. Squeezing the pimples will result in pushing the bacteria in the pimple deeper into the skin which can produce additional collagen damage.

Sun exposure can make acne scars worse. The ultraviolet rays of the sun will cause the body to produce melanocytes, which are pigment producing cells. This will lead to a deeper discoloration of the scars. Before you expose your scars to the sun it is important that you find an acne scars cream that contains a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher. This should provide adequate protection.

You may be surprised to know that Vitamin E can actually make your acne scars worse. A study conducted at the University of Miami discovered that applying this nutrient to acne scars had no effect and even made the scars worse in 90% of the patients studied. 33% of the individuals in the study even developed contact dermatitis from Vitamin E. Be wary of acne scar removal creams that advertise Vitamin E as their main active ingredient.

How to Choose the Best Acne Scar Removal Cream

You should first treat any inflammation of your acne scars. If the scars are inflamed they will be red and swollen. It is a good idea to get an over the counter cortisone cream to reduce inflammation. These creams are relatively cheap, costing only a few dollars at your local pharmacy. The average price for a tube of cortisone cream is about four dollars.

Once you have the inflammation under control you can look for a great cream for acne scars that lightens the hyperpigmentation of the scar. Hydroquinone used to be used a lot for lightening scars on the skin. However, its use has decreased because of possible adverse effects. Some studies have determined that hydroquinone has cancer-causing properties2. It has also been linked with a medical condition that causes the skin to become very thick and very dark. Other adverse effects include impaired adrenal gland function and high levels of mercury found in those who use products containing this skin lightener.

When you are searching for an acne scar cream, there are natural alternatives that can lighten the acne scars. One ingredient that has natural skin lightening properties is Kojic acid. This natural skin lightener is derived from a mushroom extract. Other natural skin lighteners include bearberry extract and Vitamin C.

It is possible to reduce the appearance of your acne scars with a great acne scar cream. However, if the scars are deep, other methods of scar removal may be necessary. The most important thing you need to remember when using an acne scar removal cream is to have patience. Your scars can fade, but it may take several months before you notice significant results.

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Sources:

1 – http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/acne-care-11/acne-scars?page=1
2 – http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=64167