Acne scars, go away. Don't come back another day.
It's already annoying enough when a blemish rears its ugly whitehead—but then you have to deal with hyperpigmentation
and skin tone inconsistency for months, maybe even years, after. Sure,
these buggers eventually fade, but there are things you can do to
expedite process—and some don't even require the fancy lasers or
hard-to-pronounce prescriptions models and celebs use to clear up their
skin.
We tapped leading dermatologist Dr. Patricia Wexler, skin guru to stars like Rita Ora and Georgina Chapman, to give us the low down on acne scars.
How Scars Become, Well, Scars:
According to the New York-based dermatologist, there are several ways
acne can leave a mark, including severe inflammation, skin manipulation
(we're all guilty of trying to pop or pick at a pimple), bacteria and
sebum production (from oil glands). "The best way to prevent acne
scarring is to stop the acne before it starts, as it starts," noted the
expert. So, don't forget to wash your makeup off at night, exfoliate
when needed and hydrate!
They Have Names, Too:
These pesky marks are not created equal. "Once you get a scar, you have
to evaluate the scar before you can treat it," said the good doctor.
There are three types that can be identified with even an untrained eye:
ice pick (deep, firm but typically small in diameter); boxcar (wide
with sharp edges and rectangular in shape); and rolling (very common,
soft scars that, sometimes, if you stretch it, you can make it look less
noticeable).
Beauty Aisle for the Win: Before
you spend tons of money on lasers and facial treatments, try skin-care
products with specific ingredients to treat any hyperpigmententation or a
slight loss of pigmentation. Here are a few of Dr. Wexler's favorites
below.
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution, $49.50
Not
only does it help with current pigmentation problems, but this serum
helps prevent future dark spots as well. You can thank the activated
vitamin C and peony extract, which stimulate cell turnover.
SkinMedica Age Defense Rentinol Complex, $62
By
now, you know retinol works wonders for skin—even with over-the-counter
products, the ingredient can increase collagen production, help soften
depressed scars and improve pigmentation.
SkinCeuticals Advanced Pigment Corrector, $64.22
OK,
you may not know what ellagic, hydroxyl or phenoxy propopia acid are,
but know these ingredients help regulate melanin production, which
create those dark patches on your skin.
Wexler Resurfacing Microbrasion System, $35
From
the celeb dermatologist herself comes a resurfacing cream that taps
medical-grade alumina crystals to exfoliate the skin, while ingredients
like niacinamide and mulberries improve pigmentation.
When You Need the Strong Stuff:
In the case of severe scaring, the over-the-counter stuff may not cut
it. According to Dr. Wexler, two topical brands are often prescribed for
scars that won't seem to go away: Tri-luma (which features Retin-A,
hydroquinone and anti-inflammatory hydrocortisone) and Aczone (which is
often used to combat acne but can be prescribed for scarring, too, since
it has "growth factors that will spur collagen," explained the skin
pro).
In Case of Significant Scarring: If
topical creams and gels don't work, it's time to consult your
dermatologist. "Pigmentation, products, peels and lasers—it's not a
small topic," said Dr. Wexler. There are multiple routes a client can
take when it comes to their personal scars. For just one scar, your
dermatologist may simply suggest Trichloroacetic acid, or a TCA peel, to
generate new skin. For deep ice pick or boxcar scars, radio-frequency micro-needling might be the solution. For pitted, depressed scars, perhaps a combination therapy of filler,
micro-needling and fractionated laser resurfacing (when little tunnels
are made in the skin to rejuvenate it) will help. "It really depends on
severity," she added.
What we do for clear, beautiful skin…
No comments:
Post a Comment