Tricks of the Trade
How to get rid of acne scars
By Kelly MisaPhilippine Daily Inquirer
HIDE your face no more.
Kindly advise me on products I can use to reduce pekas. I think that because I had the habit of popping my pimples when I was in high school, now I have these spots that I can’t seem to remove. What can I do to make my skin even again? Thank you!
ESTHER
No matter what we call it—pekas, pimple scars, spots or acne marks—the very sight of these imperfections can hurt our self-confidence. They can come in many forms and sizes, and can stay on our skin for weeks, months and sometimes even years.
What’s important to understand is that this condition varies from person to person. Some people get dark spots while others form deep depression marks on their skin. Now, the longer the scar has been on your skin, the harder it will be to erase. So it’s really best to begin treatment when the pimple or blemish has just begun to heal.
If some time has passed by and still those marks refuse to fade away, don’t worry. You can still treat them no matter how old they are. With enough time and patience, all scars can be erased. Follow these easy tips and you’re well on your way to getting smoother, more even skin.
Use a spot-lightening cream. Have you ever noticed how your pimple sometimes heals into a dark-colored mark? Well, that’s usually the case.
Our skin produces melanin to help protect the distressed area, which causes these pimple marks to last weeks or even months. Lighten these areas in a jiffy by purchasing a spot-lightening cream with ingredients such as niacinamide, licorice extract and azelaic acid. These have powerful whitening properties that work by interrupting melanin production. With regular use, spots lighten up in four weeks or less.
Get a peel. It is best to consult a dermatologist. There are many kinds of peels on the market, and some may be too harsh for your skin. The one I tried used glycolic acid (or alpha hydroxy acid), which was less abrasive than other chemical peels available and had skin benefits that improved overall skin condition, reduced scars and removed dead skin cells.
It stings a bit when left long on skin (say, more than 30 minutes), but it won’t make skin red, raw or painful. However, like I said, we don’t have the same skin reaction. Your doctor will be able to give the right peel treatment for your skin condition.
Try a laser-resurfacing treatment. No longer like their antiquated predecessors that caused skin to sting, laser treatments these days are quick, easy and, most important, painless. Skin care clinics have different names for their laser machines, but these deliver pretty much the same results. Treatments are usually offered in a package deal of five to 10 sessions, depending on how bad your acne scars are. But rest assured they work.
E-mail the author at ask.kellymisa@gmail.com.
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Tags: Acne Scars , beauty , Lifestyle , skin
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