If we let them, old scar and acne marks can sometimes make us a bit self-conscious, particularly if they’re located somewhere quite visible.
Most of us have them and they’re one of those things that other people probably hardly notice, seeing just our natural beauty. In an ideal world, we would give our little skin imperfections no thought at all and proudly claim our ‘war wounds’ and marks that show we’ve lived!
However, if you would rather try to tackle them, there are many things that you can try these days. From lotions and potions, to more expensive laser therapies to reduce and sometimes drastically minimize scaring.
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Covering It Up
You can buy makeup that’s specially designed for covering scars. Good beauticians will help you find a great color match for your skin tone. You can even get waterproof products that will stay in place for up to two to three days – they’re that good! As well as scars, special make up like this will cover everything from tattoos to birthmarks, vitiligo and rosacea.
Steroids
Prescription steroids are also an option. They can’t remove scars completely, but they can improve their appearance. Corticosteroid injections are used to treat some keloid and hypertrophic scars. The scar is injected a number of times to reduce any swelling and flatten it, and depending on the type of scar, the injections may need to be repeated. A dermatologist will assess how your body has responded and treatment can usually continue over a few months if your scar is improving. A special tape impregnated with steroids can also be a viable option for keloid scars. The tape can be applied for up to 12 hours at a time.
Freezing
Cryotherapy is also amazing for keloid scars if you catch them in the early stages. Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze the area and often helps to flatten, lighten and stop the scar area growing (a problem in particular with keloid scars).
Laser Therapy
Another great treatment is laser or light therapy. Studies show that it definitely works to reduce the size and thickness of scaring. Light therapy is used to remove the outer layer of your skin’s surface and to stimulate production of new skin cells. As well as scars, this treatment can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and age spots too. The treatment does require a local anaesthetic and should be carried out by a certified dermatologist. You probably would experience some swelling and redness post treatment, but this usually subsides in a couple of days to a week.
Injectable Fillers
Dermal fillers like restylane and juvederm are very effective. Again choose the professional carefully, reading lots of reviews and getting personal recommendations where possible. It can be a costly option and of course it’s only temporary, but you get very good results. Therefore, try to only go down this route if you’re able to commit to having and paying for the treatment regularly.
Micro Needling
Skin needling sounds scary and isn’t for everyone, but this treatment can definitely make a difference to scaring. Essentially, hundreds of micro-needles fitted to a small device are rolled across sterile skin, which triggers the body’s natural skin healing process. Claims are that your body’s extra cellular matrix is stimulated, your epidermal thickness is increased and inflation is reduced. Extra collagen and elastin are also thought to be produced in response to micro-needling. Although recovery is quick, repeat treatments are often necessary and results can vary from person to person.
Keeping Natural
Finally, if you prefer natural and non-invasive treatments, rose hip oil is often thought of as wonder oil for rejuvenating and freshening skin. A super food for your skin, the oil is packed with collagen and retinoic acid. Apply it each night to help regenerate skin cells, reduce hyper pigmentation and the appearance of dark marks. Tea tree oil is a natural product that may also help reduce the appearance of scaring by tackling inflammation and redness.
When it comes to scaring, it is important to remember that we notice it so much more on ourselves than on other people. Ultimately, it’s down to each individual if they feel that treating an ‘issue’ would benefit how they feel about themselves.
If you’re curious how to cover up acne scars with foundation, click the link. Meanwhile, these foundations are good if you have acne prone skin.
Let us know if there are any treatments you would try in the comments section below!
