Avoid and Prevent Acne Scarring with These Skin Care Treatments

Acne scarring can be a real problem for your skin. The best way to deal with this issue is to prevent it entirely. Here are a few skin care tips that can help you do just that.

Prevent Pimples from Happening at All

The best way to prevent acne scarring is to prevent acne in the first place. Early, effective acne treatment can help prevent pimples, which cause inflammation and can result in permanent facial scarring if you’re not careful. They say the best defense is a good offense, and in this particular situation, the saying applies perfectly. Topical skin care medications prescribed by your dermatologist can help prevent acne before it results in scarring.

Use Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid can be found in multiple over-the-counter acne treatments. Not only does this ingredient help clear dirt, dead skin, and other impurities from the pores of your skin, it can help reduce inflammation if or when a pimple does arise. In doing so, salicylic acid helps prevent acne scars. And if you already have acne scars? Salicylic acid may be able to help reduce their appearance on your skin. Overall, this naturally occurring compound is typically an excellent addition to an acne treatment regimen. Of course, you should still consult with your dermatologist before beginning any kind of acne medication, even an over-the-counter one.

Clean the Area Around a Popped Pimple Immediately

There isn’t a dermatologist in the world who will encourage you to pick at your acne. But since you might do it anyway, it’s important to know how to clean the area after you irritate it. A solution of hydrogen peroxide and water will usually do the trick. The key is to make sure the area around the pimple that you just irritated is as sanitary as possible. When you pick at a pimple, you may cause micro-tears in the skin, which means bacteria could get in and cause even more inflammation. This, in turn, will likely lead to acne scarring if you’re not careful. So while it’s best practice not to touch your pimples at all, if you do you should properly clean the area to avoid further inflammation.

Reduce Inflammation Quickly

Speaking of inflammation, it’s one of the major causes of acne scarring. Large, inflamed acne breakouts are much more likely to cause scarring than the occasional whitehead. One of the most effective ways to reduce inflammation is to examine your skin care routine and avoid any harsh or irritating treatments. Exfoliating while you’re having an inflamed acne breakout is not a good idea. Instead, be gentle with your skin and use soothing skin treatments. If you’re unsure which skin care treatment to use during a breakout, it’s a good idea to consult with your dermatologist.

At North Pacific Dermatology, we want to help you live your happiest, most confident life. If you have questions about acne or you believe your condition could be at risk of causing acne scarring, set up a consultation with our dermatology services team today. Together we can find the right acne treatment for you.