Just Say NO to Acne Scars

Acne is like that annoying relative who always seems to pop in at the worst moment and, while you insist you’re on your way out, plops down on your sofa and launches into a story that goes on for days. Worse, she always leaves a mess behind.

Craters. Pockmarks. Dark patches. Red patches. Tell-tale signs that acne has been visiting. 

The best way to reduce the look of acne scarring is to reduce acne. Better yet, stop it before it leaves its mark. To win this battle, you have to employ a careful strategy. Scorched earth tactics like over-drying, too much abrasion, popping, and picking must be avoided.

If you feel a new pimple developing, go get some ice. Not for cocktails. For your face. Rub ice directly on the erupting pimple for a few minutes. Do this daily until the blemish retreats.  This helps calm visible redness and swelling, and preps skin so your products can do their job.

Glycolic, lactic, and mandelic acids are all your allies. These acids are formidable frontline defenders that help exfoliate the upper layer of dead surface cells and support a clearer-looking, more even-toned complexion. Vivant’s Skin Nourishing Toner with Clinical Mandelic Acid, niacinamide, and rosehip oil is a great choice for all skin types. For combination or oily skin, try Vivant’s 9% Mandelic Acid 3-in-1 Toner. Clinical Mandelic Acid also helps brighten the appearance of dark marks and discoloration.

Supporting your skin's natural surface renewal helps maintain a smooth, even-looking texture. A retinoid is essential here. It also helps refine the appearance of pores and supports a healthier-looking, more even-toned complexion. Try Vivant's Derm-A-Gel® correcting serum with REt (RP)™ Retinoid, kojic acid, and lactic acid to help exfoliate, brighten the look of skin, and smooth visible texture.

Don't confuse abrasion with exfoliation. You want to remove the top layer of dead surface cells to reveal fresher-looking skin and help fade the look of dark marks, but you don't want to damage or irritate skin in the process. In other words, don't scrub like you would your kitchen floor on a dateless Friday night. Opt for cleansers with mildly exfoliating ingredients like Vivant's Mandelic Acid 3-in-1 Wash, which provides gentle, exfoliating cleansing to help clear away impurities, refine the appearance of pores, and support smoother-looking skin.

To address the look of pink or red marks left behind by blemishes, Vivant's Green Tea Cleanser or Mandelic Acid 3-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser will help reduce the appearance of redness and support a brighter, more even-looking complexion. Follow with Rejuv Rx to help improve the appearance of firmness and elasticity while calming the look of redness.

Spot treating blemishes helps treat existing acne and helps prevent new pimples from forming — and fewer breakouts mean fewer marks left behind. A proven ally is Benzoyl Peroxide. It's long been a dermatology mainstay in the fight against acne. You can thank Dr. Fulton for that. He developed a stabilized form of benzoyl peroxide. Vivant’s BP 10% Medication Gel is your go-to complexion corrector and scar protector. 

Improper extraction can spread bacteria and cause breakouts to worsen and scars to form. However, professional extraction, done properly and at the right time, can make a real difference; this is something best left to a dermatologist or licensed esthetician.

That suntan may make it appear that the dark reminders of an acne breakout have faded. They haven’t. They’ve just blended in as the rest of your skin got darker. When your tan fades, the marks won’t. In fact, they’ll likely be darker than before. The moral of that story is always wear your sunscreen daily, like Vivant's Day Lotion Sunscreen SPF 15 or Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30

When it comes to keeping post-acne marks at bay, prevention is key. Be targeted and consistent in your approach, and you will prevail.