Causes of Pimple Scars, 6 Ways to Prevention and Remedies
There is hardly anyone in the world who does not long to have a clear and flawless skin. But age, hormonal changes, diet and atmospheric pollution can cause a lot of skin problems, the most common being, pimples. This in itself is annoying. However, this gets worse when it leaves behind a scar.
Did you know that not all pimples leave a scar? But, whether you would get a scar or not is completely dependent on your body’s mechanism.
What Causes Pimple Scars?
When your skin breaks out into a pimple, it penetrates the skin and damages the underlying tissues. As the pimple starts healing, your body starts producing collagen to repair the skin and tissues that have been damaged by the pimple. If the collagen produced in the body is very low or too high, chances are that your skin will be scarred. However, production of collagen in moderate amounts would ensure that the pimple heals without leaving any scars.
Causes of Pimple Scars
- Inflammation: Severe inflammation from pimples can damage skin tissues, leading to scars.
- Picking and Squeezing: Picking or squeezing pimples increases the risk of scarring by causing further trauma to the skin.
- Infection: When acne becomes infected, it can lead to more significant skin damage and scarring.
- Delayed Treatment: Not treating acne promptly or effectively can result in prolonged skin inflammation and increased scarring.
Prevention of Pimple Scars
Though there is no foolproof way to ensure that the pimple would not leave a scar, there are certainly some things that you can do to not let it happen. Here are some things that you can do to avoid scars caused by pimples.
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Treating the Pimple
Getting proper treatment from a qualified dermatologist for pimples would definitely help in avoiding scars. In case, the problem of pimples runs in your family or if you have been facing this problem since you were a teenager, you have all the more reason to get it treated. A dermatologist would be able to prescribe a proper course of treatment for you that would not only cure you of your skin problem but also ensure that the pimples do not leave behind any scars.
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Continuing Treatment until Underlying Cause is Completely Treated
Doctors recommend that you should not stop the pimple treatment unless directed. Stopping the treatment midway could actually result in a new outbreak of pimples which could leave scars.
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Avoid Popping and Squeezing Pimples
It is not a good thing to squeeze or pick at the pimples as this tends to leave a scar.
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Gentle Skin Care Routine
When your skin breaks out into pimples, make sure that you do not cleanse it too vigorously. This could actually have an adverse effect on your pimple and could result in a scar. Instead use a mild cleanser and water to clean your face.
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Protect from Sun
Your body has its own healing mechanism which actually works towards lightening the scars. However, exposure to sun can cause further damage and slow down the healing process. What’s more, the sun could further darken the scars. So, apply a sunscreen with high SPF before going out in the sun.
Wondering what you could do about the pimple spots that already exist? Here are some easy remedies to lighten and clear these scars.
Ways to Lighten Pimple Scars
Sandalwood
Sandalwood is considered to have extreme soothing and healing powers. Soak a piece of sandalwood in some water. Let this stand overnight. In the morning, dab this water to the pimple scars using a cotton ball. You can also make a paste from sandalwood and apply this on the scars. Leave the paste on overnight and wash off in the morning. Doing this on a regular basis will lighten the scars.
Fenugreek Seeds
Fenugreek seeds have amazing healing properties which work towards repairing the damaged skin. Add some fenugreek seeds to some water. Let this mixture boil for about 10 minutes. Cool the mixture and then strain it. Using a cotton ball, apply this water to the pimple marks on your skin.
Lemon
Lemon has natural bleaching properties, which is why it is considered to be very effective on pimple scars. Also it enhances the production of collagen in the body. Squeeze out the juice of few lemons. Apply this to the pimple scars using cotton. After some time, wash your face with water.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera has some amazing properties that can heal all kinds of skin problems. Extract the gel from an Aloe Vera leaf and apply this to the pimple scars. Leave this for about 30 minutes and then wash your face with water. Doing this twice a day will lighten the pimple marks.
Honey
Honey is not only a good moisturizer for the skin but it can also help in reducing the scars caused by pimples. Using your fingers, massage some honey into the scars. After some time wash your face with water. Do this as often as possible to reduce the pimple marks.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E can work wonders for your skin. From a Vitamin E capsule, squeeze out some oil and apply this to the pimple scars. You can also mix this with your moisturizer to lighten the scars.
Pimples can be extremely annoying for the skin. However, proper diet and hygiene and using safe products can help you reduce this problem. In case the problem persists, it would be a good idea to consult a dermatologist.
