acne scars ever fade completely

Do Acne Scars Ever Fade Completely and How Long Does It Take?

HomeBlogDo Acne Scars Ever Fade Completely and How Long Does It Take?

The short answer? Yes, acne scars do fade over time! The amount of time an acne scar takes to fade and how much it fades depends on the type of acne and how it was treated.

Acne can be an emotionally draining experience in itself. Just when you think that your acne breakout is finally over, the pimples disappear…only to leave behind numerous obvious scars that don’t look any better. If you have been trying to get rid of your acne scars to no avail, you’ll be pleased to know that it is definitely possible to lessen the scarring with effective acne scar treatment.

What is an Acne Breakout?

We often only notice acne when it appears above the skin, but the actual breakout occurs beneath the skin. Acne happens when hair follicles have been filled with oil and dead skin cells, causing inflammation under the skin that can appear on the surface in the form of pimples and bumps. This inflammation often causes trauma to the skin, resulting in scarring that may not seem to go away. Acne is also most common on the face and can be very visible, which may cause people to feel self-conscious. It is a common skin condition that can happen to people of all ages and races, although it tends to occur more in teenagers.

What are the Types of Acne Scarring?

There are two main types of acne scarring:

  • Indentation scarring occurs when the outermost layer of the skin does not completely heal after acne, resulting in a dent in the skin. This includes boxcar, rolling, and ice pick scars.
  • Discolouration scarring, while not technically scarring, is pigmentation left behind after acne has healed that results in a dark spot on the skin.

Scarring happens when skin tissue is damaged. The body attempts to repair the damaged skin by producing collagen. Sometimes, the skin produced to cover an acne wound will be different in colour or texture, creating a blemish on the skin. Every lesion scars to a different extent, depending on how close to the surface of the skin the inflammation was. A pimple that appears closer to the skin surface typically scars less and takes a faster time to heal, while a pimple that appears deeper in the skin tends to leave a deeper scar and take a longer time to heal, due to the increased amount of skin tissue exposed to trauma. The skin may or may not return to normal after some time, although it is more likely to do so if the pimple healed naturally rather than being popped. This is why people are often advised not to pick at pimples – by popping them, the skin damage can be greater and leave behind a more permanent scar. It is also possible for bacteria from your hands to enter a reopened wound from picking a pimple, which could cause the acne to spread and become more serious. Note that pimples can still leave scars even if you have not picked at them at all, but they are more likely to heal faster and leave less of a mark.

How Long Do Acne Scars Take to Fade?

No matter which type of acne scars you have, most available treatments take time to achieve the desired results. If you need a quick solution, you are probably better off using concealer to cover it up.

Acne scars will eventually get better, though – both discolouration and indentation scarring can be improved over time with the right skin care techniques, although indentation scarring may require more advanced treatment because the indentations on the skin are technically permanent.

Discolouration on the skin can take around a few months to completely fade away on its own, but you can speed up the process with acne scar removal. Many home remedies are available to help promote healthy skin growth and reduce discolouration, such as salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, and shea butter. These ingredients can usually be found in skincare lotions and anti-acne creams at the store.

If you have indentation scars, you may find that off-the-counter topical acne scar therapy may have little effect on improving the scarring. This is where other acne scar eraser techniques are necessary. This usually involves dematological procedures such as laser treatments, chemical peels, fillers, microneedling, subscision, and even cosmetic surgery. However, it is important to wait for the acne to completely heal before starting any of these treatments.

Of course, every scar is different, so it can be difficult to identify an exact timeframe for your scars to improve or whether any acne scar therapy are required. Generally, the more extensive and textured the scarring, the longer you will have to treat it to make it less noticeable. The effects of a serious acne breakout may take months or years to dissipate completely even under treatment, so it is important to be patient and consistent with your treatment options.