Looking for Home Remedies for Acne Scars?

When your teen has acne, it can be rough on everybody. But when that same teen is suffering from acne scars, it can be ten times as difficult. Most parents know that acne is something that a teen can usually just ride out. It’s just part of growing pains for most kids. But acne scars are more serious. They can be an unpleasant mark of skin damage that may fade a bit, but they don’t go away. Naturally, you don’t want to see your child suffering with acne, but it’s hard to know what to do about it. Some parents turn to home remedies for acne scars.

Causes of Acne Scars

Acne scars are sometimes an unfortunate reminder that acne leaves behind. Different people will have skin that may be more or less susceptible to acne scars, and there is no real way to know who will get them and who won’t. Genetics play a role, certainly, and you need to encourage your children not to pick at, squeeze or pop pimples, no matter how tempting it is, because this can definitely lead to acne scarring. In addition, the more acne your child has, and the longer he or she has it for, the more likely acne scars will develop. So if your child is experiencing frequent, serious outbreaks of acne, take him or her to a dermatologist for advice and treatment.

Why Parents Turn to Home Remedies for Acne Scars

When your teen is suffering from acne scars, you want to do everything you can to help. Unfortunately, the main treatment for existing acne scars is some form of medical procedure, generally either laser resurfacing, chemical peel or microdermabrasion. Although all these procedures are generally safe, they do carry some risk, and they can be expensive, especially since multiple treatments are often required. As a result, some parents turn to home remedies as a solution.

Effectiveness of Home Remedies for Acne Scars

Unfortunately, these home remedies are rarely very effective. Doctors would not recommend procedures that remove multiple layers of skin if a treatment of lemon juice could serve the same purpose. In the short term, lemon juice or some other vitamin C based preparation may mute the appearance of acne scars by changing the color or the shape slightly, but to make acne scars almost unnoticeable almost always requires a doctor’s intervention. Coming up with your own home remedy is not recommended as this may damage the skin further.

What Parents Should Do About Acne Scars

If for whatever reason you’re not prepared to go the medical procedure route, consult your dermatologist for the best way to help your child deal with acne scars. In addition, starting your teen on an approved acne control system to reduce future acne outbreaks and help treat current acne is an important preventative measure. A treatment system like Proactiv with benzoyl peroxide can reduce existing blemishes and help ward off or diminish new outbreaks, which can be an important factor in avoiding additional acne scars.