7 innocent habits that almost guarantee acne scars

As if acne itself weren’t annoying enough, pimples can leave their mark long after you thought they were gone. Scars leave a long-lasting depression or textural change, while post-inflammatory hyper pigmentation creates a purple, grey, or brown mark. Acne is caused by inflammation, and depending on the degree of that inflammation and your skin type, that blemish could leave discolouration or an indentation when your skin tries to heal, says dermatologist Dr Ivy Lee.

The best way to prevent either one is to attack acne before it starts, she says. “It’s much harder to deal with [scars] than treating and preventing acne,” she says. Still, avoiding certain habits will make your skin more likely to clear up without leaving a mark.

Acne treatment products make the skin more sensitive to UV rays, so sunscreen is already a particularly important step if you are dealing with pimples. To make matters worse, though, that sun damage also makes your skin more likely to scar. “UV radiation and sun exposure are more likely to cause scars to discolour or take more time to heal,” says Dr Lee. Make sure you add SPF to your daily beauty routine to protect your skin from cancer, wrinkles—and scarring.

Always follow these sunscreen tips to protect your skin from sun damage.

You’ve heard it before, but it’s worth repeating: Popping a pimple does more harm than good. “Any type of manipulation can increase risk of discolouration and scarring,” says Dr Lee. Not only does rubbing and scratching a blemish leave bacteria from your hands, but picking can create more inflammation. Instead of scratching acne, dab a bit of spot treatment on the blemish and wait for it to heal.

Here are 12 sneaky causes of an acne breakout.

Squeezing the gunk out of your pores is satisfying, but it could actually create more problems in the long run. “To avoid the possibility of a scar, I would recommend avoiding the use of metal tools to extract pimples or blackheads, and avoid the use of your fingernails as well,” says dermatologist Dr Kally Papantoniou.

Trained professionals know how to use the instruments properly, but there’s a good chance you’ll end up causing more trauma and inflammation if you do a DIY method. If you aren’t willing to give up the habit, clean your tools with alcohol before and after each use to avoid spreading bacteria, and try using tissue paper as a barrier between the metal and your skin, says Dr Papantoniou.

Want to keep your skin soft, supple and hydrated? Consider adding these complexion-boosting foods to your grocery list.

Spending too much time staring at your pores in the mirror will only make you obsess over little blemishes that no one else would notice. “I don’t recommend looking in magnifying mirrors and picking at every pore on your skin,” says Dr Papantoniou. Messing with your acne will just do more damage, meaning more breakouts and scars, she says.

Washcloths, mechanical facial cleansing brushes, and exfoliating mitts feel like they’re giving pores a deep clean, but they can be too harsh. “Skin is there for a reason. It’s a natural protective barrier against the rest of the world,” says Dr Lee. “You want to keep that intact and healthy, and don’t want to thin out that barrier.” If you do wear it away too much, your skin can become irritated, sensitive, and vulnerable to bacterial infection—which can all lead to acne scars.

Find out what you should never do to your skin, according to dermatologists.

It’s tempting to cover up blemishes by caking on foundation and cover-up, but they can irritate skin and make acne scars worse. “The things we do to hide acne scars can perpetuate a vicious cycle,” says Dr Lee. “Choose oil-free and non-comedogenic options so you’re not adding fuel to the fire.”

Healthy, beautiful skin is only steps away—find out how to make your skin glow naturally with these expert tips.

Keeping up with a regular acne-fighting skin-care routine is a great first step, but you should visit a dermatologist if acne scars are becoming an issue. A dermatologist can give painless blue light therapy to kill acne-causing bacteria on your skin, says Dr Papantoniou, and a facial can be more than just a treat-yourself occasion. “Getting regular monthly facials will help reduce acne break outs and can help clean out pores in a more controlled setting which can reduce the risk of scarring,” she says.

Sign up here to get Reader’s Digest’s favourite stories delivered straight to your inbox!

Source: readersdigest.ca