Do acne scars go away on their own? Reddish or brownish acne marks left behind by acne lesions usually fade eventually, but it can take a year or longer. Mild or moderate scarring may also fade over time, but in general, unless acne scars are treated — especially severe scarring — they're permanent.
If you have a red or brownish mark on your face that you got from a bad zit, it should eventually fade. However, it may take 12 months or longer. If you're upset about acne marks, talk to your doctor, who might have advice on what you can do.
Acne scarring can sometimes develop as a complication of acne. Any type of acne spot can lead to scarring, but it's more common when the most serious types of spots (nodules and cysts) burst and damage nearby skin. Scarring can also occur if you pick or squeeze your spots, so it's important not to do this.
Scar Process
It will take six to 18 months for the scar to have its final appearance. Your scar should gradually soften and fade over these six to 18 months, but will look pink initially (photo B). Some scars never fade. If your scar stays pink after 12 to 18 months please call to discuss options.
A scar may fade so much that you can barely see it, but it never completely goes away. Some scars cause problems months or years later. As nerve endings grow back, the scar may become painful or itchy. Skin cancer can develop in scars, especially in burn scars.
Cocoa butter cream and Vaseline are most often used to help reduce the appearance of scars. Applying the ointment daily will help heal scars but will not make them invisible. Another tip for caring for your scars includes surgery. Surgery will not eliminate the scar but can change its shape or make it less noticeable.
"During a breakout, inflammation is happening underneath your skin. This inflammation causes trauma to skin tissue — leading to scarring," says Christenson. "Whether there's scarring and how exactly it presents depends on your skin type and the extent of damage."
At first, scar tissue is usually red, then it turns pink for about 3-6 months before fading to a slightly lighter color than your normal skin. Being out in the sun a lot can sometimes make a scar darker.
Many scars will fade naturally over time, but there are some skin care techniques – including the use of Vaseline® Jelly – that may help their visual improvement and help relieve itchiness.
Sometimes, acne that won't go away is a more serious health condition. Although it's not as common as the skin problems above, skin cancer can also cause a pimple-like bump on your skin. 7 Any pimple, sore, or scaly patch that doesn't heal within three weeks should be seen by your healthcare provider.
People with acne scars are perceived as less attractive, confident, happy, healthy, successful, and less likely to lead promising futures compared to people with clear skin.
It can take up to 12-18 months after your injury or operation for a scar to heal. A normal scar will become darker initially and after a period of time this will start to fade. Dark scars can remain for years or indefinitely in people with darker skin.
Vitamin E may be hailed as a new miracle regarding scar reduction and fading. However, the lack of clinical evidence suggests that using vitamin E for scars is ineffective and, thus, not necessary.
But even if a wound seems to have healed into a scar, there's still a lot going on under the surface of your skin that you should be aware of. Scars can take up to a year to heal completely, with most of the process occurring out of sight. In most cases, the scar will turn from pink to white as the scar heals.
Expect to have the scars for most if not all of your life if you decide not to get treatment. Even with treatment, acne scars are difficult to heal. There's no 100% guarantee that the acne scars will be completely gone. But most treatments reduce the size of the acne scars and make them less visible.
While acne scars can fade, they rarely go away completely on their own. Partnering with a board-certified dermatologist can help you diminish acne scars. Dermatologists help many people with acne scars to see smoother and more even-toned skin.
How should I care for a scar following surgery/injury? Pat dry your scar after a bath or shower. Use a non-perfumed moisturising cream such as E45 cream or aqueous cream to moisturise the skin surrounding your scar twice a day. Avoid picking or scratching your scar.