Acne affects most of the world’s population, but there are ways to handle it. If you are wondering how to treat your skin after acne, we are here to help.
Table of Contents
How to Fix Skin Texture After Acne – Quick Guide
If you are looking for ways to treat your skin after acne, try one or more of the following:
1. Exfoliate
Exfoliation is one way to fix your skin’s texture after acne. One, it rids the skin of dead layers that tend to damage fine skin texture. Two, it reveals better skin under all the unevenness. Three, it suits all skin types, even acne-prone skin.
But it is crucial to use exfoliants instead of scrubs. Scrubs tend to be harsh on the skin, and since you are looking to fix the texture, scrubbing may not give you the result you need. Use exfoliants that contain salicylic acid for the best results.
Nevertheless, you can use a scrub if you believe your skin can handle it. A gentle scrub with the right ingredients will work better at ridding the skin of dead skin cells. And whether you choose an exfoliant or a scrub, never exceed three weekly sessions for exfoliating. Too much of it will have adverse effects on your skin.
2. Use Lactic Acid
Lactic acid softens your skin. So, while exfoliating, apply a little of the acid to soften your skin, especially if salicylic acid tends to dry your skin. Before using it, ensure your skin is compatible with it. Knowing your skin type helps when choosing such products.
3. Always Wear Sunscreen
After acne, your skin may feel tender, especially if you treat acne with Accutane. So, you need to protect it as much as possible. Apart from using the right skincare products, wearing sunscreen every day keeps harmful sun rays away.
Use the broad-spectrum type with high SPF, and reapply the sunscreen every two to four hours if you stay out that long. With reapplication, you strengthen the barrier between the sun and your skin.
4. Avoid Oily Skincare Products
Skincare products with an oil base are heavy on the skin. While they are suitable for dry or normal skin to lock in moisture, they are not so great for oily skin. Water-based skincare products are usually better, especially in hot weather. If you have to use an oil-based product, it must have hydrating properties and be light on the skin.
Acne is generally caused by P.acnes, the bacteria that cause acne. When they breed on your skin, you have a breakout. And one of the leading causes of your skin having a breeding ground for the bacteria is oily skin.
When sebum, which is the oil your skin produces naturally, forms and cakes on your skin pores, they tend to mix with dirt easily. Over time, P.acnes find it an excellent place to breed, and it leads to acne. Therefore, it is only wise to avoid anything that will promote the excessive production of oil.
5. Maintain a Skincare Routine
Everything we have said so far will fail if you don’t have a regular skincare routine. It does not have to be complicated but allow your skin to get used to a pattern and some products. Avoid using multiple skincare products at the same time because they quickly wear out the skin.
Here is what you should do every day: cleanse using a gentle and effective cleanser, wash with mild soap, and moisturize. If you use a foaming cleanser, you can combine cleansing and washing. For some people, toning will help the texture of their skin after acne without drying it out or causing a breakout. So, consider adding toning to your regular routine.
Red Spots on Skin After Acne – Treatment
Typically, the red spots you see on your skin after acne don’t need any treatment. They usually disappear on their own after a few weeks or months. The spots are called post-inflammatory erythema, and they appear to the damage, inflammation, or dilation of capillaries under your skin. Fair skin tones tend to show these spots more than other skin tones.
While it sounds scary, it is not that serious and can vanish within a few months. But if you want to get rid of them quicker, try niacinamide, vitamin C, and hydrocortisone as topical creams. You can also undergo some procedures such as micro-needling and laser treatment.
Skin Still Red After Acne
Redness of skin after acne is the result of skin inflammation. It is the skin’s way of showing trauma to its cells caused by picking at or touching acne before treatment. The skin becomes pigmented due to tissue damage.
Redness of skin clears with time; you don’t have to do anything about it. But you can prevent it by:
- Drinking green tea because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidizing properties.
- Using sunscreen to hasten the fading and healing process. Sunlight makes the red skin darker by stimulating melanin.
- Keeping your hand away from your face. Picking your inflamed skin worsens the redness, even after acne, especially if there is an infection.
- Exfoliating your skin a few times every week. But if you notice that exfoliating aggravates the skin, discontinue the process.
Visit your doctor if the red skin does not clear after a few weeks and if there is accompanying pain.
Click here to read these interesting articles…
Skin After Weight Loss [Problems & Solutions]
Skin after a Chemical Peel [Problems & Solutions]
Skin After Allergic Reaction [Problems & Solutions]
After Skin Needling [Problems, Solutions & Care]
Skin After a Facial [Problems, Solutions & Care]
How to Heal Acne After Picking
To control the damage caused by picking acne, do the following:
- Wash your hands with soap, preferably an antibacterial soap. Germs from the acne and your face have transferred to your hands. If you don’t wash them well, you risk spreading the infection.
- Use an ointment, an antibiotic one, on the acne to reduce the chance of increased infection. The ointment you use will depend on what your doctor prescribes. Then, wash your hands thoroughly after applying it.
- Use a patch or tea tree oil to keep the acne from infection and inflammation. If it is already infected, visit your doctor or continue with the antibiotic ointment.
If you keep picking acne, you risk inflammation that may lead to hyperpigmentation. It leaves some areas of your skin darker than others. You also risk infection because you open the acne and leave it susceptible to invading bacteria. The acne tends to worsen when this happens, and it points to eventual scarring.
Holes in Skin After Acne – Treatment
To eliminate holes in the skin after acne, try the following:
1. Natural Oils
These oils have the potential to reduce the appearance of holes in the skin due to acne. So, look for rosehip seed oil, hemp seed oil, and jojoba oil. Some natural kinds of butter, such as cocoa butter and shea butter, also eliminate holes in the skin due to acne.
Adding lavender oil, which is an essential oil, to any of the ones above may promote better healing. Lavender has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial attributes that can limit scar appearance.
2. Massages
Face massages may not be effective in eliminating scars on their own, but they have their uses when combined with any other treatment method. So, if you are using oils, try massaging them into your face instead of just rubbing them.
3. Topical Creams
Over-the-counter creams may produce little results in some people. Generally, the creams treat skin irritation that results from acne. But sometimes, you may find they help to fade the scars or holes from acne. Your doctor should prescribe the best one for you.
4. Dermal Fillers
Bellafill is the only FDA-approved dermal filler for acne scars or holes. It is an injection to lift the depressed skin to the level of other skin areas. But dermal fillers are only temporary, with some lasting only a few months.
5. Chemical Peel
A chemical peel is a procedure where a doctor applies acid to your face. The acid peels the top skin layer to reveal newer and better skin. This process encourages regeneration so that the acne-damaged skin vanishes and is replaced by better skin.
The regeneration does not happen overnight. Sometimes, it takes several treatments, and your skin feels irritated and peels after each treatment. But eventually, you see better skin.
6. Micro-needling
Also known as collagen induction, micro-needling creates tiny holes in the skin area where the acne holes are. As the small holes heal, collagen production is enhanced to fill the acne holes. The procedure is not a one-time treatment; you will need several spanning a year or more before seeing the best results.
7. Fractional Laser
A doctor channels laser light to the tissues in the holes caused by acne. The light is meant to encourage the growth of new skin cells after burning the top skin layer. When the skin heals, the holes tend to be significantly reduced.
8. Microdermabrasion
A specialist uses tiny bicarbonate crystals or some other abrasive ingredient to remove the top skin layers. As the skin heals, the holes become less visible. However, microdermabrasion works best if the holes are not deep. And you will need several sessions before seeing the first results.
9. Ablative Laser Resurfacing
Using a laser, a specialist removes several skin layers to reveal newer skin. The procedure is pretty invasive, and you will need some weeks for medical care and to recover. But the results are always better and last longer more treatments.
The procedure is not without its risks. You may have worse scarring, redness, pigmentation, or swelling. But the side effects differ from one person to another. Therefore, ensure you consult with your doctor before choosing the procedure.
10. Dermabrasion
Much like chemical peels, dermabrasion scrapes away top skin layers. It uses a wire brush on the area with holes, whereas a chemical peel uses acid. The result is better skin with less visible holes and even texture. But there is the risk of scarring, more prominent pores, and, in some cases, infection.
Recap
Skin after acne can be problematic if you don’t know what to do. Fortunately, this article addresses different skin issues after acne. However, your doctor is in the best position to recommend treatment and skincare products.
