Expert Advice | Red Spots and Acne Scars: How to get rid of them.

Nothing is more annoying than red spots that you are left with after a bout of acne, whether this is from teenage acne, adult acne, pregnancy induced acne or menopausal acne. I thought I would write a few lines on my advice how do you prevent acne scatting and how do you get rid of them as sppn as possible ? also what can you do with real scars?

The red spots are what is known as hyperpigmentation that occurs when the skin heals. They often will fade by themselves, however you can speed up the healing process.

Use a BHA exfoliant daily.

BHA such as salicylic acid exfoliates the skin and penetrates deep into the skin. This can dissolve the blockages that cause the pimple. Salicylic acid is also anti-inflmatory and so also helps to reduce the redness. This helps to also speed up the healing process of the skin. I would recommend Environ Sebulac Wash or Sebulac Oil and Cream. I also love Mesoeethic Acne One Cream treatment cream as is fantastic at clearing post inflammatory redness and hyperpigmentation.

Use Gentle Skincare Products – don’t use abrasive scrubs or irritating ingredients. Scrubs can damage the skin and delaying the natural healing process. I recommend a really gentle and natural products such as the mattifying range by Algologie as is all natural and does not irritate the skin.
Use a Broad Spectrum sunscreen with an SPF 30- or more every day – protect your skin every day from UV exposure. UV rays slows down the skin’s ability to heal, causing red spots and blemishes to remain visible for longer. I would recommend helicocare SPF. Its gel consistency is great for acne prone skin and does not irritate or block the skin.
Use products and supplements loaded with antioxidants - these will help repair the skin and reduce the risk of inflammation. Vitamin C is a true gift for red spots. Environ AVST range is a great way to start introducing vitamin A and Vitamin C into the skin. I would also recommend taking vitamin C supplements to boost the results. I recommend taking The Advanced Nutrition Programme Vitmain C supplements to really boost the results.
Get professional treatment – besides a good skin care routine at home, you can take care of discolouration and inflammation with microdermabrasion, IPL treatments, Microneedling or light therapy. If your skin tone is darker, then discuss an alternative laser treatment with your dermatologist. Another option is a monthly AHA or BHA peel applied – again I love the mesoesethic chemical peels as the results are incredible. Finally, you can also ask your GP to prescribe an acne remedy.

What can I do if a spot leaves a real scar

Pitted, indented scars cannot be treated with a skincare product alone. Dermal fillers can plum them up, however combine an AHA or BHA peel with a series of fractional laser treatments. Ask a dermatologist or skincare professional for advice. The important thing is to never pick your spots to reduce the risk of permanent scars.