How to Treat Pimples Without Causing Scars
Successfully treating a pimple feels like a triumph, with your clear, healthy skin as a worthwhile reward. But, scarring can rob you of this prize, leaving behind an unwelcome reminder of breakouts past. Thankfully, by treating pimples with care, you can significantly lower your risk of developing scars.
This article will cover how to treat pimples without causing scars to help you retain a smooth, even complexion – even after a sudden breakout.
Understanding Acne Scarring
Before exploring pimple treatments that prevent scarring, let’s go over a few acne scarring FAQs.
How Long Do Pimples Last?
Pimples may be frustrating, but they don’t last forever. Usually, the life cycle of a pimple lasts just three to seven days. For deep cystic acne, this lifespan can last longer, typically up to two weeks.
So, in most cases, pimples are just a fleeting moment in your skin’s evolution. But, what happens when acne leaves behind a scar?
How Long Do Acne Scars Last?
Acne scars can last for a year or even longer, depending on the depth and severity. Some acne scars require professional treatment from a dermatologist to disappear completely.
While all scars fade to some degree over time, acne scars can linger for months or even years. Whenever possible, working to prevent pesky scars, rather than dealing with scars after they appear, is the most effective option for smooth, supple skin.
While scarring extends a pimple’s impact on your skin, we want to help you minimize it, allowing you to move on to healthier, more radiant skin!
What Causes Acne Scars?
Tissue damage from inflammation or popping a pimple is the primary cause of acne scars.
While popping, squeezing, or picking at a pimple may seem to help shrink your pimple, it does quite the opposite. Not only are you introducing bacteria to the pimple by touching it, but picking triggers more inflammation and damages your pores.
In response to this damage, your skin will create more collagen in an attempt to repair itself. But, the collagen doesn’t blend in perfectly with the rest of your complexion, leaving behind a visible scar.
The deeper and more inflamed a pimple is, the more likely it is to leave behind a scar. This is why cystic acne often causes acne scarring, even if you don’t pick or prod the blemish. Your dermatologist can recommend prescription-strength treatments to address the root cause of cystic pimples, helping to curb scarring before it appears.
Additionally, individuals with certain skin types and a family history of acne scarring are more likely to develop scars from pimples.
How to Treat Pimples Without Causing Scars
To treat pimples without causing scars, avoid popping blemishes, manage inflammation, and act quickly to accelerate the healing process.
Prevent Picking and Popping.
If you tend to pop pimples, refraining from touching blemishes is the first step to preventing scars. One way to accomplish this is to cover acne with hydrocolloid pimple patches. The patch will adhere to the blemish, protecting it against popping, bacteria, and other external irritants.
Additionally, if you have a whitehead with sebum close to the skin’s surface, you can apply a warm compress to encourage drainage. Take a clean washcloth, soak it in warm water, and hold it lightly over the pimple for a few minutes. Then, cleanse and pat your skin dry before applying a pimple patch. The patch will absorb any oils that come out of the pimple, keeping the rest of your skin clean while allowing the blemish to heal.
Manage Inflammation.
Inflammation triggers tissue damage, which in turn causes scarring. So, prioritize acne treatments that calm inflammation and preserve the skin barrier, like medicated cleansers, spot treatments, and hydrocolloid pimple patches. Hydrocolloid reduces inflammation while creating a moist environment that encourages skin healing.
If you opt for a topical spot treatment with ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, make sure to start with a low dosage and increase as needed. Using too high of a dosage or applying the spot treatment too frequently could dry out your skin and compromise the skin barrier. This leaves it vulnerable to acne-causing bacteria and prompts the skin to produce more sebum, which may clog your pores.
Don’t Delay Your Acne Treatment.
The sooner you start treating a pimple, the faster you can bring down inflammation and prevent scarring. We don’t recommend applying every acne treatment in your medicine cabinet at once, as this could dry out your skin. But, follow these quick steps as soon as you notice a blemish emerge:
- Cleanse the area and gently pat it dry with a clean microfiber towel.
- Wrap an ice cube in a clean cloth and ice the pimple for a few minutes. This will restrict blood flow to the area to ease inflammation.
- Press on a pimple patch to protect the spot, absorb excess oils, and support the skin’s healing process.
Talk to a Dermatologist for Cystic Acne Solutions.
Even with impeccable habits, cystic blemishes may leave behind lasting scars. So, if you’re prone to cystic acne, visit a qualified dermatologist for a personalized treatment plan. Cystic acne often results from a deeper concern, like hormonal imbalances or genetics, that require prescription-strength remedies.
Dermatologists often prescribe retinoids, spironolactone, antibiotics, and corticosteroids to manage cystic acne.
How Do Pimple Patches Prevent Acne Scarring?
Pimple patches prevent acne scarring by inhibiting picking and popping while reducing inflammation. The hydrocolloid material creates the ideal healing environment for your skin, protecting the pimple against external irritants that could increase the risk of scarring.
Acne patches are the first thing we reach for at the first sign of a pimple. Use the Bloom Bouquet case to keep 100% hydrocolloid pimple patches on hand at all times, whether you’re on a business trip or a well-deserved getaway. Preparation is key to preventing scarring and protecting your radiant complexion.