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You deserve to take a damn break and enjoy your newly clear skin.

person with acne scars applying cream to cheek

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If youre looking for ways to minimize those scars, were here to help.

Why did your acne leave a scar?

Ah, the age-old question: Why is this happening to me?

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Despite how it might feel, its not just luck orMercury retrogradethat determines your acnes aftermath.

When collagen is altered it changes the overall structural appearance of the skinwhich is how scars appear.

That delayed healing from the inflammation causes a depressed acne scar.

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What are the different types of acne scars?

There are three types of acne scars and they all vary in how difficult they are to treat.

Its important to identify what you have so you’ve got the option to follow the right path.

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Atrophic scars cause depressions in the skin thanks to that destroyed collagen, says board-certified dermatologistRebecca Marcus, MD.

Pigmented scars are more like marks than actual, textural scars.

However, these marks may also appear alongside atrophic or hypertrophic scars.

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What are some ways to treat acne scars?

Because not all acne scars are the same, not all acne scar treatments are the same.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can also be addressed with over-the-counter products containing AHAs,vitamin C, andniacinamide.

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And of course,SPFwill be key to preventing further damage to the skin.

Below are dermatologists-recommend products it’s possible for you to add to your acne scar treatment roster.

It’s a winning combo of ingredients that really combats uneven texture, she says.

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(Allureeditors recommend it too: Its won a Best of Beauty award five times.)

In addition to vitamin C, the formula features licorice, which is also known to help hyperpigmentation.

It also features a spot-targeting complex, incorporating pomegranate stem cells and caffeine which are rich in antioxidants.

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Oil Control Serum cloudy clear serum dropper bottle on light gray background

It features a novel pigment-fighting molecule (melasyl) that has demonstrated promising results in clinical studies.

While collagen is being remodeled in the scar, it is super sensitive to ultraviolet radiation, she says.

This is why you should probably wear an SPF every dayeven if indoors.

La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Dark Spot Corrector Serum with Niacinamide purple serum bottle with white label and dropper cap on light gray background

Read more about acne:

Watch a cosmetic chemist guess which product is more expensive:

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RescueMD DNA Repair Complex turquoise bottle on light gray background

EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 white bottle on light gray background

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