Although most teenagers get acne--up to 85 percent of teens have pimples each year, according to the American Academy of Dermatology--not all of them will get scars as a result. But if you've developed mild acne scarring from your pimples, treatments that are available over the counter and from dermatologists can help make these scars seem less obvious.
Causes
Dermatologists aren't sure why some people seem more prone to developing acne scars, but genetics and family history seem to play a large role, according to the AAD. So if one of your parents has some acne scars, you might get them too. More severe acne--especially cystic acne or nodular acne--tends to lead to more severe scars, but even a mild case of pimples can lead to mild scars if you're prone to them.
Types
Acne scars fall in one of three categories: depressed-type scars, raised scars and skin discoloration. Of the three, most people developed depressed-type scars, which appear as saucer-shaped indentations in the skin. Skin discoloration appears as red, pink, brown or purple dots as pimples heal. This type of mark eventually disappears, and therefore isn't technically a scar, but still can be treated. Raised scars, which appear as uneven bumps on the skin, tend to be the most difficult to treat.
Treatments
Over-the-counter treatments that work on depressed acne scars include vitamin C, retinol and glycolic acid. According to the AAD, these can help make shallow saucer-shaped scars less noticeable. For those with skin discoloration, creams that contain the ingredient hydroquinone can fade the colored dots in less time than it would take them to fade naturally. Unfortunately, raised acne scars don't respond to over-the-counter treatments, but the AAD notes that these scars might flatten a bit if you keep tape over them continuously.
More Treatments
Those mild acne scar sufferers who don't get the results they want from over-the-counter treatments might want to ask a dermatologist for help. According to the Mayo Clinic, there's no one best prescription treatment for acne scars because your dermatologist will tailor your treatment to best erase your particular scars. Effective therapies for acne scars include laser treatments, dermabrasion, scar surgery and tissue fillers for depressions in the skin.
Considerations
According to the AAD, even mild acne scars can affect your self-esteem. The group urges you to seek treatment if you're depressed or self-conscious about your acne scars, and especially if you believe those scars are interfering with your ability to get a good job or to socialize. If your mild acne scars don't respond well enough to over-the-counter treatments, you might want to consider talking with a dermatologist about your options.
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