While acne is often synonymous with puberty and the teenage years, there are millions of people who endure the plague of embarrassment that’s associated with acne and pigmentation in their adult years. Even though a lot of products promise results in decreasing the appearance of acne scarring, it’s best to follow a specific routine to fade your scars. It’s also important to remember that your skin tone plays a huge role in the approach you should take. What works for lighter skin tones won’t necessarily work for darker skin tones. However, these tips are pretty universal.

1. Always Wear Sunscreen

If you think that the sun doesn’t have a major impact on the health of your skin, you’re sorely mistaken. Even on a cloudy day, always wear sunscreen. Even if you’re not leaving your home, wear sunscreen during the day. The UV rays can directly sabotage your skincare efforts to eliminate the appearance of acne scars. Try your best to use a sunscreen mist to reapply it in the middle of the day. Sunscreen protects your skin from harmful UV rays that can make the scars look darker.

2. Incorporate Acids and Enzymes

Depending on your skin type, you’ll either want to use acids or enzymes to gently exfoliate your skin. Exfoliation is essential to the process because it takes away the dead skin cells in layers over time. As you remove the dead skin cells, you’ll uncover brand new skin cells that don’t have the mark of acne on them. Tranexamic acid, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid are some of the most popular options. If you have darker skin, you’ll want to look for products that contain fruit enzymes. These can be much more effective than some of the other products on the market. You can find acids and enzymes in various toners, skin peels, and serums.

3. Include Professional Treatments and Peels

Even though there are amazing products you can purchase to get results, there’s nothing like having a licensed skincare professional who can help you navigate your skincare concerns. Plus, when a professional is taking the time to monitor and assess your skincare needs, they can recommend the right products to help you achieve the look you desire. When it relates to getting rid of acne scarring, professional treatments will expedite the process. A 15 TCA chemical peel in the hands of a licensed professional will provide completely different results for your skin that you can’t duplicate at home. Invest in getting routine treatments from a skincare professional who specializes in getting the results that you’re looking for.

4. Avoid Using Too Many Products at Once

If you take a look at YouTube videos, it’s pretty common to discover women with lengthy routines and countertops filled with products they use. This is the easiest way to overwhelm your skin and sabotage your results. When you’re trying to get results regarding your acne scars, keep your skincare routine simple. Do not exacerbate your skin by trying to use a ton of exfoliating processes to remove the scars. You’ll end up damaging your skin barrier.

5. Be Consistent with the Right Routine

Develop consistent routines for the morning and the evening. Your routines will be different mainly because you don’t want anything to negatively interact with the sun. It’s better to use certain acids and peels at night. It’s wise to use SPF in the morning. As you maintain consistency with your routines, you’ll be able to see results. If you do it on an occasional basis, it’s going to take much longer to see the results you’re looking for. Also, don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results within a month or two. It’s not uncommon for the deepest acne scars to take at least a year to fade.

Don’t get discouraged or stuck in the belief that you’ll always have acne scars. They don’t have to leave a permanent dent in your appearance. Just know that the process takes time. As you use these tips to craft a routine that works for you, be sure to tweak it to your skin tone and complexion. As you adjust and include the right products and services in your long-term strategy, you’ll see results in due time.