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What Is the Treatment for Back Scars from Acne?

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Usually, the best back acne scar treatment is one prescribed by a doctor, simply because it is the most likely to prove effective. If an individual prefers a home remedy, however, treatments such as lemon juice or pastes made of rose water and sandalwood are often touted as the best for discoloration-based scarring. If a person only has a few dark marks, an over-the-counter (OTC) fade cream may even prove beneficial for getting rid of back scars from acne. For scarring that amounts to more than discoloration of the skin, surgery, injections, or laser removal may be required.

One of the best ways to get rid of back scars from acne involves seeing a medical professional. A dermatologist is a doctor who evaluates, diagnoses, and treats skin problems, including scarring caused by acne. He can provide a patient with individualized treatment for the acne scars as well as good tips for preventing new scars from developing. It is important to note, however, that a dermatologist may want to focus on clearing a patient's back acne first and then go on to treat the scarring second. This way, a person is not putting effort into getting rid of old scars as new ones are developing.

Rose water can be used to treat back scars.
Rose water can be used to treat back scars.

Some people swear by home remedies for fading back scars from acne. For example, some people find that applying fresh lemon juice to the scars helps lighten them. This method may work for some, but there are a couple things to consider before trying it — lemon juice can sometimes prove irritating to the skin, and it can feel sticky and uncomfortable. Some people also assert that mixing sandalwood with rose water makes a paste that is effective against discoloration-based scars.

Lemon juice is a home remedy for acne scarring.
Lemon juice is a home remedy for acne scarring.

An individual might also find some OTC fade creams that prove helpful for getting rid of back acne scars. Usually, the affected person has to rub the cream into the darkened area once or twice daily, and the dark marks eventually fade. This might be a treatment worth trying if a person is willing to be patient with the treatment progress, which can take weeks or months to show. It may also prove a better option if a person only has a few acne marks rather than multiple dark marks spread all over his back.

Some back scars from acne amount to more than discoloration of the skin. For raised or pitted scars, a person may find that laser scar removal, injections, or surgery is necessary. Laser acne scar removal involves resurfacing the skin, and injections can be used to shrink or destroy some types of scar tissue. Surgery usually involves cutting out the scar tissue, but its success may depend on the type of scarring a person has.

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a WiseGEEK writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a WiseGEEK writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...

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    • Rose water can be used to treat back scars.
      By: Corinna Gissemann
      Rose water can be used to treat back scars.
    • Lemon juice is a home remedy for acne scarring.
      By: Viktorija
      Lemon juice is a home remedy for acne scarring.