IMAGE: Easy Production/cultura/Corbis
Short-term pain, long term gain. This is the statement that I chant to myself when I’m tempted to pick a pimple. Whether its a huge cystic zit or small bludging blackhead, picking them will leave some scar of sorts. And depending on how fast your body heals, scars may linger for days or weeks (sometimes, even months or years!).
Although I don’t pick or poke my pimples, they sometimes burst in the midst of a face wash, which also makes my skin vulnerable to developing a scar or two. When that happens, I follow these tips to lighten the scars and make them disappear as quickly as possible.
TIP ONE: INTERVENE IMMEDIATELY
Instead of letting nature take its course, you should always treat your scars immediately. Although genetics play a huge role in how scars heal, not treating your scars early will make them harder to get rid off. When skin tissue is damaged, it needs to be protected and cared for so that it can repair itself and allow new skin cells to grow. When you leave scars unprotected, there is a higher chance that the scab will deepen – leading to long-term irreversible damage.
Treat your scars by cleaning the affected area gently, and load up on soothing creams and lotions that contain calming agents such as aloe vera and chamomile; as these ingredients help to lessen inflammations and speed up the skin’s recovery.
TIP TWO: RENEW IT
Without trying to state the obvious, using products that promote cell renewal and skin repair will speed up the healing process. There are many products on the market that can do this, but I’ve found the most effective ones contain one or more of these ingredients: Kojic acid, Arbutin, or the Vitamins C and E. All of these ingredients work directly to renew the skin’s tissue, while some such as Vitamin C and Arbutin also double up as skin brighteners (making it very effective for hyperpigmented scars!).
A restorative moisturiser and serum, VDL Beauty Ultimate Essence with Poppy is the newest beauty product of the moment. Containing the moisturising ingredient LInoleic Acid and restorative Vitamin E, the serum’s oil-in-water capsules only bursts on impact, penetrating deep into the skin.
TIP THREE: LOAD UP ON SPF
UV damage worsens the condition of scars as UV rays stimulate the growth of melanocytes, which are pigment-producing cells. As scars are already a tone or two darker than our skin, exposure to UV rays might lead to them being darkened further. The result of which, I’m sure, is pretty nasty.
Fresh wounds and scars are very sensitive, which is why I often switch to a gentle sunblock that won’t irritate my skin further. My current rave at the moment is Daylong’s Face & Body Gel sunscreen. Made by pharmaceutical giant Galderma, this sunscreen is specifically made for people with very sensitive skin (making it perfect for scars!). Free from parabens and fragrance, and infused with Vitamin E, Daylong’s Face & Body Gel sunscreen doesn’t hurt my skin when I layer it over a freshly popped pimple.
With the help of these tips, your skin will look as good as new in no time.
Daylong SPF50+ Face & Body Gel, $32.90, is available at selected pharmacies. For more information, visit www.daylong.com.
VDL Beauty Ultimate Essence with Poppy, $61, is available at all VDL stores. For more information, follow the brand on Facebook.