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You aren't alone if you endure unyielding acne breakouts - inflamed lesions, marks, pigmentation changes and scars that seem unending. If this is you, start researching now how to get rid of acne scars and the many available acne scar repair options out there.

Macules aren't real scars. These reddish colored marks are flat and are the last stage of an inflamed lesion. They can last up to 6 months after the lesion has finished its course, but will eventually disappear without a permanent mark. Post-Inflammatory Pigmentation is another mark (discoloration of skin) that healing acne lesions might leave behind. This phenomenon happens more often with people of dark skin complexion. These changes may last for up to 18 months, especially if paired with too much sun exposure. Ice Pick Scars, the most common of acne scarring, take a thin and sharp structure, appearing most often on the cheeks. They are generally deep, extending into the subcutaneous layer, and difficult to correct with skin resurfacing treatments. Box Car Scars are roundish grooves in the skin with sharp, vertical rims. These scars, found on the temples and cheeks, can be shallow or profound. Rolling Scars have an undulating appearance, caused by the skin being attached abnormally to the subcutaneous tissue below. Although varying in length, these scars tend to be the longest of those related to acne. Hypertrophic Scars, unlike most acne scars, are protruding scars, usually with a reddish or pinkish color.

10 Acne Scar Treatments

Acne scar treatment has been making huge advances. To choose the best acne scar removal products and/or treatments for your scars, spend some time researching what is available:

1. Acne Treatment as Prevention

Treat your acne first! Eliminating acne is the most effective way to prevent post-lesion scarring. If you remove acne, you remove the chance for those lesions to scar and there is no need for an acne scar removal treatment.

2. Acne Scar Removal Cream

Tretinoin and alpha-hydroxy acids are common scar cream ingredients that treat acne and reduce stains and scarring.

3. Natural Acne Scar Removal

As anti-inflammatories, onion extract and mucin reduce coloring and protrusion of scars. By inhibiting the production of collagen, onion extract reduces the likelihood of hypertrophic scar formation. Mucin stimulates the production of new skin cells to replace old and damaged skin.

4. Chemical Peels

Chemical peels don't go that far for scars but work well with post-acne pigmentation changes.

5. Injections

Raising or soothing inflamed scars, injections are another option. They are most effective on scars that have smooth edges, like rolling scars. If applying tension at the scar edges improves the appearance, filler injections will improve the scar. By decreasing inflammation, steroid injections help to level hypertrophic and keloid scars.

6. Non-Ablative Collagenosis

With the use of radiofrequency and laser devices, collagen formation is encouraged in the subcutaneous layers, without damaging the outer layer that is visible.

7. Microdermabrasion

Fine scars and stains are eroded away with the exfoliating action of aluminum crystals.

8. Photorejuvenation

This therapy uses laser or broadband visible light to encourage collagen production.

9. Scar Revision

Scar revision extracts the scar and leaves only a straight incision scar. This procedure is popular for skin areas that are highly discernible. It is a highly effective procedure for ice pick and boxcar scars. Subcision is a process specific for rolling scars where scars are uncut from skin tissue below. Injection of a filler substance can fill in the space that was once tethered down.

10. Resurfacing: Ablative Laser Treatments and Dermabrasion

Scarred and damaged skin cells are removed with the lasers, jumpstarting new skin cell production. Collagen in the subcutaneous layers is stimulated. Dermabrasion removes a thicker layer of skin than microdermabrasion to remove deeper scarring. Many experts consider this the best acne scar removal first step treatment for extensive scarring.