How to Get Rid of Acne Scars: Top 3 Methods (Updated)

By Rahib Ali · Founder, DIYTech Labs
Published December 3, 2017 · Updated October 29, 2026

Acne scars are marks left on the skin after acne heals. Flat dark or red marks usually fade with time, sunscreen and the right skincare ingredients, while pitted or raised scars change the skin's structure and normally need treatment from a dermatologist. This guide covers three methods first published here in 2017, updated with what is now known to work and what to avoid.

Acne Scars or Acne Marks?

The first step is working out what you actually have, because the two respond to very different treatments:

Pitted scars come in three common shapes: ice pick scars (narrow and deep), boxcar scars (wider, with sharp edges) and rolling scars (wavy, sloping dips). Raised scars are called hypertrophic scars, or keloids when they grow beyond the original spot.

Method 1: Skincare Ingredients That Help

The 2017 version of this method suggested a sequence of creams. The ingredients it named are still the backbone of fading acne marks; here is how each one fits in today:

• Sunscreen every day (SPF 30 or higher). Not in the original list, but the most important step: sunlight darkens marks and slows fading, so every other product works better with it.
• Retinoids (vitamin A derivatives such as adapalene, available over the counter in many countries). They speed up skin cell turnover, help fade dark marks and help prevent new breakouts. Start every other night, as they can cause dryness at first, and avoid them during pregnancy.
• Exfoliating acids: glycolic acid (an AHA) helps shed dull surface layers and fade marks; salicylic acid (a BHA) clears pores and is better at preventing new spots.
• Brightening ingredients such as vitamin C, azelaic acid, niacinamide, arbutin, kojic acid and licorice extract, which reduce excess pigment. Buy from reputable brands with full ingredient lists, and avoid unlabelled "whitening" creams, which can contain mercury or strong steroids.
• Cortisone cream was in the original list, but it does not fade scars, and using steroid creams on the face for long periods can thin the skin and trigger breakouts. Raised scars are sometimes treated with steroid injections, but only by a doctor.

Method 2: Lemon Juice (Why We No Longer Recommend It)

The original article suggested diluting fresh lemon juice with water and applying it as a mask for 15 to 20 minutes a day. We have removed that advice. Lemon juice is strongly acidic and can sting, dry and irritate skin, and citrus juice on skin that is then exposed to sunlight can cause a burn-like reaction that leaves darker marks, the opposite of the goal.

If you want the brightening effect that lemon was meant to give, a vitamin C serum delivers it in a stable, skin-safe form. Apply it in the morning under sunscreen.

Method 3: Aloe Vera to Calm the Skin

Aloe vera remains a reasonable, gentle option, with realistic expectations. Pure aloe gel soothes irritated, freshly healed skin and is well tolerated by most people, which helps when retinoids or acids leave your face dry. It will not fill in pitted scars, and the evidence that it fades marks on its own is limited.

1. Use pure aloe vera gel, either from a leaf or a product without added fragrance or alcohol.
2. Patch test on your jaw or inner arm for a day before using it on your face.
3. Apply a thin layer to clean skin, leave it for 15 to 20 minutes or overnight, then rinse.
4. Stop if you notice itching, redness or a rash.

Professional Treatments for Pitted and Raised Scars

For scars with real depth or height, these are the treatments a dermatologist will typically discuss. Many people need a combination and several sessions:

• Chemical peels: stronger acids than home products, applied in the clinic, for marks and shallow scars.
• Microneedling: fine needles create tiny wounds that stimulate new collagen, softening rolling and boxcar scars.
• Laser resurfacing: removes or heats layers of skin so it heals smoother; one of the most effective options for pitted scars.
• Subcision: a needle releases the bands under rolling scars that pull the skin down.
• Fillers: lift individual depressed scars, with results lasting months to years.
• Punch excision: cuts out deep ice pick scars and closes the skin neatly.
• Steroid injections, silicone gel or sheets: used to flatten raised and keloid scars.

How to Prevent New Acne Scars

• Treat active acne early. The deeper and longer a spot is inflamed, the more likely it is to scar.
• Do not pick, squeeze or pop pimples; it pushes inflammation deeper into the skin.
• Wear sunscreen daily so new marks do not darken.
• See a doctor for painful, deep cysts or nodules, which scar most often and usually need prescription treatment.

How Long Does It Take?

There is still no overnight fix, as the 2017 article said. Flat marks typically fade over several months with consistent care, and can take a year or more on darker skin tones. Skincare ingredients usually need 8 to 12 weeks of daily use before you can judge them. Pitted and raised scars do not fade on their own; professional treatments improve them over several sessions. Patience, sunscreen and consistency matter more than any single product.

Frequently Asked Questions

First published on DIY Tech Pro in December 2017 and fully reviewed in October 2026, when the lemon juice method was withdrawn and the guidance updated. More from the original site: science experiments and DIY tutorials.