Help me heal/cover these acne scars of fresh skin

June 1, 2012 9:34 PM

I need help healing/covering these scars.

I had two zits on my face, and unfortunately the way I picked at them caused them to leave two nasty patches of fresh, pink skin which standout against my dark complexion.

I'm graduating this Sunday. I know it's unrealistic, but are there any treatments or ointments that would work to cause the skin to heal/turn a little darker faster?

I'm a male so I'm not keen on the idea of makeup, but I might follow up a good suggestion.

posted by ptsampras14 to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (9 answers total)

Keep them as moist as you can. They'll heal faster, you'll have less scabbing, and you shouldn't scar much. Makeup isn't a terrible idea, especially if you want good pictures without touching them up (also a possibility, but harder on crappy cameras). Just go into any makeup store and ask them for help.
posted by your mom's a sock puppet at 9:40 PM on June 1, 2012

Put a dab of Neosporin ("Original Neosporin" 3-antibiotic version only, and a cheaper store brand copy is OK) on each. That will keep moisture in too.
posted by caclwmr4 at 9:51 PM on June 1, 2012 [1 favorite]

This is a job for makeup! Lots of people who you wouldn't expect wear makeup on special occasions when they know they'll be photographed. Think of it like how you'd iron your pants and brush your hair - it's just because you'd like to look like you, and not have any sort of thing standing out that gets in the way.

You can do all the other good stuff for healing up until Sunday - a little antibiotic cream, don't fuss with it, keep it clean but not dried out - but tomorrow go buy some concealer.

Since this is a one-time thing and you've got an obvious area to cover up, I'd suggest walking into a department store or a specialty makeup store (like Sephora) and asking someone for help. Don't go to a drugstore, unless you have a friend who is good with makeup and will assist you. It's absolutely common for makeup people to be approached by someone with something specific they would like covered up. (Freckles, birthmarks, tattoos, scars, you name it.) You will probably come out with a thick concealer and a lighter-feeling foundation that will very closely match your skin. Depending on if your skin is normally oily or dry, you will have a different type of foundation - liquid or powder or sometimes something that's a little bit in between. Applying it will be very simple, and the person selling the makeup to you will be able to show you exactly how to apply it. Don't feel weird about asking to be shown how to do it until you know what's what. That's their job.
posted by Mizu at 10:32 PM on June 1, 2012

Makeup will cover it, and I agree with the Sephora visit suggestion, but if you are interested in healing them up, I would suggest vitamin E cream, Mederma (pricey but great for scars), or Aquaphor. Aquaphor is only good if it's a dry/scaby area. If it's a perpetually oily area, I would forgo Aquaphor and go with something else. None of these will heal them by Sunday, but they could help heal them quicker than doing nothing. By the way, congratulations on graduating!
posted by katemcd at 10:45 PM on June 1, 2012 [1 favorite]

Vitamin E cream is good, although personally I would go with Vitamin E oil. I also have dark skin, and am prone to scarring - I've found that vitamin E works wonders.

But realistically, that's not going to heal the scars in time. For the big day, just do what Mizu said re makup. There's nothing intrinsically unmasculine about makeup, especially for concealing unslightly scars.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 11:18 PM on June 1, 2012

My husband accidentally stabbed himself in the forehead with a screwdriver two days before our wedding. You can bet he was wearing some makeup to cover it. Go to a department store or a Sephora and ask for help.
posted by BlahLaLa at 11:38 PM on June 1, 2012 [3 favorites]

BlahLaLa, that's what he said.... (j/k)

Nobody has mentioned silicone scar sheets. They are for long-term healing and won't help with an event coming up in a few days, of course, but over time they seem to make a difference in the visibility of the scars. You have to wear them on the affected area, though.
posted by dhartung at 12:58 AM on June 2, 2012 [3 favorites]

If you want to reduce redness in that area, put a few drops of Visine (original or maximum redness relief) eye drops on it, let it sit for a few minutes, then dab off with a kleenex. I assure you this stings if it is a fresh wound, but should be OK to do by Sunday. The same thing that reduces the blood vessels in your eyes to make them less red (tetrahydrozoline HCl) will also work on your skin. Very temporary, but easy and cheap, fix.
posted by Houstonian at 3:15 AM on June 2, 2012 [1 favorite]

Tamanu oil is the best thing I've found for healing scars. I'd give that a go. Google for the best prices. Good luck!
posted by Issithe at 8:39 AM on June 2, 2012 [1 favorite]