Acne scars can seriously mar a face. While acne shouldn't normally cause scars, it can lead to scarring if it is picked and prodded. To avoid acne scars, you should never squeeze or pick at acne. If you do so, you will break and damage the skin.

If you already have acne scars, there are steps you can take to get rid of them. Since scar tissue has formed, it can take a while to completely make acne scars go away. But with diligent treatment, you can significantly improve their appearance.

Wear sunscreen daily. The sun's rays can darken acne scars, making them more noticeable. In addition, the damage can impede the skin's healing process, making it more difficult for your skin to recover from the scarring. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily to ensure your skin stays protected.

Use a scar-treatment cream on your acne scars. These creams are available over the counter, and will gradually improve the appearance of your acne scars. Generally, you'll need to apply the cream at least twice daily for 8 to 12 weeks before you see improvements in your scars.

Apply a bleaching or lightening cream to your acne scars. Often, acne scars are darker in tone than the surrounding skin. If you use a bleaching cream on the scars, it will help lighten them so they better blend in with your complexion. You can find bleaching creams at most drug stores and cosmetics boutiques.

Talk to your dermatologist about laser therapy treatments. Lasers are commonly used to get rid of acne scarring. The laser's light targets the pigment in the scars, helping to break it up. It also breaks up scar tissue that leads to uneven skin surfaces. Repeated laser treatments are usually needed to completely get rid of acne scars.

Get regular chemical peels. Available in different strengths, chemical peels burn away the top layers of your skin. After a few days, the skin will heal and your acne scars will be less apparent. Your skin will appear younger, smoother and less damaged. As with laser treatments, repeated peels are necessary to achieve desired results.

Consider cosmetic fillers. If you have pitted acne scars, you can have cosmetic fillers like collagen injected into them. This plumps up the pitted areas so your skin appears smoother. As the fillers only remain in your skin for a few months, you will have to regularly get injections to maintain the results.

Massage your acne scars. Massage helps to break up scar tissue. It also increases circulation so nutrients can more easily reach the area, helping to heal the skin more expediently.