Breakouts are bad enough when they stick around for a week and then fade away. The only thing more frustrating is when your temporary pimple turns into a stubborn mark that just won’t go away, even after the blemish heals. Unfortunately, acne scars—sometimes called post-acne marks—are sometimes a side effect of pimples. They can come in all different shapes and sizes (and colors) and range in severity from barely noticeable to seriously severe. Some fade with little to no intervention, while others will only disappear with intensive professional treatment.
If you’ve ever tried to research how to remove acne scars, you probably quickly learned that treatment depends heavily on what type of acne scar you have—and that isn’t always easy to determine. Thankfully, you have us. Ahead, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about acne scars. Read on to learn exactly what they are, how they form, and how to get rid of acne scars (or at least fade the discoloration) with our comprehensive guide to acne scarring.
What Are Acne Scars?
What Causes Scars from Acne?
Why Depressed and Raised Scars Form
Why Flat Acne Scars Form
Will You Get Acne Scars?
Treatments for Acne Scars
Kiehl’s Best Routine For Acne Scars

1. Kick Things Off With The Right Cleanser
Morning and night, thoroughly cleanse your face with a mild cleanser to remove impurities from the skin’s surface. We recommend Clearly Corrective Brightening & Exfoliating Daily Cleanser, which contains pearlstone, a natural exfoliant derived from volcanic ash. This gentle yet effective ingredient helps remove buildup from the skin’s surface for a brighter, smoother-looking complexion.

2. Use A Balancing Toner To Prep Skin
After cleansing, reach for a soothing toner, such as Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion. This iconic formula (we first released it in 1964) features menthol and camphor to balance oily skin and reduce shine. You can use it as an all-over toner after cleansing your face or dab it on problem areas as an effective, refreshing spot treatment.

3. Treat With a Dark Spot Corrector
Next, address hyperpigmentation with a targeted treatment, like the best-selling Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution. This potent formula stars vitamin C, which we started to touch on earlier. It’s a powerful antioxidant that can reduce the appearance of dark marks and prevent the formation of new skin discolorations. Apply the brightening serum to your entire face for all-over color correction, or use as a spot treatment for individual post-acne marks.

4. Don’t Forget, Moisturizer Is a Must
Moisturizing is crucial to maintaining a healthy-looking complexion. A well-hydrated skin barrier protects the skin from environmental aggressors that lead to complexion concerns such as premature aging, irritation, and hyperpigmentation. And yes, this is all true even if you have oily, acne-prone skin. We recommend Clearly Corrective Brightening & Smoothing Moisture Treatment, which contains vitamin C and exfoliating glycolic acid to promote a smoother, more even-looking complexion. Apply morning and night to keep your skin feeling healthy and refreshed.
Kiehl's Expert Tip: If you do notice a breakout forming, reach for a spot treatment, such as Breakout Control Targeted Spot Treatment. This potent formula contains 10% sulfur and niacinamide to rapidly reduce the appearance of blemishes and keep new breakouts from forming.

5. Finish With Sun Protection
Though breakouts cause acne marks, sun protection is a key part of managing post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.IV It’s just one more reason to wear sunscreen every single day. Experts recommend wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, such as Super Fluid UV Defense SPF 50+ or Super Fluid Daily UV Mineral Defense, every day.VIII Apply your SPF as the final step in your daily skincare routine to keep your complexion protected from the sun’s harmful rays and follow all official sun-protection recommendations.

6. At Night: Use an At-Home Peel
At night before dozing off, you can add one more step to your routine. To help reduce hyperpigmentation and boost skin clarity, use a nighttime skincare treatment formulated to help resurface the skin, such as Nightly Refining Micro-Peel Concentrate. This nighttime treatment features quinoa husk extract and phytic acid to accelerate skin cell turnover for a visibly refreshed complexion.

7. Three Times a Week: Try a Micro-Dermabrasion Scrub
An intense exfoliating treatment can help improve the appearance of raised or indented acne scars, but it isn’t a daily skincare step. Three times per week, swap out your daily cleanser for Epidermal Re-Texturizing Micro-Dermabrasion. This highly effective facial scrub is formulated with micronized shells and willow herb to resurface the skin for a visibly smoother, more even complexion.

8. As Needed: Upgrade Your Routine With Ampoules
If you’re dealing with particularly dark or stubborn scars, an intensive treatment such as Clearly Corrective Accelerated Clarity Renewing Ampoules can help. This two-week routine features a potent blend of resurfacing glycolic, lactic, and phytic acids to visibly improve skin tone, texture, and clarity. Be sure to wear sunscreen every day for the duration of treatment, as the acids in these ampoules can cause sun sensitivity and increase the risk of sunburns.
Kiehl's Expert Tip: The Clearly Corrective ampoules are formulated for use alongside Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution, so don’t forget to keep up with the rest of the routine laid out above. You’ll see more amplified results when you pair them with the serum.
Now that you know how to address the scars that come after acne, we want to make sure you’re an expert on managing breakouts as they pop up, too. Read up on one of our favorite acne-fighting ingredients in our article, The Benefits and Uses of Salicylic Acid for Skin.
Sources:
I."Acne Scars: Signs and Symptoms." American Academy of Dermatology
II."Age Spots (Liver Spots)." Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 21 Jan. 2020
III. "Acne Scars: Who Gets and Causes." American Academy of Dermatology
IV.Davis, Erica C., and Valerie D. Callender. "Postinflammatory Hyperpigmentation." The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, July 2010, pp. 20–31.
V.Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D. "Acne Scars: What's the Best Treatment?" Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 20 Sept. 2018
VI."How to Fade Dark Spots in Skin of Color." American Academy of Dermatology, www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/routine/fade-dark-spots.
VII."Sunscreen: How to Help Protect Your Skin From the Sun." United States Food and Drug Administration. 2019.