20 Best Home Remedies For Acne Scars

Acne outbreaks may last a few days, but those scars can last for weeks after. While these products, for the most part, have no real effect on actually preventing blemishes, we know that fading those dark marks is half the battle.

When you're trying to learn how to get rid of acne scars, you may not immediately think of buying products. Instead, you may opt for home remedies for acne scars. But when all else fails, it's time to look at all options.

And you're in luck, because these products come at all price points and promise to tackle discoloration and unevenness, and even those fading spots before nature takes care of it! 

RELATED: What It Means If You Have Acne Around Your Mouth

1. Vasanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator

This triple action powerful treatment scrub gives you brightening, exfoliating and cleansing with results that mimic professional microdermabrasion without the potential for redness, irritation or sensitivity.

(Amazon)

2. Murad Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum

A serum formulated with two percent hydroquinone to fade the look of dark spots, age spots, and sun spots. The ultimate dark spot lightening serum is formulated with two percent hydroquinone, the pigment lightener doctors prescribe most.

(Sephora, $69)

3. Shiseido White Lucent MicroTargeting Spot Corrector

An intensive anti-spot serum that helps diminish the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation for skin that looks perfectly translucent. This intensive anti-spot serum thoroughly targets various types of spots, from those that are typically dark and defined to the scattered, smaller spots that are blurred and widely distributed over the face.

(Sephora, $132)

4. Renée Rouleau Post-Breakout Fading Gel

A blend of gentle brighteners and exfoliating acids lift discoloration and fade stubborn acne marks.

(Renee Rouleau, $40.50)

5. SkinCeuticals Advanced Pigment Corrector

This product reduces dark spot size and intensity, and enhances resistance to new pigment. It also reduces stubborn discoloration and prevents reoccurrence.

(Amazon)

6. Neostrata Enlighten Pigment Controller

Formulated to enhance exfoliation and diminish the appearance of skin discoloration while inhibiting tyrosinase to help prevent new dark spots from forming. NeoGlucosamine, Retinol, and stabilized Vitamin C enhances exfoliation and diminish the appearance of skin discoloration.

(Amazon)

7. Beverly Hills MD Advanced Scar Therapy

Designed to help dramatically fade the appearance of marks and scars. Botanical ingredients nourish and soothe damaged skin with an infusion of oxygen and antioxidants for a smooth, even, healthy-looking complexion and fewer visible imperfections.

(Beverly Hills M.D., $80)

8. GlamGlow Flashmud Brightening Treatment

Combination of skin translucency optimizers featuring 3 levels of exfoliation to drive ingredients into the skin for luminous younger looking skin.

(Amazon)

9. Clean & Clear Advantage Mark Treatment

This topical spot treatment fights acne fast and prevents future breakouts, while also helping to diminish the appearance of post-acne marks for clearer-looking skin. It is specially formulated with salicylic acid acne medicine to effectively treat pimples. 

(Amazon)

10. Bio-Oil Specialist Skincare

This product helps improve the appearance of uneven skin tone, dry and aging skin, as well as improving the appearance of both new and old scars.

(Amazon)

11. Murad Post-Acne Spot Lightening Gel

A powerful skin lightening treatment gel featuring hydroquinone that rapidly reduces post-acne skin discoloration and helps combat breakouts. Willow bark and tea tree leaf extract help treat blemishes and reduce irritation as AHAs exfoliate to restore clarity and tone.

(Sephora, $65)

12. Proactiv Advanced Dark Spot Correcting Serum

This advanced treatment serum with maximum-strength skin lightening medicine — the most effective you can buy without a prescription — helps to gradually fade dark marks caused by sun damage, like freckles, age and liver spots. It goes on invisibly, even under makeup.

(Proactiv, $50)

RELATED: 20 Best Toners For Acne That Clear Up Your Skin Fast

13. Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution

This effective facial serum boosts clarity and visibly brightens skin. Formulated with Activated C, White Birch and Peony Extracts, this serum helps correct and even skin's appearance while visibly reducing a wide spectrum of dark spots. With daily use, this serum helps even and brighten skin over time.

(Macys, $50)

14. Talika Purifying Bio Enzymes Mask

This advanced formula features naturally astringent and antibacterial botanicals to heal and prevent acne breakouts. Toning grapefruit oil minimizes pores to balance oil production as peptides and bamboo stem cells maintain skin's natural regulatory functions.

(Dermstore, $12)

15. ProactivMD Adapalene Gel 0.1%

The 3-step ProactivMD line features Adapalene, a powerful retinoid that targets acne at the source. Adapalene helps speed acne healing, prevents new acne from forming, and helps reduce redness and inflammation while also restoring an even skin tone and texture by clearing acne.

(Ulta, $36)

16. TriDerma Scar Block

This easy-to-use clear gel helps speed up skin’s healing to reduce and improve the appearance of new and existing scars. It provides a clear protective coating to help breakdown existing scar tissue, minimize new scarring and promote faster healing of injured skin.

(Triderma, $18)

17. Amalia Antioxidant Milk

A nourishing tonic fortified with high concentrations of the planet’s most powerful antioxidants, this serum saturates skin with illuminating nutrients. Age-fighting nutrients plump and restore your natural luster so that you glow from the inside out. Brightens and diminishes the appearance of dark spots.

(Amalia Skin, $45)

18. Dermae Acne Rebalancing Cream

Day or night, help clear and prevent breakouts while reducing redness and irritation with this skin-balancing formula. Regular use can help balance your complexion and your skin's own oil producing capabilities to help reduce the occurrence of breakouts.

(Dermae, $19.50)

19. Elina Organics Scar Relief Formula

This sulfur-based, organic formula helps to diminish the appearance of scars by stimulating microcirculation around the damaged area. It is enriched with skin warming botanicals like Cinnamon and Clove. Apply on top of scars twice a day for best results. 

(Elina Organics Skincare, $35)

20. Osmosis PurMedical Skincare Catalyst AC-11 Level 3 DNA Repair Serum

This serum has a unique combination of Vitamin C, amino acids, and minerals that encourage the skin to heal and boost its elastins, which help cell turnover in order to speed up the scar treatment. This DNA Repair master combines science and result-driven effectiveness fora smoother, scar-free complexion.

(Amazon)

RELATED: 10 Weird Reasons You Have Really Bad Acne

Aly Walansky is a NY-based lifestyles writer. Her work appears in dozens of digital and print publications regularly. Visit her on Twitter or email her at alywalansky@gmail.com.