Summer Acne: Home Care to Keep Breakouts From Scarring

This is an English adaptation of a clinical article Dr. SangYoul Yun — board-certified dermatologist and Medical Director of Delight Dermatology in Gangnam, Seoul — originally published in Korean. Read the Korean original on Naver. It has been restructured and translated for international readers.

Acne often worsens through the summer heat and humidity, and the real worry is what it leaves behind. Below are the questions I'm most often asked about home care — how to get through a summer breakout without letting it turn into a scar.

Are acne scars permanent once they form?

No. Acne can leave pigmentation and depressed scars, but these can improve over time. You've probably seen it: an acute red spot darkens to brown or black, then gradually fades. That said, when a scar is genuinely depressed or raised, it may persist even after the intensity softens — and those can be improved with the appropriate procedures. (For more detail, see can acne scars improve?)

Does squeezing and popping acne cause scars?

Yes. Squeezing or picking acne at home without proper disinfection can cause discolouration and scarring. Your hands can also drive bacteria deeper and make it worse. As much as possible, don't touch it — apply an ointment or get appropriate treatment instead.

How do I keep scars from forming?

The foundation of acne care is blocking acne from forming in the first place — the part I consider most important in treatment. If a breakout does occur, urgent lesions can be settled with an anti-inflammatory injection or an in-clinic extraction. And where a scar has already formed, we combine laser, peels and medication matched to the symptoms to prevent it worsening and to treat it. This kind of matched care sits within our acne treatment and, for texture and pore marks, chemical peels.

Is there anything I can do to prevent it myself?

• Apply sunscreen often and thoroughly. UV exposure can drive pigmentation into the marks left by acne.
• Consider a small amount of a vitamin-A agent (retinoid, retinol). Applied sparingly, it can help. (For which topical to use, see alternatives to tretinoin.)
• Be careful with heavy makeup to cover acne. Layer upon layer clogs pores, blocks the release of sebum and debris, and aggravates inflammation.
• Don't over-rub your skin. Damaging the skin barrier worsens inflammation, and friction can cause pigmentation.

What about home MTS rollers?

If you have active acne, using an MTS roller at home without proper disinfection can instead promote bacterial growth and worsen your symptoms. This is one to leave to a clinical setting.

I've taken medication for two weeks and I'm still breaking out.

Even strong acne medications often need to be continued for several weeks to several months to show their effect, so acne treatment calls for some patience. There are many kinds of medication, each with its own efficacy and side effects, so the dose can be adjusted or the drug changed while monitoring your symptoms.

Bottom line: whether it's teenage or adult acne, left alone it can leave the face uneven and blotchy with depressed and brown scars. Manage it with the right methods at home, and treat it appropriately before scars form — or in their early stage — to prevent them worsening. Our basic skin care is a good starting point for keeping summer-prone skin calm.

Medical disclaimer. This article is general information and does not replace individual consultation. Home care can support, but not replace, treatment; if breakouts are inflammatory, recurrent or leaving marks, have them assessed in person. Retinoids and prescription acne medicines require a doctor's guidance, and treatment should be decided after a specialist consultation.