Let’s get this one out of the way. A lot of people will tell you that picking at your acne can in fact cause acne scars but they don’t usually tell you why this happens. 

When you’ve got a sprouting or growing pimple, your skin is already swollen and irritated. By picking at your pimple, squeezing it or constantly touching it, you could be damaging the other layers of your skin; causing scars to happen. 

If you’ve already got a discoloured scar from picking at your pimples, make it a point to apply sunscreen. 

Here’s the science behind it: a discoloured acne scar is actually caused by the overproduction of melanin in your skin. 

Melanin is a chemical that is responsible for giving your skin the colour it has. In order to keep melanin activity in check and prevent it from causing even more dark spots on your face, be sure to apply sunscreen. Reapplying it every two hours is also a great way to ensure you’ve got constant protection. 

Whether it’s a chemical peel or your usual face scrub, exfoliating should only be done as a means of remove excessive dead skin cells and treat hyperpigmentation — not to help get rid of acne on the skin. 

When you over exfoliate, you’re thinning your skin’s layer and reducing the amount of moisture found in your skin. In response to this lack of moisture, your skin will produce even more oil than usual — causing more acne to happen.