Acne Scars and Pimple Scar Cream: What Works for Each Type After 45
Quick summary
"Acne scars" covers four different things: flat dark marks, flat red marks, raised scars and pitted scars. A pimple scar cream can help the first three in different ways. No cream can fill in a pitted scar, because the tissue underneath has been lost.
Dark and red marks usually fade with daily SPF 50+ and time, and some ingredients may speed that up. Raised acne scars are where silicone gel has the best evidence. Pitted scars need a clinic.
At Genova Skincare we make a silicone scar gel, so our own product is in this guide. Results vary from person to person.
30ml, made in Australia. A clear silicone gel for fully healed skin, most suited to raised scars. Not for pitted acne scars or active breakouts. Free standard delivery on Australian orders over $50.
If you are searching for a pimple scar cream, you have probably noticed that every product seems to promise the same thing. The trouble is that zit scars are not one problem. A flat brown mark, a red patch, a raised bump and a small pit each form in a different way, and each responds to different care.
At Genova Skincare, we hear from many women over 45 who had acne years ago and feel their old scars look worse now. This guide sorts out which type you have, what a cream can realistically do for it, and when your money is better spent at a clinic.
Why old acne scars can look deeper after 45
At Genova Skincare, this is one of the most common questions we get about acne scars: "I have had these for twenty years, so why do they bother me more now?" There are a few likely reasons.
Skin gets thinner and less springy with age, and it loses some of the fat that sat under it. A pitted scar that was once cushioned can start to look sharper. Falling oestrogen around menopause is linked with lower collagen, which may add to this. Some women also get breakouts again in their 40s and 50s, which can leave new marks on top of old ones.
None of this means your scars are getting worse in a medical sense. It does mean the approach that suits you now may be different from what you tried at 20.
The four types of acne scars and marks women over 45 see
Dermatologists usually sort acne scars by shape. A classification published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology by Jacob and colleagues splits pitted scars into ice pick, boxcar and rolling types. Add the flat marks and raised scars, and most people fit into one or more of these groups.
- Dark marks (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation). Flat brown or grey spots where a pimple was. They are extra pigment, not true scars.
- Red or pink marks (post-inflammatory erythema). Flat red patches caused by small blood vessels near the surface. More common on fair skin.
- Raised scars (hypertrophic or keloid). Firm bumps where the skin made too much collagen while it repaired. More common on the jaw, chest, back and shoulders.
- Pitted scars (atrophic). Ice pick scars are narrow and deep. Boxcar scars are wider with sharp edges. Rolling scars give a wavy look. All three are caused by lost tissue.
The American Academy of Dermatology notes that dark marks usually fade over time, while a true scar remains. That one difference decides most of what follows.
Pimple scar cream comparison: what helps each type after 45
| Type of mark or scar | What it looks like | What may help at home | When to see a clinic | Can a cream help? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dark marks | Flat brown or grey spots | Daily SPF 50+, niacinamide, vitamin C, azelaic acid, retinol | Still there after 12 months, or you are unsure it is a mark | Yes, may help them fade faster |
| Red marks | Flat red or pink patches | Daily SPF 50+, gentle routine, time | Redness that lasts many months (vascular laser) | A little; time does most of the work |
| Raised scars | Firm bumps, often jaw, chest or back | Silicone gel or sheets on healed skin, twice daily | Growing, itchy or painful, or no change after 12 weeks | Yes, silicone has the best evidence here |
| Pitted scars | Small holes, dents or a wavy surface | Sun protection and good skin care only | Always, if they bother you | No, a cream cannot fill in lost tissue |
Many people have more than one type. Treat each type on its own terms rather than looking for one product that does it all.
What works for dark and red post-acne marks after 45
Sunscreen comes first. UV light darkens pigment and keeps red marks red for longer, so SPF 50+ every morning matters more than any serum, especially under the Australian sun.
For dark marks, ingredients such as niacinamide, vitamin C, azelaic acid and retinol may help them fade sooner. Go slowly if your skin has become drier or more sensitive since menopause. If you are not sure whether a spot is an old acne mark or an age spot, our guide to age spots vs post-acne marks explains how to tell.
Red marks respond less to creams and more to time and gentle care. If redness lasts well beyond a year, a vascular laser is the option that tends to help. Our article on why some scars stay red covers this in more detail.
Silicone scar gel for raised acne scars after 45
Raised acne scars are where a scar gel earns its place. A review in Advances in Wound Care by Bleasdale and colleagues explains that silicone works by covering the scar and keeping it hydrated, which appears to calm the cells that overproduce collagen. International scar guidelines published in Dermatologic Surgery by Gold and colleagues list silicone as a first-line option for raised scars.
Genova Silicone Scar Gel is one option. It is a silicone gel with added peptides, squalane and vitamin D3, made in Australia. It dries clear, so it can sit under sunscreen and make-up on the face. A 30ml tube costs $52.95, and a 12-week two pack costs $94.95 for larger areas such as the chest or back.
Pros and cons of silicone gel for acne scars
Pros:
- Best-studied home option for raised scars
- Clear finish that suits the face and works under SPF
- Easy to use on the jaw, chest and back where raised acne scars often form
Cons:
- Does not fill in pitted scars
- Only for fully healed skin, never on active pimples
- Needs twice-daily use for at least 8–12 weeks
Who it is for, and who it is not for
It may suit you if you have raised or firm acne scars, scars that are still pink and settling, or you want to protect newly healed skin after a breakout.
It is not for you if your scars are pitted or wavy, you still have active acne in that area, the skin is broken, or you have a known silicone allergy. Keloids that keep growing need a GP or dermatologist, who may offer steroid injections. Our guide to keloid vs hypertrophic scars explains the difference.
Realistic expectations
Give any scar gel 8–12 weeks of twice-daily use before judging it. Raised scars may become softer, flatter and less red. Old, pale scars usually change less than newer ones.
Silicone gel will not remove a scar, and it will not change a pitted scar at all. Results vary from person to person.
What a pimple scar cream cannot do for pitted acne scars
Pitted scars are lost tissue. No cream, gel or serum can rebuild that from the surface, whatever the label says. This is the honest limit of any product sold for acne scars, including ours.
What does help is done in a clinic. Common options include subcision for rolling scars, fractional laser or microneedling to encourage new collagen, targeted chemical peels for ice pick scars, and fillers for single deep scars. Most people need a combination and several sessions, and results build slowly.
A GP or dermatologist can look at your skin, tell you which types you have and suggest a plan. For deeper reading, our guide to the three types of acne scars goes further into each one.
How to use scar gel on healed acne scars after 45
- Check the skin is healed. No open spots, scabs or active pimples in the area.
- Cleanse and pat dry. Silicone sits best on clean, dry skin.
- Apply a very thin layer. A small amount spread over the scar is enough. Let it dry for about a minute.
- Add sunscreen on top in the morning. Then make-up if you wear it.
- Repeat at night. Twice a day, every day.
- Take a photo each month. Use the same light so you can judge honestly at 12 weeks.
Pimple scar questions women over 45 ask most
What is the best cream for pimple scars?
It depends on the type. For dark marks, look for niacinamide, vitamin C or azelaic acid with daily SPF 50+. For raised scars, silicone gel has the best evidence. No cream will fix pitted scars.
How do I get rid of a scar from a pimple?
Work out whether it is a mark, a raised scar or a pit first. Marks fade with sunscreen and time, raised scars may soften with silicone, and pits need clinic procedures such as laser or subcision.
Can zit scars go away on their own?
Flat dark and red marks usually fade over months, sometimes a year or more. True scars, raised or pitted, do not go away on their own, though raised ones can soften over time.
Can I use scar gel on active acne?
No. Use it only on fully healed skin. Treat active breakouts first, and see our perimenopause acne routine if breakouts have returned after 40.
How long does a pimple scar cream take to work?
Expect 8–12 weeks for raised scars and often longer for dark marks. Our guide to how long scars take to fade gives timelines by scar type.
Acne scars are frustrating, and the gap between product promises and what skin can do is wide. Once you know which type you have, it gets easier to spend wisely: sunscreen and patience for marks, silicone for raised scars, and a clinic for pits. For the wider picture, see our guide to fading scars with silicone gel.
Silicone scar gel for healed raised scars
Dries clear, sits under sunscreen and make-up, and ships from Australia.
12-Week Course, 2 pack
2 x 30ml. Enough for a full course on larger areas.
Made in Australia. For fully healed skin only. Results vary from person to person.
Individual results vary. Genova Silicone Scar Gel is a cosmetic product designed to support the appearance of healed scars. It does not treat acne, it cannot fill in pitted scars, and it is not a substitute for advice from your GP or dermatologist. Have any new, growing or changing spot or scar checked.
Sources:
- Jacob CI, Dover JS, Kaminer MS. Acne scarring: a classification system and review of treatment options. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2001;45(1):109-117.
- Bleasdale B, Finnegan S, Murray K, Kelly S, Percival SL. The use of silicone adhesives for scar reduction. Advances in Wound Care. 2015;4(7):422-430. PMC4486716
- Gold MH, Berman B, Clementoni MT, et al. Updated international clinical recommendations on scar management: part 2, algorithms for scar prevention and treatment. Dermatologic Surgery. 2014;40(8):825-831.
- American Academy of Dermatology. Acne scars: overview. aad.org, accessed 25 September 2026.
