Acne can have profound psychological effects, and these effects can last long after an episode disappears. The problem of acne is irritating enough, but the dark spots and scars it leaves behind are often worse.
Dark Marks and Acne Scars
Red or brown spots can be defined as post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. These dark marks can take 3 to 6 months to disappear on their own, and you can speed up the process with topical treatments like retinoids, vitamin C serum, over the counter brighteners, sunscreens, etc.
Acne scars are permanent indentations that are caused by collagen damage and develop in different shapes and forms. Temporary dermal fillers and laser therapy are the only options for acne scar treatment.
Causes of Dark Marks and Acne Scars
The dark spots that remain on the skin are caused by inflammation during the process of skin healing. When a pimple pop-up on your skin, you may get abnormal pigmentation, and your skin tone can look different from the rest of the skin. Sometimes a broken blood vessel that remains after an acne lesion fade can result in a red, purple color mark. These are commonly visible in light skinned people. Since it is difficult to identify the cause of a dark spot, the best way to avoid and treat your acne with a great skin care routine. Also, you need to resist touching your face, picking, squeezing, and poking a pimple.
Acne scars develop when the normal tissue present in the skin is destroyed and replaced with fibrous tissue. The deeper and more inflamed the acne lesion is or the more it is touched, squeezed, or picked, the more likely it to develop as a scar.
People with dark skinned tone develops darker marks than the people with light skinned tone. Light skinned people may develop redness more than the darker skinned people. Our lifestyle habits can make these dark marks and acne scars worse. Sun exposure is one of the main reasons behind the darkness of the spots and scars.
Treatment of Dark Acne Marks
The discoloration usually fades away over time, but there are numerous acne scar treatment options to speed up the process.
Retinoids- Retinoid is extremely beneficial for acne marks. The pimple cream acts by causing your skin cells to divide more rapidly and pushing out the cells with the colored pigment. However, retinoids make your skin sensitive to UV rays. Hence, it is best to use it before bedtime. It comes in various forms, including gel and creams.
Sunscreen– Exposure to UV rays may make your scars appear more prominent. Sunlight can also penetrate through your clothing, therefore it is important to apply sunscreen on a regular basis.
