Around 50 million people in the United States have acne vulgaris, commonly called acne, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, or AAD. Most cases of acne eventually clear, leaving the skin blemish-free. But in some people, acne leaves behind skin discoloration, which can include blemishes and colored dots on the skin where the acne lesions had been. People who have this type of skin discoloration can find both over-the-counter and prescription remedies to treat it.
Scar Causes
When acne clears, you might find your skin covered in purple, pink, red or brown dots, each sitting where a pimple used to be. People with darker skin or those who tend to tan more easily are more prone to this type of discoloration. These colored dots, which form as your skin recovers from the pimple's inflammation, aren't technically scars, according to the AAD. Eventually, they will fade, but many people want to get rid of them sooner.
Medications
If you want to start with an over-the-counter treatment for your skin discoloration, look for a cream that contains 2 percent hydroquinone, a skin bleaching agent, as the active ingredient, according to the AAD. If this fails to fade your spots, your dermatologist can offer you a prescription cream that contains up to 4 percent hydroquinone, or one that contains several active ingredients, including a corticosteroid to reduce inflammation, hydroquinone to fade the skin and tretinoin to encourage skin cell turnover.
Dermatologist Procedures
Dermatologists also offer procedures that can help to fade your skin discoloration. A series of light chemical peels, usually four to six, can improve your skin's appearance, according to the AAD. Lasers sometimes are used on darker skin to remove spots when other treatments fail to work. And microdermabrasion, which uses a machine to remove the top layer of skin, can eliminate spots, although dermatologists caution against using at-home microdermabrasion kits, because they can cause new spots to form.
Time Frame
Although skin discoloration from acne tends to resolve more easily than other types of acne scarring, all acne scars are stubborn and difficult to treat, according to the Mayo Clinic. You shouldn't expect instant results. If you're using a fade cream, it likely will take several months for you to see a real difference. If you opt for laser treatment, microdermabrasion or chemical peels to reduce the discoloration, you'll likely need a series of treatments spread over many weeks.
Considerations
Regardless of what treatment you choose for your skin discoloration from acne, it's critical to avoid sun exposure on the affected skin, warns the AAD. Sun exposure can make the spots much darker and more noticeable. The dermatologists' group recommends using sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher on all affected skin every time you venture into sunlight.
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