Acne, especially if it's mild, generally clears without leaving permanent reminders. But for some people, pimples clear but colored dots or spots appear on the face where those pimples used to be. These spots from acne eventually will fade, and so the American Academy of Dermatology says they're not scars. However, they can take years to fade completely, and many sufferers want to hasten the process. Fortunately, several treatments help them fade more quickly.
Cause
If you develop a tan easily or if your skin is darker, you're more likely to develop spots on your skin from clearing acne, according to dermatologists at DermaNetwork. These spots can be tan, brown, pink, red, purple or even white. Spots occur because the original pimple caused trauma to the skin, which can take years to finally resolve. Generally, these spots can be treated more easily than permanent acne scars.
Over-the-counter Options
Bleaching creams available over-the-counter in your local pharmacy potentially can help fade your acne spots, especially if they aren't numerous or very dark. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, purchase a cream that contains the active ingredient hydroquinone. Look for a product that specifies 2 percent hydroquinone, since a smaller concentration of that active ingredient may not be effective and any more potentially could bleach your skin badly.
Prescription Treatment
If you have many spots or your spots are dark compared to your regular skin tone, seek help from a dermatologist, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. A dermatologist can prescribe a stronger hydroquinone cream--up to 4 percent concentration--which can be safe and effective if used with a doctor's supervision. In addition, products containing a corticosteroid can help reduce remaining inflammation in your spots, while tretinoin-based products such as Retin-A will help your skin cells regenerate more quickly.
Possible Procedures
Chemical peels, which encourage the skin's top layer to slough off and new skin to form, potentially can help reduce discolored spots left from a bout with acne, according to DermaNetwork. You might need a series of several chemical peels to get the results you want. Microdermabrasion, which uses crystals to aggressively scrub the skin's top layer, also can help these spots to fade, although again, you'll probably need several treatments.
Considerations
Acne scars and discolored spots require an individualized approach, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. What works for your friend might not work for you, and you may need a combination of medication and procedures to get the results you want. However, it's likely that if you persist with treatment, your spots from acne will fade almost completely, leaving your skin clear.
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