Dark acne scars aren't a true from of scarring. They're actually patches of residual inflammation left on the skin after acne lesions heal. Dermatologists often refer to these spots as postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, or PIH, explains the American Academy of Dermatology. While dark acne spots will eventually fade with time, a number of treatments are available to speed up recovery and improve the overall appearance of your skin.
Step 1
Start using hydroquinone. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests this topical skin lightener to fade postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. Look for creams containing 2 percent hydroquinone.
Step 2
Apply topical retinoids. Retinoids are prescription medications commonly used to heal acne lesions, but also show promise in fading postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. These topical creams inhibit the additional production of melanin, which results in the spots of discoloration, according to Acne.org.
Step 3
Consider microdermabrasion. Microdermabrasion buffs away surface skin cells, encouraging new skin growth that lacks the postinflammatory hyperpigmentation causing the dark spots. However, Acne.org cautions that this cosmetic treatment could irritate the skin and subsequently result in another acne breakout.
Step 4
Try a chemical peel. Chemical peels are somewhat similar to microdermabrasion, except the entire epidermal layer of your skin is removed with a chemical agent, such as salicylic acid, trichloro acetic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid or kojic acid. This encourages the production of new skin cells lacking the PIH left from the acne lesion, which causes the dark acne spots to fade.
Step 5
Talk to your dermatologist about cryotherapy, suggest Acne.org. Cryotherapy is a medical procedure that uses dry ice to break up the discoloration and improve the appearance of the skin.
Step 6
Make an appointment for laser therapy. Since PIH usually fades on its own, laser therapy is used as a last resort. The laser energy breaks up the melanin causing the discoloration without damaging the surface layer of your skin.
Tips and Warnings
- Sunscreens can prevent PIH from darkening when exposed to the sun. Use sunscreens with an SPF of 30 or more whenever you head outdoors. Sometimes, dermatologists prescribe creams containing hydroquinone, a topical retinoid and a corticosteroid to diminish the residual inflammation and discoloration.
- Avoid creams containing more than 2 percent hydroquinone unless prescribed by a dermatologist. Using creams with higher concentrations of this skin bleaching agent without medical supervision can lead to adverse effects, such as permanent skin discoloration. Make sure to only apply hydroquinone to the dark acne spots. If the topical medication is applied to the surrounding skin, it could result in hypopigmentation.
Things You'll Need
- Topical hydroquinone
- Retinoid creams
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