Acne spots left behind after a breakout will fade on their own given time. This, however, can take months or even a full year, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Some people elect to treat their spots in a dermatologist's office with procedures such as microdermabrasion or bleaching creams. Others prefer to fade the spots at home. This can be done with several items that are likely already in your kitchen.
Home Microdermabrasion
Step 1
Make your own microdermabrasion treatment with the baking soda from your kitchen cupboard to fade your spots. Mix 1 tsp. baking soda with 2 tsp. water. Use filtered or purified water if possible.
Step 2
Massage the baking soda mixture onto the acne stain. Rinse after 60 seconds.
Step 3
Use a pea-sized dollop of olive oil to moisturize after this treatment, recommends the American Chronicle news service.
Step 4
Be careful not to overdo your home microdermabrasion treatments. If you are overly aggressive with them you may end up with additional spots of discolored skin, warns the American Academy of Dermatology. For example, Thunder Bay Laser Clinic in Ontario, Canada recommends spacing treatments by two to three weeks, and typically has patients undergo five to 12 treatments.
Blemish Bleaching
Step 1
Concoct your own blemish-bleaching treatment. Combine 2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice, a small peeled raw potato, half of a small cucumber and 1 tbsp. organic yogurt, recommends the July 2004 edition of Acupuncture Today. Combine the ingredients in a food processor or blender and form a paste.
Step 2
Dab the paste on your stains. In the paste, the lemon provides bleaching action, and the potato provides enzyme action, which serves as a catalyst for the bleaching action. The cucumber is a cooling agent and yogurt provides lactic acid, which also helps in bleaching the area.
Step 3
Cover the area with paste with a hot, damp hand towel or washcloth. Fold to make two layers or use two cloths. Rinse off after 15 to 20 minutes.
Step 4
Follow the treatment with a moisturizer. Opt for an oil-free product that is labeled "non-comedogenic" or "non-acnegenic," recommends Womenshealth.gov.
Step 5
Alternate bleaching the spots with gentle exfoliation of the area. Utilize fruit with collagen-building vitamin C, such as pineapple. Blend ¼ cup of your fruit. Dab it onto the spots or spread it over your face. Rinse this after 10 to15 minutes. The ascorbic acid in the fruit helps to fade acne spots, according to the American Chronicle news service. Vitamin C is also found in kiwis, strawberries and citrus fruits like limes.
Tips and Warnings
- Drink plenty of water. Your skin cannot regenerate itself well if you are even mildly dehydrated, and water carries vital nutrients to your cells, according to the Mayo Clinic, which recommends drinking at least eight glasses of water a day.
Things You'll Need
- Lemon juice
- Fruit with vitamin C such as pineapple
- Cucumber
- Potato
- Organic yogurt
- Blender
- Baking soda
- Olive oil
- Water
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