Treating acne scars typically involves applying chemical peels or using dermabrasion or laser resurfacing procedures to lessen the appearance of depressions and discoloration of the skin. However, if you have darker skin, some of these acne scar treatments won't be as effective and could even make the appearance of your scars worse.
Acne Scar Types
Several types of acne scars exist and each is treated differently. First, there is the temporary hyperpigmentation left behind by an acne blemish that will fade within a year. Then, there's the shallow rolling scar, boxcar scars (which leave deep impressions in the skin with defined edges) and ice pick scars (which look like your skin has been stabbed with a tiny ice pick). The depth of the scar will ultimately determine your coarse of treatment.
Topical Medications
Using chemicals to treat acne-scarred dark skin can be challenging, because they can dry out your skin and cause further irritation. If you suffer from hyperpigmentation from acne, treatments containing benzoyl peroxide could make the dark spots last longer or even cause them to be permanent. Since benzoyl peroxide is also a bleaching agent, it could even lighten your skin in the areas treated. Retinoids like Retin-A and other topical applications of vitamin A can be effective and don't have the same negative side effects as over-the-counter products.
Hyperpigmentation
If you have darker skin, whenever you have an acne blemish, you're at a higher risk of developing hyperpigmentation due to inflammation. While even people with lighter skin can suffer from this temporary redness or dark spots where blemishes used to be, they are much more persistent in those with darker skin. Darker spots on the skin, though not acne themselves, can feel just as bad as acne and affect your self-image. You can use a skin lightening lotion or even a bleaching agent to remove these spots faster, though you will need to be particularly careful to only treat the dark spots.
Keloids
Keloid scars are also more common in those with darker skin. Keloids are scars that raise off the skin (unlike typical depressed acne scars) and can continue to spread out from the original blemish site. These scars tend to recur, even after treatment, so it's important to have keloids examined by a dermatologist as soon as you notice them to reduce damage to your skin.
Moisturizers
Since dry skin is common in those with darker skin, it's important to use a moisturizer every day. Otherwise, you might suffer from excess oil production, which can lead to further blemishes. However, whatever moisturizer you choose needs to be oil-free and non-comedogenic so it won't clog pores and cause new breakouts for that reason, as well. Moisturizing is essential for the healing of acne scars. Otherwise, you might notice your blemishes and scars peeling and to being very difficult to cover with makeup.
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