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Marks or scars

I recently experienced a bad bout of acne and am left with dark marks from this. Someone was telling me that these are not scars and to treat it would be different than how one would treat scars. How do I treat these dark spots and how long before they lighten or go away?
H.V.

Dear H.V.,
The dark spots you see are pigments that are left behind when the skin is irritated – called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. They are seen after acne, or after any injury or treatment to the skin such as after a skin rash or after chemical peels. If left alone, the marks will fade over time. However if you want to remove them faster, you can use lightening creams containing hydroquinone and a sunblock. Sometimes your dermatologist may use lasers to remove them.

Answered by Dr. Joyce Lim | Tue, 2008/09/30 - 1:03pm

Comments

by sonia | Wed, 2009/10/21 - 6:18am

Stretch marks on tummy

Hi, I am mother of 3 & have ugly looking Stretch marks on my tummy & just don’t like looking my self in the mirror

How do i get rid of this permanently with out going under the knives?

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