How to fade acne marks

A lot of people have been asking me how to get rid of the pesky red or brown discolouration left behind by a pimple.

The discolouration, known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, should fade by itself over time. Here are some tips to help speed up the process:

1. Try not to squeeze or extract the pimple

The more you damage the skin, the more it may discolour.

Also, when you squeeze a pimple, the gunk and bacteria in your pore can actually burrow deeper and rupture the hair follicle wall, which can infect neighbouring follicles and turn the pimple into a painful cystic bump. This may cause damage to the deeper layer of skin (dermis), which results in a permanently enlarged pore, or an indented scar.

2. Wear sunscreen religiously

Sunscreen of at least SPF30, PA+++ must be worn DAILY. If you are prone to breakouts, you can try an oil-free mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide. Your skin may be forgiving when you forget moisturizer (not that you should - hydration is important), but it definitely won't forgive when it comes to sun protection. Sun damage is cumulative, and you definitely don't want healing skin to get damaged!

When acne marks are fresh, they tan/discolour easier than the rest of your skin. If you skip sunscreen, it will be much more difficult for the brown discolouration to fade.

This is especially important for individuals with darker skin tones - make sure you slather on that sunscreen! The darker you are, the more pigmentation (melanin) you carry in your cells. This means that you will have a higher risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. In other words, if you are darker, it is much easier for your skin to discolour after a pimple, and it will take longer to fade.

3. Exfoliate 

Look for a product with alpha hydroxy-acids (AHAs), such as glycolic acid. This will help fade the pigmentation by removing dead skin cells to reveal fresh skin underneath. It also helps to stimulate collagen production. If you are sensitive, make sure you test patch first or start with a low concentration. However, be careful not to over exfoliate. 1~2 times a week is plenty, depending on how strong the product is.

If you exfoliate, you MUST wear sunscreen. If you don't, you will get sun damage and even more discolouration.

4. Use a product with at least 10% vitamin C ( look for l-ascorbic acid or magnesium ascorbyl phosphate)

Products with at least 10% vitamin C help brighten the skin, and stimulate collagen production. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant and neutralize free radical damage. In other words, it will protect your skin from the sun's damaging rays, and it will also help to fade those brown spots.
See my review of Ole Henrikson Truth Serum here.

5. Eat Healthy

Remember that it is not just about the products you apply on your skin, but also what you are feeding your body! A healthy body that receives lots of nutrients will heal much faster. Make sure your diet also contains good fats, such as avocados, nuts, deep water fish, and plant oils. Eat fruits and veggies that are colourful, like carrots, sweet potatoes, any dark greens, berries, etc.


I also want to highlight that the tips I have given above will only help with discolouration. If you have indented or icepick scars, there is little that products alone can do. There are treatments such as peels, microdermabrasion, and laser that may help, but it is best to consult your dermatologist.


Hope this helps! :)