What Are Hyperpigmentation Acne Scars, And How Can They Be Removed?

Hyperpigmentation acne scars are misunderstood by many who suffer from the distinctive marks that result from inflammation of the skin, often due to acne breakouts.  For instance, you probably did not know that the marks you get from post inflammatory hyperpigmentation are not actually scars at all!  In fact, these are more of a minor skin problem which actually will heal up in time without any kind of intervention from you.  Often, they go away within a few months, but they can persist for a couple of years, which is not such good news.

What You Need To Know

The appearance of “hyperpigmentation acne scars”, as they are often initially thought of, can result from laser treatments at times, or just from inflamed skin that has been punished by acne breakouts.  In the case of laser treatments, you can often be left with color changes that are a natural reaction of your skin to such a procedure.

The spots differ in color based upon your skin tone, as darker skinned people can get brown or black marks, while those with lighter skin can expect pink, purple, or even red marks.  Because of the color involved, as well as the fact that the marks show up in the area where acne was most prevalent, many assume that these are scars.

What You Can Do About It

Depending on your own personal situation, you may decide to face post inflammatory hyperpigmentation without any kind of treatment.  However, in the case of darker spots or marks, you may want to take part in some sort of treatment, or they will take much longer to disappear.  It is hard to argue with someone who is a little antsy about treating their hyperpigmentation marks, as no one wants to wait a year or two to have clear skin!

In these cases, a product such as Mederma can often be recommended.  The product is a gel that is easily applied to help blend the discolorations back to your normal skin tone.  If used as directed, the product is very helpful and will not give you any further skin problems in the meanwhile.  Otherwise, there are procedures such as microdermabrasion which can be explored as a possibility.

Still, it is a relief to know that hyperpigmentation acne scars are not actual scars, but rather a temporary problem that will go away with or without treatment.  If you are concerned with the hyperpigmentation marks that you have, talk with your dermatologist for help.