Bellevue Acne Clinic
How to eliminate red marks?
There are methods to treat dreaded red marks without undergoing drastic treatment. The treatment is different for everyone and depends on the particulars of your skin.
Red marks are a type of acne scar and can persist long after the pimple is healed. This is called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). This type of scar is particularly common in individuals with medium-to-dark skin tones, especially East Asians. PIH almost always fades if given enough time, but for some people this can take months to years.
There are many treatments for PIH, including topical retinoids, prescription bleaching creams, chemical peels, lasers and natural interventions.
Topical retinoids such as Retin-A Micro or Differin encourage skin cell turnover, which decreases the amount of time needed for PIH to fade. They are also very effective at preventing new pimples from forming, which is why they are often used in acne. There are over-the-counter topical retinoids that can be effective, but are not as potent as the prescription products. Look for retinol or retinyl palmitate on the ingredient label.
Bleaching creams can be effective in the treatment of PIH. There is a very effective prescription bleaching cream called Tri-Luma. However, this product is expensive and can clog pores and cause acne! For this reason it is often only used after acne is under control. Hydroquinone is a bleaching cream that is available over-the-counter in strengths up to 2%, and up to 10% in prescription formulations. This product has been used to bleach skin for decades, but also leads to clogged pores and can aggravate acne.
Acidic chemical peels are an effective method for treating red marks, as they exfoliate the top layer of skin which contains the hyperpigmented skin. The acids used in these peels include glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and trichloroacetic acid. These products can be irritating to the skin, which can lead to more acne. For this reason, chemical peels are often not recommended to help heal PIH until acne treatment is in the maintenance phase.
Lasers and other light therapy devices can also help with PIH. The most effective light therapy treatment for PIH is probably intense pulsed light (IPL). Lasers and other pulsed-light devices can also be helpful.
There are a few all-natural treatments that have been shown to be effective in treating PIH. These include kojic acid, nicotinamide and Vitamin K. There are many commercially available formulations containing these ingredients.
The best way to treat PIH is to prevent it from forming in the first place by effectively treating your acne from the start. See your health care provider, or come in for an evaluation at Bellevue Acne Clinic.
