Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation
(aka red marks, brown marks, purplish marks, macules, psuedo scars, fake scars, inflammatory pigmentation)

Disclaimer: The information below is provided as a courtesy to address general questions. As we are not medical professionals, we cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of this information. By reading this information, you agree not to hold us liable for any damages that may result in your use of this information. This information should not replace information that your Doctor, Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon provides you.


Q: Are red/brown/purple marks scars?

No. Red marks left on the site of old acne lesions are usually temporary (see picture below). Red marks are simply a normal remnant of the skin’s inflammatory process - Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH). Pigmented areas will fade unassisted, though they can take up to 2 years to disappear.


A quote from SkincarePhysicians.com


(Please note - If treating acne scarring is of concern please also read FAQ on Scar Treatments)


Q: What causes PIH?

Inflammatory Acne lesions. Generally the deeper the original acne lesion or more prolonged the infection, the darker the resulting PIH. The darker the PIH the longer it will take to fade.


Q: What can I do to prevent PIH?

Manage and prevent acne from forming. Do not touch or pick acne lesions as this can worsen infection and inflammation.


Q: What can I do to hasten the fading of PIH?

With all topical and laser treatments for PIH there is a some risk of causing new outbreaks, new pigmentation problems and possibly even new scarring. Risk of these occurences will probably grow with increasing strength or invasiveness of topical or laser procedures. Some treatments are NOT suitable for people with active acne, sensitive skin or darker skin tones. You should investigate and weigh possible side effects against possible benefits. And discuss with your derm or doctor. There is no single treatment that works for everyone. The effectiveness of each treatments varies and treatments may have to be used in conjunction with each other.

If you are on Accutane you should not be using any topicals treatments except under the supervivion of your dermatologist.

Firstly - avoid sun exposure. Ultra Violet light can cause hyper-pigmented areas to darken further and thus prolong them. Use non-comedogenic facial moisturisers or facial sunscreens which contain a high SPF of at least 15+.


Topical Treatments for PIH

Typically treatments for PIH bleach pigment OR block pigment formation OR accelerate the rate of exfoliation OR a combination.

Bleachs pigment OR block pigment formation
Hydroquinone - works by inhibiting the enzyme (tyrosinase) which causes tanning/pigmentation
Kojic Acid – i.e. Vita K for Blotchy skin
Topical Retinoids – Tretinoin i.e: Retin A, Renova (It also stimulates faster cell proliferation and has been clinically proven to be an effective acne treatment)
Azeliac Acid (It also stimulates faster cell proliferation and has been clinically proven to be an effective acne treatment)

Accelerate the rate of exfoliation.
The Tape Method of Exfoliation
The Vinegar Method of Exfoliation
Alpha Hydroxy Acid (i.e. Lactic Acid, Malic Acid, Fruit Enzyme etc.)
TCA (Trichloroacetic acid)
Beta Hydroxy Acid
Mandelic Acid

Many new generation topical treatments combine several agents from the list above in a single topical preparation i.e. TriLuma, Paula's Choice Clearly Remarkable Skin Lightening.

A topical approach usually prescribed by dermatologists is a Retinoid (i.e. Retin-A) & Hydroquinone.

If you want to research other peoples opinions or recommendations about topical PIH treatments and suppliers you could try the following links
http://www.acne.org/messageboard/Recommended-Products-R-t14887.html
http://www.acne.org/rate.php
http://www.makeupalley.com (registration required.)

Non-topical Treatments for PIH

Some non ablative lasers are being marketed specifically for treating pigmentation problems. These treatments may be unsuitable for people who suffer from active acne. Be aware that laser treatment is generally expensive and carries a risk of causing new acne, PIH and scarring. We recommed that you research options throughly and discuss with your Doctor or Dermatologist.

Here are examples and links to information about them:
· N-Lite: http://www.wrinklereduction.com
thread on acne.org: http://www.acne.org/messageboard/forums.html...=9443
· CoolTouch II: http://www.cooltouch.com/products.html
· IPL: http://www.intensepulselight.com/equipment.html
V Beam Pulse Dyed Dye Laser
http://www.candelalaser.com/vbeam/vb_home.asp


Q: How long does it take to see results from treatment?

Results and times will vary widely from one person to the next and from one treatment type to the next. As a very general guide for topical PIH treatments ....
From: Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic876.htm

In the case of peels (i.e: lactic acid) visible improvement may occur within 4-6 applications (spaced at least a week apart).


Q: Who should be cautious about treating PIH?

PIH and active acne?
If you are on Accutane you should not be using any topicals treatments except under the supervision of your dermatologist.

Preventing the formation of inflammatory acne will prevent the formation of PIH. Some topical treatments have attributes which mean they can help active acne AND PIH...particularly topical retinoids, Azelaic Acid, BHA (aka salicylic acid), and some ahas. There are some potential negative interactions between PIH treatments and other conventional Acne medications (e.g. Retinoids and Benzoyl Peroxide, Hydroquinone and Benzoyl Peroxide) Research otc topicals thoroughly and discuss your use/planned use of all prescription and otc topicals with your dermatologist or doctor. Generally invasive peels or procudures are NOT appropriate for people who still have active acne.

PIH and darker skin colours?
People with darker skin tones have a greater prediposition to experience PIH. They are also at a greater risk of reacting adversely to agressive treatments with further pigmentation problems. Treatments typically sited by users and dermatologists as being well tolerated are Mandelic Acid, Lactic Acid, Hydroquinone, combination topicals like TriLuma.

PIH and sensitive skin?
Some topicals for PIH can be irritating for people with sensitive skin typically those sited by users as causing irritation are Topical Retinoids, Glycolic acid, TCA.

Some topicals for PIH typically sited by users as less irritating are Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid.


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Before posting a new thread, please go to the top of this page try doing a Board Search it is very possible information you want is already here.
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Useful Links

Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation
http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic876.htm

Acne Scarring - (Overview which explains the differences of PIH and Acne scars)
http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/scarring.html

Treating PIH in darker skin tones
http://www.dermatologytimes.com/dermatolog...l.jsp?id=124881
http://www.freep.com/news/health/mcare5_20041005.htm
http://www.cosmeticsurgery-news.com/article2009.html

Understanding Exfoliants
http://www.cosmeticscop.com/learn/pf.asp?ID=27

Skin Lightening
http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic528.htm
http://www.cosmeticscop.com/learn/pf.asp?ID=25

Lasers
http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic517.htm
http://www.cosmeticscop.com/learn/pf.asp?ID=19
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(Last edited by Rossignol, 6th February 2006 - updating content and editing information)
(Last edited by Rossignol, 5th August 2004 - pinned thread and added information.)
(Last edited by Rossignol, 8th August 2004 - added links for top products.)
(Last edited by Rossignol, 12th November 2004 - moved thread to red marks forum - I feel it is more appropriate here, as the products are typically more effective on red marks than actual scars)


This Thread details the (mainly topical) products that members of the board have found most effective in helping to reduce their red marks and improve overall skin condition. The list is not exhaustive, but most of the people posting have tried a huge amount of products, therefore these have been tried and tested!!!
To view people's actual product ratings, please look at the product rating section of acne.org - here is the link: http://www.acne.org/rate.php

To sum up, here are brief summaries of the top 5 products mentioned:

1.Puredeming Intense gel - a serum that is applied daily for approx. 1 hour, contains high quality natural ingredients that will improve skin condition and help with healing, in particular alpha lipoic acid and DMAE which have been cited as helping to reduce red marks and very shallow scarring. Available here: Puredeming
Here is a thread containing info about the intense gel: http://www.acne.org/messageboard/forums.html...topic=15937
2. Lactic acid peels - a relatively gentle form of AHA acid peel, which helps remove dead skin cells, thereby improving skin tone. They may, over time, help reduce very shallow scarring, and can be extremely effective on diminishing red marks. Available here Puredeming, and, for stronger versions, here: Logan wood skincare
Here is a thread containing useful info:http://www.acne.org/messageboard/forums.html...
3. Copper peptides products - help with skin healing and promote collagen production. Especially useful when combined with a procedure such as skin needling or microdermabrasion. There are several different varieties that vary in intensity, although the more intense versions can be more likely to cause acne breakouts. Available here: Skin Biology
Here is a thread containing more info: http://www.acne.org/messageboard/forums.html...copper+peptides
4= Emu oil - a natural oil extracted from the fat glands of emus that have been killed for their meat. It is, therefore a by product - emus are not killed to produce the oil. It contains high amounts of essential fatty acids and vitamin E and is therefore beneficial for skin healing. It is good as an overall moisturiser as it is very non-comedogenic. Has reduced redness in scars for some people. Also, it is a carrier oil and may increase efficiacy of other products such as BP and manuka oil when applied after these. - Available here: Ebay
Here is a thread: http://www.acne.org/messageboard/forums.html...topic=19181
4= Manuka Honey products - again, helps with skin healing and is very antibacterial and antifungal, therefore guarding against future breakouts. Manuka OIL is even more potent. Manuka honey and oil are both available in a variety of products but the one most highly recommended is Living nature's Manuka oil and honey gel. Available here: Living Nature and here: Comvita
5= Smoothbeam - not technically a 'product', it is a form of non-ablative laser which many members have undergone with moderate to excellent success. There is more information in the FAQ.
5= jojoba oil - like emu oil, a non-comedogenic natural moisturiser derived from the liquid wax of the jojoba nut. Contains high amounts of vitamin E, thereby beneficial for skin healing. It may help with healing red marks, but has very little effect on scarring, however.
5= C+C blackhead clearing scrub - helps exfoliate skin thereby improving skin texture and red marks. May, over time, help reduce some very shallow scarring.
5= TCA complex products - a more intense form of acid peel, TCA peels come with a significant downtime, unlike lactic acid or glycolic acid peels. However, they can be much more effective on red marks and shallow scarring. For deeper scarring, the CROSS method of applying 100% TCA can be effective. However, it is recommended that this is performed by a doctor. More information is contained in the FAQ.


Anyone else, feel free to add your favourite products to the thread!

It is unlikely that these products will completely clear your scarring, but they may help improve your skin condition and your overall complexion, helping with skin healing, reduction of inflammation and minimization of light scarring.

/ EDIT







As the year draws to a close i thought we could type down what products we have found this year and rate the best ones.

Here's my small list:

1. PureDeming Intense Gel
2. Bio Oil. Here is some more info about this product: http://www.acne.org/messageboard/forums.html...topic=19108
3. PEL Super Rich Moisturizer
4. Cetaphil cleansing wash
5. Calendulis Plus cream

Hey guys and girls,

This article has a good summary of what really works for red marks. I advise each one of you to read it for more information: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2...gmentation.html

My current skincare regimen is working out really well for me, but I don't want to add another cream to fade red marks. Is there any way to speed up the healing/post acne hyper-pigmentation internally? Or is it necessary to add another topical? I'm using Clinique 3-Step (original) if it matters

Has anyone tried spot treating the red spots with a good amount of AHA? I have the red spots all over my back and the acne is pretty much gone. I go to the beach friday : ( I hope the AHA makes some change, but i think that will be too early to tell.

Thanks

my aesthetician is just AWESOME!!! I had gone in for my second Silk Peel and we were talking abt various skin care mistakes for acne-prone skin... she told me that all u need for those red marks to go away is follow these simple rules.

morning...

1) cleanse with a mild cleanser for sensitive skin.

she says the concept of oily skin and using oily skin products for acne is wrong! oily skin products are best tolerated by ppl who have oily skin but free from breakouts. anyone who is doing ANY treatment for acne will have sensitive skin. so hypoallergenic and sensitive skin products are the best bet for them! this is because oily skin products strips of all the oils on skin..so the skin counter-reacts by producing more oil and hence more acne. those with breakout free oily skin...mm...the lucky few..r the only ones to tolerate this..P.Acne bacterium..why do u hate some ppl and leave the others alone??? WHY???

2) exfoliate

avoid all scrubs..no matter how mild they claim to be. but how do we exfoliate, do u ask??? oh thats easy...and DIRT CHEAP too!!! 2 WORDS- BAKING SODA!

she says that she has not come across any acne-prone patients who has benefitted from scrubs. it may work for a while in some...lead to initial happiness..yeah, and then lead to final gloom when breakouts appear from everywhere...even the areas where it was break-out free in the beginning! SO NO SCRUBS PPL .use baking soda instead... just make a paste out of baking soda and water...and massage very gently. wash immediately. u have to do this after cleansing. u may be able to extract some ripe or loose blackheads afterward. hey and never try to squeeze a blackhead if its not ready to come out...u will regret it!

3) tone to balance pH

now that baking soda is basic in nature..something acidic is needed to balance the ph. ANSWER? APPLE CIDER VINEGAR!

use a 1:8 (vinegar:water) solution first and then gradually increase to 1:1 ..never apply it neat. BALANCED pH = BEAUTIFUL SKIN! wash off after 10 mins. dont leave it on.

4) apply ur acne cream..i use the Proactiv BP lotion. i use the amt Dan suggests for beginners...( edit: i switched to Neutrogena on-the-spot now). U can use ANY acne cream which suits ur skin. Dont skip this step.

4) Moisturise with SPF containing moisturiser. I use Cetaphil and it does not break me out. Look for the words sensitive skin, hypoallergenic & non-comedogenic WITH SUN PROTECTION FACTOR when u buy any moisturiser.

5) And for those who apply make-up, use non-acnegenic products containing titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. they r good for the skin too!

evening..

6) cleanse ur face ..( use baking soda and acv only once a day..morning or evening as ur preference)

7) apply a mild protein mask....till date..ive never found a mask that gives as good results as this mask..this is my aesthetician's favourite mask (btw..she has absolutely gorgeous baby-smooth skin and she told me that she had acne in her teens! hard to believe..!)

1 tablespoon of egg-white whipped up + a squeeze of lemon (dont put too much). smooth it over ur face..avoid eye area... wash off in 10 minutes....and look at a NEW REJUVENATED YOU!!

i tried this mask every day for 5 days....its AMAZING...my skin looks so refreshed! And bonus point is that done everyday...this will make the red-spots VANISH!!!

8) Apply ur acne cream before bed.

THATS IT!! JUST 8 STEPS FOR A HUGE BOOST IN YOUR CONFIDENCE!!

I am not kidding...there is a HUGE difference in my red-spots after just 5 days of this routine. I am going to stick to this routine. U guys ABSOLUTELY MUST TRY THIS.....

i will be glad to answer any questions regarding this....

TAKE CARE ALL OF YOU!!

So i've had oily skin since i was 13, talking about so oily that you could fry an egg on it in the sun.
As a result i had bad acne, this was treated with accutane (so was the oiliness for 1 year).

Now i have no acne, just red marks. I've been using stuff like green cream, apple cider vinegar and dans AHA, and some BP for the odd zit i get but my skin never drys.

Nothing above made it peel, even level 9 green cream just makes my skin feel super smooth and soft, but no flaking or anything. My t-zone is starting to get oily now (post accutane). As a test i washed my face with some old clearasil i had (rough stuff) and then applied bp, my skin still felt soft smooth and moisturised.

Is there something wrong with my skin?

So i had a few pimples on my neck.. about month and half ago, they are no longer pimples.. however they did leave a mark where you can tell I did.

I know all about the redness left behind and stuff... they were like that for a while, but now two of them are no longer pink/red.. but brown and more tan than my normal skin.

Any suggestions?

I've heard lots of good things about this product so I'm pretty excited. I'm starting with Level 6 and using it once a day in the evening. I'll let everyone know how this works on my hyperpigmentation after I've been using it for a while.

Hey all ,

I recently purchase the Clarisonic brush system to help with my dry skin. But has anyone tried using Clarisonic for red marks? Let me know thanks!

I finally found something that works and want to let everyone know about it so hopefully I can help others.
I've suffered with acne since I was 13. And like every acne sufferer I touched, squeezed the pimples and know 5 years later I suffer from red marks/acne scars.
I've tried SO many things. Expensive Proactive stuff, and almost anything else. I heard about using lemon juice a few days ago so I tried that and it actually made my face worse. Applying it directly to my face that is.
I then decided to try olive oil. 3 times a day I pour some olive oil (store bought) onto a cotton ball and rub it into the red/scar marks. It works SO good. In just 2 days I have seen so much improvement.
During this time (I always drink a lot of water) but have been applying a little lemon juice to every glass (heard this is good for you). I'm not sure if it is helping or it's all the olive oil but w/e it is is working.

So for any sufferers out there I strongly suggest trying the olive oil treatment. It really does work!

If you've tried it, did it work for you? Did it help accelerate the redmarks' healing rate? If so, how long did it take for them to fade away completely with the lemon juice? I've been using lemon juice for a few weeks now, and my scars seem to be fading somewhat, but I'm just wondering how much longer I'll have to deal with lemon juice and redmarks.

I have oily skin as well, but have kind of controlled spots forming, however i have red marks all over my face left after acne and it really gets me down as you all probably know.
I already use the cider vinegar (about a month now and will still continue) with, if any, very little real difference that looks noticable (to me anyway).
Ive read about the pulsed dye laser and was wondering if that would be a good option and if it works for red marks? If anyone has used it for red marks with lots of success?
This is the only thing that still bothers me (apart from the blackheads on the end of my nose) and was wondering if this would be beneficial?

helllllllllllllllo!
okay, so for a whileee i've had this red bump on my upper lip left from when i brutally, (i know, never again!) picked at a pimple there. no matter what, IT WON'T GO AWAY! it's very red, and it's hardly faded over the few months it's been there. i want to see a derm, but it seems like a trivial reason and a waste of money considering it's only one bump. i am also on Dan's regimen, and its working GREAT for my acne! however, when i am clear, i would hate to still have to cover up this stupid red whatever-it-is. if you could share some advice on getting rid of this blemish, that would be great! and also, if you have any idea as to what it could be that would be very helpful. thanks for your help in advance! (:

Went to a dermatologist for a small red bump that formed under my eye over 2 years ago from a blemish - she said it is a broken blood vessel and that it's no problem for a pulse dye laser to do the trick and get rid of it basically completely.

Well I went to have the procedure today. For the dermatologist (different one from the previous appointment), I held a mirror and specifically pointed to the bump on my cheek under my eye as the mark.

Got home, a few hours later removed the bandage only to see that they lasered THE WRONG MARK. They lasered a post inflammatory hyperpigmentation mark that was ABOVE the broken blood vessel "target." (very close to my eye btw). This is very dissapointing... I made it clear what mark it was, and would THINK a dermatologist would be very clear on it too before LASERING it. The release form to sign covers so much that they could have chopped my arm off and goten away with it.

Anyway, I wanted to ask if anyone knows specifically if there's a chance that pulse dye lasering a post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation mark will NOT permanently scar? Because from what I've read briefly on the web it seems a little... well... I don't think that this laser is even for PIH marks? I'm not very familiar with it. (If this laser is NOT for PIH marks, wouldn't it be obvious for the dermatologist - to NOT laser that mark? )

I'm just praying that this laser did not somehow not scar this area or make the hyperpigmentation worse...and instead miraculously heals it...

I'm so bummed. Not only did they miss the spot, but I'll have to pay more to get it correctly done, and worse of all, this mistake may permanently scar!!

I'll find out more info (hopefully) from the office tomorrow... I may have to ask at webMD or something..

[attachment=18587:1240532763669.jpg]

Hopefully the pic uploaded ok.

I've had this red mark for just over 2 months, and unfortunately I'm not seeing any signs of it fading. As you can probably tell, I'm extremely white, so every little mark can look significant. I'll admit this is my own fault (I picked at a spot). I don't really have acne, just milia (those spots that when you squeeze them come out as hard rice-grain like things).

I understand it takes time for red marks to fade, but I'm concerned this one may be more serious than ones I've had previously. When I picked it, there initially was an indentation and the inner part of the mark appeared almost like a little hole. It remained this way for several days, and I'm honestly not sure if its completely flat or slightly indented still.

Any suggestions on possible treatment options? On hand I have: lemons, apple cider vinegar, 2% hydroquinone, and 12% TCA peel. I have used the hydroquinone on it consistently for the last month with no visible signs of improvement. I bought the TCA to use on a scar on my leg (accidentally burnt it on the oven), and it seems to be working ok for that. I'm just not sure if it would be appropriate to try it on this spot, or if I should try something else first.

Thanks for your help

I have some red marks left from acne. I heard about apple cider vinegar applied topically to treat red marks and it is really helping!

Anyone here try it yet?

Hey, I've been reading for a while about Urine Therapy. I'm THINKING about doing it, and I've researched how to but for those of you who tried it:

Should I apply it different for red marks than I would for pimples?

Unless I'm mistaken, the best way to do this is- pee on a cotton ball midstream (in the morning or night) and put it on your face for a good 10-20 mintues and wash it off.

Now for people who have done it, did you do the urnine therapy and THEN wash it off with your facial soap, or did you wash your face, do the urine therapy, and wash it off with water later?

REPLIES ARE APPRECIATED

I just got back from the laser clinic for a consultation. In my opinion my red marks are really red and horrifying...but according to the person I spoke to, she says after one treatment my red marks would fade by 50%! and that I could be clear after 2 months. This was terrific news...but I haven't had a treatment to see the results. She said she's been doing this for 16 years and the best way and probably the only way to rid red marks is vbeam. All the other stuff speeds it up and still could last a year. I only have red marks and no scarring so she said I'm an ideal candidate for vbeam. But for those of you with scars out there, she also said that it promotes collagen and I've seen some pics of people with scars and they really did improve. People with scarring would take longer though. The pic I saw was a girl with scarring and after 6 treatments of 150$ she looked a lot better. I've heard some mixed reviews on vbeam..just wanted to know if people who didn't like it had scarring and not redness. Any reply from vbeam users would be great! Thanks and I'll let everyone know about my first treatment which is Tuesday.

can anyone tell me what is hyperpigmentation?...i have red spots cause from pimples...can any kind soul here teach me hot to cure the red spots? Can i use alpha hydroxy acids?..will it be effective?..how long do i need before the red spot will dissapear?...thanks a lot

I'm TIRED of being a product junkie, but I seriously need something to fade these OLD red marks. I was really hoping to use turmeric powder after wonderful reviews, but was really let down when it stained my face really yellow and I couldn't get it all the way off for a few days after an application.

So, I've heard a bit about Concha de Nacar. I've heard people say to not use a bleach on your skin, blah blah, honestly I'm at the point that if it gets rid of my red marks I don't really care! It's all natural ingredients anyway, it can't be that bad.

Please vote and let me know your thoughts on it before I spend more of my money....

Hey everyone, firstly, i'd extremely appreciate anybody who can answer me this! This product would be convienent for me, as it's available in my local chemist.

Anyway, it claims to have AHA in it and I was wondering if it looks ok to you? I know next to nothing about it. I would go for Dans, but it takes too long to ship

Anyway, here it is:

http://www.dove.co.uk/#/Products/lotion/bl...odyLotion.aspx/

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Hello All,

This is on behalf of those of us who have acne under control but are struggling to get rid of red marks post acne.

I currently use Nutregena oil free acne face wash in the morning and evening and a little BP at night. Thats all. My breakouts are over.

I want to get rid of the red marks and I read that ACV works wonders? Those who have successfully used it - can you please share the process? What brand do you buy? How do you apply it? How long did it take to see results? Anything and everything about it?

Thank you all

http://cgi.ebay.com/Japanese-Nightingales-...%3A1%7C294%3A50

There's a japanese method of skincare supposedly helpful in skin whitening and blemishes.Yes,bird poo. Take a peak in the link.

Just out of curiosity...wanted to know everyone's thoughts.

What kind of vitamins to take to improve skin defend for acne? If possible, tell mi the brand name of products too.

does it work for flat.. light.. red marks?
Baking soda?

how long would it take?
thanks.

when i look in the side mirrors of a car my acne marks nd stuff look a lot worse
does this happen to others or is it just me?

it especially happens in car mirrors

Crap. I've been off accutane for three months, and I'm loaded with red marks. I went to my dermatologist a few days ago and he told me that for my "redness" he won't put me on skin bleaching cream (which I figure is a good idea seeing as he's the one with the degree out of the two of us), but instead the only thing I can really do to help it is WAIT.
Now I GUESS I can deal with this. But it means I'll be living a shitty life meanwhile. But my question for all of YALL is:

#1- Seeing as my "red mark" problem is not the skin pigmentation itself, but the blood vessels underneath the skin, is there ANYTHING I can do that yall know of to help the healing process?

#2- If not, is there anything I can use that might just temporarily "lighten" (pretty much just make look better) the redness/marks for a few hours or for a whole day (just so I can go out in public more comfortably)?

#3- Would drinking lots of water by any chance help in any sort of way?

PLEASE if you read this and you have any ideas how I could be helped, COMMENT.