I'm 16 and I'm past accutane. I just got this pimple on my face one day, and I popped it and got pus. It started to scab, then for some reason I put neosporin on it and it only made it a pimple again. I then used oxy medication and it has been there for months now with no results. I do not want this on my face the rest of my life, so should I go see a dermatologist or how do I treat it?
Is it indented, or just discoloured? If it's indented then it could be a scar but it really is too early to tell as your body needs time to create collagen to plump it up again.
If it's just red, and persistent, then it's not actually a scar but pigment changes, an "acne mark". It's normal for a mark to be red and it's normal for these to take a long time to fade. It will fade naturally but everyone is different as to how long it will take. Months, or even a few years for it to fade completely, we're all different.
The Retin-A will help turn your skin over and speed up the process, but may be a bit drastic/harsh for you considering you only have the one spot. I suggest getting into a good routine of using a good facial scrub twice to three times a week to speed things up. And, during the day always wear sunscreen. That's a must!
Yes I'm sure , I partially agree with Quirky Fox , because red marks that are left by a pimple are usualy red because of the good intention of body to heal that blemsih,but after 1 year of having a red mark it's considered a scar , so 1 year is the maximum time to naturally fade ,after 1 year of having a red mark you should consider laser tratment or peels with AHA of higher concentration (40%).
I said I partially agree because I've never seen a red marks last for more than 1 year
Red/purple/brown marks left behind by acne are not scars. It's a common misconception. I'd be interested to know where you got the idea that "after 1 year of having a red mark it's considered a scar" because this is incorrect.
If the spot is flat but discoloured it is known as a post acne mark or macule, and it will most likely fade on its own in time but it can take more than one year as everyone is different. Treatment options are out there to help speed up the process.
Real acne scars are indented or raised and unfortunately, usually permanent.
BP will do nothing. It's not an active pimple so don't waste your products. Patience and something to speed skin turn-over is your best bet. If you don't want to go with the Retin-A route then try light scrubs every second night whilst in the shower. Find a scrub that suited to acne skin but is gentle at the same time.