Firstly, hello everyone.. I'm new here (:
I've had acne for at least 5 years now (I'm almost 16) mostly only having whiteheads and blackheads, with the occasional pimple. But I went through a stage where I was getting a few cystic pimples on my cheeks, and now they have gone but I'm left with red marks.
My acne at the moment is mostly black/white heads.. But with the acne treatments my dermatologist has me on my skin is very weak. Meaning when I do succumb to my urges and pick at a little blemish, it becomes a huge scab and eventually another red mark.
I'm using the term red mark because I thought I had post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, but I've been on a few sites where they have said that PIH is only dark brown/black spots.
I don't have another dermatologist appointment for about 1 1/2 months, so I'll talk to her about this.. But in the meantime, what treatment do you recommend? I do also have a few scars that are indented (not too deep, I'm not sure if its obvious to others or just to myself).
I've researched treatments like Photofacial and Fraxel, does anyone have opinions on these?
I'll attach a few pictures..
These are both of the right side of my face (this is the worse side)
In this photo (still the right side), you can see the pitted scar better.
This is the left side, (sorry it's blurry)
I have a little bit on my forehead but my cheeks is defiantly worse.
Please, if you have any advice feel free to comment. I'm extremely self conscious (considering I'm a teen girl, so I'm already self conscious) thanks in advance (:
It looks like hyperpigmentation from post acne marks and I can't tell where you have pitted scars so they must not be noticeable to most. Mine are red/pink after as well. A retinoid would be ideal but since you have to wait to go to the dermatologist then I would get an AHA (glycolic acid) to help skin turnover and it should definitely help fade the marks. I know Dan sells a 10% glycolic acid lotion so you could try using that.
My teenage daughter has the very same marks on her face also. It can be very distressing. She has tried everything out there and we have spent a fortune trying to get rid of the marks on her face. A friend of mine told us about Belli skin care's Anti Blemish Facial Wash. It works great and she is happy with the results she is getting from it. We buy it from Buy Buy Baby, but you can also get it from their website. I hope this is helpful to you, please let me know how it works for you?
The red marks after the pimpels are gone is just a good sing of the body's good intention of healing.
If the red marks are not depressed , you don't need any tratment.
If you want to get rid of them faster AHA/BHA(exfoliants) are the way to go.
And of course the fastes way is chiemical peels or laser tratment.
I'm also 16 but my skin is so much worse than yours.If I had your skin I wouldn't even be here.