Acne may heal, but the dark spots and marks it leaves behind can stick around for months. Many people get impatient and turn to harsh bleaching creams, hoping for quick results. Unfortunately, overdoing lightening agents can irritate the skin and even cause uneven patches.
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is your skin’s way of reacting to inflammation. The marks usually fade slowly over time, but gentle support can speed the process. Daily sunscreen is non-negotiable; without it, every bit of sun exposure can keep those spots darker for longer.
Ingredients like niacinamide, azelaic acid, vitamin C, and gentle exfoliating acids (used correctly) can help brighten spots over weeks and months. These work best when introduced slowly into a simple routine rather than layering a dozen products at once.
Avoid picking or squeezing pimples – that almost guarantees deeper marks and sometimes scars. If your acne is active and constant, treating the breakouts themselves should be the first step; there’s no point chasing marks while new ones form daily.
If dark patches are very stubborn, spreading fast, or you notice light or dark halos around them, it’s better to see a dermatologist than experiment endlessly. Controlled, slow fading is far safer than chasing super-fast “whitening”.