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Suggest Treatment For Acne And Dark Spots
Question: I am from new York but I have come to Guyana for vacation with my parents and I've started to get high levels of acne on my face. I purchased 10 percent salicylic acid and I use other things on my face to take away dark spots because i have dark spots that won't go away. I am very conscious about my face and how it looks. I've tried everything
The photo shows the acne and the dark spot showing towards the top looks like a shadow
The photo under my eye shows a bruise I got my using a face scrum too hard about 2t weeks ago it's slowly lighting up and going away but I wanted to know if it would go away completely
The photo shows the acne and the dark spot showing towards the top looks like a shadow
The photo under my eye shows a bruise I got my using a face scrum too hard about 2t weeks ago it's slowly lighting up and going away but I wanted to know if it would go away completely
Brief Answer:
Treatment would include topical and oral treatment
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us healthcaremagic
Acne is quite common at your age. You seem to have moderately severe inflammatory acne i.e red papules, pustules apart from comedones along with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH)
Though salicylic acid is an exfoliating agent and is good for acne. However, salicylic acid 10 percent is too strong for face, if you are using it daily and it may cause dryness and irritation, specially if you are also scrubbing and also using other things on your face simultaneously. That is probably the reason for the dark patch, which you refer to as bruise on your left cheek, is actually pigmentation resulting from irritation.
I would rather suggest you to use a mild/gentle cleanser for face wash, twice daily e.g cetaphil cleansing lotion.
You may use a topical antibacterial e.g clindamycin or benzoyl peroxide gel just as a spot treatment for active acne during day time.
At night you may use a topical retinoid e.g Adapalene gel, over the whole affected area.
Topical retinoids are antiinflammatory as well as comedolytic; therefore they help with both preexisting acne as well as prevent new acne formation.
Topical retinoids also help fade away the pigmentation/dark spots/PIH as a result of acne and from irritation to salicylic acid.
I suggest you to visit a dermatologist, if it is possible. Your doctor may also start you on Oral antibiotics e.g doxycycline Or azithromycin Or minocycline since you have inflammatory acne.
Regards
Treatment would include topical and oral treatment
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us healthcaremagic
Acne is quite common at your age. You seem to have moderately severe inflammatory acne i.e red papules, pustules apart from comedones along with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH)
Though salicylic acid is an exfoliating agent and is good for acne. However, salicylic acid 10 percent is too strong for face, if you are using it daily and it may cause dryness and irritation, specially if you are also scrubbing and also using other things on your face simultaneously. That is probably the reason for the dark patch, which you refer to as bruise on your left cheek, is actually pigmentation resulting from irritation.
I would rather suggest you to use a mild/gentle cleanser for face wash, twice daily e.g cetaphil cleansing lotion.
You may use a topical antibacterial e.g clindamycin or benzoyl peroxide gel just as a spot treatment for active acne during day time.
At night you may use a topical retinoid e.g Adapalene gel, over the whole affected area.
Topical retinoids are antiinflammatory as well as comedolytic; therefore they help with both preexisting acne as well as prevent new acne formation.
Topical retinoids also help fade away the pigmentation/dark spots/PIH as a result of acne and from irritation to salicylic acid.
I suggest you to visit a dermatologist, if it is possible. Your doctor may also start you on Oral antibiotics e.g doxycycline Or azithromycin Or minocycline since you have inflammatory acne.
Regards
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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