As a pimple heals, your body sometimes produces cells with too much melanin in them to replace the damaged skin. This results in post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which we sometimes just call a dark spot.
Hard pimples are caused when dead skin cells, oil, and bacteria get under the skin's surface. Certain types of hard pimples should be treated by a doctor to prevent them from getting worse and leaving scars.
Blind pimples, or cystic acne, are deep bumps that form under the skin. They can be small or large, red and painful, or nearly invisible. While blind pimples are sometimes hard to see, there are steps you can take to get rid of them.
According to the Education Manager for the International Dermal Institute and Dermalogica, Emma Hobbs, a blind pimple will typically stick around anywhere between five to 10 days.
When the skin is healing with pimples, you can get hyperpigmentation — that means the skin can get dark because of the acne. The second reason is something called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. After the acne has healed, the pimple heals with a black spot.
Dark spots appear when the skin cells produce too much melanin. Hyperpigmentation acne may fade over time, but if the original spots were deep, it may be permanent. Although some topical and surgical therapies can speed up the fading process, it can take several months to years.
Aloe vera has been found to have many health benefits for the skin, from helping to heal wounds to moisturizing. There's a small amount of scientific evidence suggesting that applying aloe vera to your skin may help reduce the appearance of hyperpigmented areas, though it won't completely get rid of these darker spots.
Might Lighten Dark Spots
Vitamin C-based skin care products may lighten patches that are darker than the rest of your skin, called hyperpigmentation. In one study, vitamin C applied to the skin for 16 weeks significantly cut down on these spots.
On a positive note, itchiness can be a sign indicating that the acne is getting better. When acne is healing, the red, pustular skin needs to be replaced with new, healthy skin. During this process, your body exfoliates, or sheds old layers of skin to uncover new layers of skin.
People with severe nodulocystic acne have multiple inflamed cysts and nodules. The acne may turn deep red or purple. It often leaves scars. Prompt treatment by a dermatologist can minimize scarring.
Popping a blackhead that's really just oil buildup won't solve anything, as the oil will typically come right back. When you try to force a blockage out of a pore, you're risking skin damage and infection. But unlike popping other kinds of pimples, blackheads are open pores, which makes them less risky to pop.
If you're using lemon juice as a spot treatment to get rid of breakouts, apply it carefully to your pimples with a cotton swab. Leave on for a few seconds and rinse your face with lukewarm water. Repeat a few times a day as needed on a short-term basis until your blemishes disappear.
Though vitamin E has been used in various over-the-counter skin lightening creams, there is insufficient evidence on whether vitamin E oil can remove dark spots. The only evidence is that it can protect from the damaging effects of the sun and reduce depigmentation in melasma.
We all have different skin needs and routines, but as a general rule, we recommend incorporating vitamin C into your skincare regime every—or every other—morning. We specify morning, because the antioxidant helps to protect from things like pollution and UV light, which you're typically exposed to throughout the day.
Expect that your skin tone or dark spots will lighten over time. How long this takes will vary with each person but in general, you should notice a visible difference after 2-3 weeks, and a significant difference after 8-12 weeks.
Aloe vera has antibacterial properties that can help control and reduce acne-causing bacteria. Two other ingredients that have been studied and found to have this same effect are cinnamon and honey. By combining all three for an at-home spa treatment, you'll be upping your chances at smooth skin that's acne-free.
While Green says that retin-a (tretinoin) or retinoids are best, retinol is the next best bet without a prescription. “Retinol is a weaker over-the-counter formula of retinoids and can provide similar benefits in reducing the appearance of dark spots, although it will typically take much longer,” Green explains.
The best essential oils for hyperpigmentation are lemon and carrot seed oil, both of which have clear scientific evidence pointing to their efficacy. Other oils that may lighten dark spots include geranium, sandalwood and tea tree oil.