Clear, honest information about acne, skin and what actually helps
Written by careful researchers who read the studies. We are not dermatologists — and we say so on every page.
Sunscreen doesn’t fade dark marks by itself, but it changes how quickly they fade — or whether they fade at all. UV exposure stimulates the pigment-producing cells that cause post-acne marks to form, so unprotected sun tends to keep marks darker for longer, while consistent sunscreen use lets other fading processes work as intended. What … Read more
The biggest levers are getting inflamed spots calmed down sooner rather than later, leaving them alone while they heal, protecting the skin from sun while a mark is fresh, and asking a doctor about treatment before things become severe. None of this guarantees scar-free skin, but it meaningfully shifts the odds. What actually causes scarring, … Read more
Textured acne scarring — the pitted, uneven kind rather than flat dark marks — can be softened but rarely erased completely. The most effective options are in-office procedures like microneedling, certain lasers, subcision or filler, chosen by a dermatologist based on the specific scar shape. At-home products can help skin quality generally but have limited … Read more
Acne scars generally fall into four broad shapes: narrow “ice pick” indents, wider “boxcar” depressions, shallow rolling dips, and raised hypertrophic or keloid scars. Most textural scarring comes from deeper, inflamed spots, and the type affects what kind of treatment a professional might even bring up. It helps to say upfront: not every mark left … Read more
Dark marks last so long because they aren’t leftover damage sitting on the surface — they’re extra pigment that skin produced as part of healing, sitting deeper in the skin. That pigment has to be broken down and cleared gradually by the skin’s own turnover, which is a much slower process than the spot itself … Read more
A dark mark, sometimes called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, is flat discolouration left behind after a spot heals — it usually fades on its own over weeks or months. A scar is an actual change in the skin’s texture, leaving a dent, a raised area, or a permanent mark, and it generally needs active treatment to improve. … Read more
8 of 26 letters have an entry so far. We would rather show the gaps than pad the index.
Written by careful researchers who read the studies. We are not dermatologists, and we say so on every page.
Medical disclaimer. Acne Cut publishes general information about skin and acne. It is not medical advice, it is not a diagnosis, and it is not a substitute for speaking to a doctor or pharmacist about your own skin. We do not recommend prescription treatments or give doses. If your acne is painful, scarring, getting worse, or affecting how you feel day to day, please talk to a doctor — going early is not an overreaction.
About what you read here. Everything on Acne Cut is general information and our own editorial opinion. We research carefully and we say when the evidence is unclear, but we can be wrong, things change, and no article can know your particular situation. Please do your own research and make your own judgement rather than treating anything here as the final word. This is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not a substitute for speaking to a doctor or dermatologist about your own acne and skin. We are writers and researchers, not clinicians. We do not recommend prescription treatments or give doses. If something is painful, getting worse, or worrying you, please talk to a professional — going early is not an overreaction.