Timeline for Clearing Acne and Fading Acne Marks

How long does it take to get rid of acne?

How long it takes to get rid of acne depends upon what skin care routine you are using, how consistently you use it, and what is causing your acne. If you are doing everything right, it takes about 8 weeks to clear acne.

Acne takes much longer to get rid of than most people realize. You may get impatient and stop using your acne products before the acne medications have a chance to work. So this is my advice as a dermatologist:

Know your Baumann Skin Type

Build a routine to match your skin type

Use it consistently

Wait 4- 8 weeks before expecting improvement

Then once the acne clears, you must get rid of acne marks such as red marks and dark spots that can take months to fade. Acne scars, which are different than red marks and dark spots, will not fade on their own.

How you treat your acne will determine whether or not you develop red marks, dark spots and acne scarring- so be diligent about your acne treatments and make sure you are using the best skin care routine for your skin type.

How long does it take to get rid of acne marks?

Acne marks will not fade until you treat the underlying cause of acne.

Once the cause of acne has been eliminated it will take 8 weeks to stop breaking out and get rid of acne if you are using the best acne products to treat your skin concerns. It can take many more months for acne marks to fade.

If you have a sudden outbreak of pimples, it will take about 2 – 4 weeks for those to clear if the cause has been removed. For example, if you break out because you used a new skin care product or makeup with acne-causing ingredients, but you stop using the problem product, it can take 2-4 weeks for the pimples to clear naturally without any acne treatments.

How long to get rid of acne depends upon your skin care routine and habits and sunscreen use.

If your acne will not go away and you have tried everything, make sure that:

You are using the right skin care products for your Baumann Skin Type

You are using a custom acne routine and all the products have been chosen to work well together

You are using the skin care routine every morning and night as directed

Your retinoid serum is not expired or inactive due to exposure to light or air

You are not using products with acne causing comedogenic ingredients

You are not taking testosterone which causes acne

You are not taking Vitamins B6 or B12 which can cause acne

You do not have any hormone imbalances

If you are using the right products for your Baumann Skin Type consistently, then acne should begin to clear in 8 weeks.

Take the skin type quiz to make sure you are using the right acne skin care routine.

Take the Quiz

How long does it take for acne marks to fade?

There are 3 main types of acne marks on the skin after acne clears:

red marks

dark spots

acne scars

Many of my patients call the red acne marks scars, but they are not true scars and will go away. However, a scar may develop in the same area that the acne mark was.

How can you tell the difference between a red acne mark and a scar? A red acne mark is flat and looks pink or red but not glistening or shiny or firm. The skin over an acne scar feels firmer than normal skin or is depressed in various shapes such as ice pick marks (narrow deep round punctures) or box cars which have lagged edges. Acne scars may look lighter than the surrounding skin and may have a glistening appearance. Acne scars can also turn into keloids.

How to Get Rid of Red Marks From Acne

red acne marks can take months to fade

Red marks from acne can take months to go away. They are red because the blood vessels are enlarged to help bring nutrients to the are so you do not want to use vasoconstricting anti-redness serums or creams with hydrocortisone to clear them. In the long run, this will take more time to get rid of the red acne marks. Although I do not usually recommend it unless you have a wedding or important event, a vascular laser can help clear red marks from acne. These red marks are not acne scars. They will go away with time. If they are depressed or thick or you pick at them, they can turn into acne scars which are very hard to get rid of.

How Long to Clear Dark Spots from Acne?

dark spots can take 8 to 12 weeks to fade

Dark spots from acne are a form of hyperpigmentation that occurs from the inflammation that is characteristic of acne.

It is also called PIH, PIPA, or post inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Acne dark spots are harder to get rid of in darker skin types.

The best way to erase dark marks from acne is with skin lightening ingredients such as tyrosinase inhibitors.

It can take 12-16 weeks for dark spots from acne to clear.

Read here how to clear skin faster and why it takes so long to clear dark spots.

Why does it take so long to fade acne marks?

Acne is a disorder of the hair follicles. Pores clog and pimples from deep down in the hair follicle.

It takes time for the hair follicles to clear and normalize.

hair follicle where acne begins

The epidermis that lines the hair follicle plays an important role in acne because of the desquamation cycle.

You can learn more about desquamation here.

The epidermal desquamation process gets messed up. This is called dyskeratinization. Basically this means the dead skin cells hold onto each other and do not flake off of the skin way they should.

This occurs for several reasons:

activation of toll like receptor 2

presence of bacteria

dysfunction of enzymes

increased oil (sebum)

dyskeratinization from over-exfoliation

It takes weeks for the desquamation cycle to normalize once you begin the right acne skin care. Then it takes about 30-45 days for all of the “messed up” epidermal keratinocytes to move to the skin’s surface and flake off of the skin.

Acne will keep recurring until the keratinization process is normal again and all of the messed up keratinocytes have been replaced. This can take 8 weeks.

How to prevent acne marks?

You cannot fade and prevent acne marks unless you stop getting pimples.

Using the right skin care EVERY day is the only way to prevent the recurrence of acne.

Keep using your regimen- even after your acne clears.

Take the quiz to find the best routing to prevent red acee marks and dark spots. Also- do not forget your sunscreen!

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

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