Pimples are never fun, but sometimes they come with an added bonus: a dark spot. A dark spot where your pimple was always unflattering, leaving your skin looking uneven.
Most dark spots will eventually fade on their own, but in the mean time, they can be a real annoyance.
What causes dark spots after pimples? And is there any way to avoid them? In this article, we'll look at the reasons behind dark spots after pimples, how to prevent them, what to put on your skin to help fade them, and the mistakes most people make.
Why Do Pimples Leave Dark Spots?
When a pimple appears on your skin, your skins sends out an inflammatory response to the irritated area.
When the pimple fades, the inflammation can leave the skin with a dark spot, which is called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Dark spots are not always obvious, but are more likely to appear in some skin tones than others.
There are several factors that contribute to the likelihood that a dark spot will appear after a pimple, including:
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Picking or popping pimples
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Constant touching of pimples
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Severe irritation
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Sun exposure
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Irritating skincare products
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Aggressive scrubbing of pimples
That's why it's so important to take care of the pimple while it's on your skin, even after it's gone.
Recommendation: What to Do When Your Skin Suddenly Breaks Out
Don't Pick or Pop Pimples
The most important thing you can do to avoid dark spots is to not pick or pop your pimples!
When you pick or pop pimples, you can cause irritation to the skin around the pimple, increasing the chance that a dark spot will appear. Additionally, you could end up damaging the skin surrounding the pimple, causing it to discolor.
Instead of picking or popping pimples, let them heal on their own and apply the right skin care products to take care of your skin while you're at it.
If you catch yourself picking at pimples, keep your hands busy or apply a pimple patch to avoid doing so.
Keep Your Skin Clean
Keeping your skin clean is one of the most important things you can do to take care of your skin. A gentle face wash will get rid of any excess oil, sweat, sunscreen, or makeup that could irritate your skin, harming your skin in the process.
Though washing your face more often or scrubbing your face vigorously might seem like it'll help get rid of pimples, it can instead end up irritating your skin, harming your skin in the process.
Instead, wash your face gently with a good quality cleanser, and wash it twice a day.
The idea is to keep your skin clean, but without over-drying it.
Always Put On Sunscreen
One of the most important things you can do to avoid dark spots is to put on sunscreen! UV light exposure can cause dark spots to get darker and more noticeable,
which is why sunscreen should always be the first thing you put on your face in the morning, even with pimples.
Apply Clear Sun Defense SPF 50++ or any other quality sunscreen to all of the areas of your face that will be exposed to sunlight.
If you'll be spending a lot of time outside, reapply your sunscreen as needed.
You can also help prevent dark spots and sun damage by:
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Staying in the shade
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Wearing a hat
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Holding an umbrella
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Covering up areas of your skin that will be exposed to sunlight
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Avoiding being in the sun for long periods of time
Taking care of your skin by avoiding excessive sun exposure will greatly reduce your chances of developing dark spots!
Keep Your Skin Moisturized
Moisturizing your skin might seem like an unnecessary step when you have pimples, especially if you have oily skin, but skipping it can dry your skin and make it uncomfortable.
Additionally, other treatments for pimples can also irritate your skin and dry it out, which means that moisturizing is even more important.
When you moisturize, you're keeping your skins natural oils on your skin, helping your skin to function normally. Choose a moisturizer that works well for your skin, and avoid greasy ones if you have oily skin or pimples.
Keeping your skin moisturized is key to taking care of your skin!
Can Vitamin C Help With Dark Spots?
Vitamin C serums are a popular way to treat uneven skin tone, because they're full of antioxidants that help your skin maintain its health and beauty.
Vitamin C serums can be a great addition to your skincare routine, especially in the mornings. After cleansing your face, apply your vitamin C serum, followed by a moisturizer and some sunscreen.
Keep in mind that skincare products take time to work, so don't expect dark spots to go away after only a few days of using a vitamin C serum. Though vitamin c serums are fantastic for maintaining an even skin tone, it's most important to be consistent and patient.
Can Niacinamide Help Prevent Dark Spots?
Niacinamide is another popular ingredient that can be great for those with an uneven skin tone, including dark spots. Niacinamide serums can be helpful in treating an uneven skin tone, and most people with oily or pimple prone skin can benefit greatly from using them.
Once your face is clean, apply a niacinamide serum, followed by some moisturizer. During the morning, finish off with some sunscreen.
Niacinamide can be very beneficial for treating an uneven skin tone, so adding it to your skincare regimen is definitely something you should consider doing.
When using niacinamide serums for the first time, however, apply them sparingly and observe how your skin reacts to them.
Don't Scrub Your Pimples
When you notice a dark spot or pimple on your face, it can be tempting to scrub it with a harsh scrub to help get rid of it. However, this can actually cause more harm than good by irritating your skin.
Your skin doesn't need to be scrubbed to be clean, so avoid harsh scrubbing when taking care of pimples. Instead, clean your skin gently. Especially when dealing with an irritated area like a pimple, it's important not to further irritate the area.
Don't Use Too Many Acne Products
When dealing with pimples, it can be tempting to use a variety of acne products in hopes that they'll help rid your skin of them.
However, it's much more effective to keep your skincare regimen simple and easy to follow.
Additionally, using too many acne treatments can irritate your skin, causing it to become red, itchy, and uncomfortable.
Don't Try To Remove Dark Spots Overnight
Having dark spots after pimples can be annoying, especially because you want them to go away as soon as possible. Unfortunately, there's not a magic product that will make dark spots vanish overnight.
Your skin needs time to heal, and the length of time it takes can be different for everyone. Instead, focus on developing a skincare regimen that you can consistently follow.
Wash your face, apply moisturizer, keep your skin protected, and use products with ingredients that can help your skin heal.
Patience is a virtue, and it definitely applies when taking care of your skin!
Mistakes That Can Make Dark Spots Worse
When trying to prevent dark spots after pimples, it's important to avoid making common mistakes that could make the problem worse. These mistakes include:
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Picking or popping pimples
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Scrubbing your face
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Washing your face too often
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Not wearing sunscreen
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Skipping out on moisturizer
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Using too many acne treatments
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Using home remedies
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Continually changing your skincare products
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Expecting dark spots to completely disappear overnight
Your skin needs consistency more than anything else, and the less complicated your skincare regimen is, the easier it will be to take care of your skin.
How Long Do Dark Spots After Pimples Last?
There's no definite answer because it can be different for everyone, but dark spots after pimples can sometimes last for a long time.
It really depends on how bad the pimple was, how irritated the skin was, whether or not you exposed the dark spot to sunlight, and your own skin. The most important thing is that you avoid irritating the area so that the dark spot can fade as soon as possible.
Keeping your skin clean, moisturized, and protected will help make sure that your skin is taken care of while the dark spot fades away.
Simple Morning Skincare Routine To Avoid Dark Spots After Pimples
When it comes to taking care of your skin, you don't need a complicated skincare regimen.
In the morning, washing your face, applying a vitamin c or niacinamide serum, some moisturizer, and sunscreen will be more than enough to take care of your skin.
During the night, a similarly simple skincare regimen will suffice. Wash your face, apply your serum, and some moisturizer. If you have pimples, avoid picking them, and let them rest while you treat them.
Also read: The Ultimate Skincare Routine for Healthy, Glowing Skin Every Day
When Should I See a Dermatologist?
It's normal to occasionally have pimples or dark spots, but sometimes pimples can come with a set of other issues that require medical attention.
You should consider seeing a dermatologist if you:
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Have frequent pimples
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Have large, painful pimples
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Have pimples underneath your skin
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Have dark spots that keep appearing
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Have scars from pimples
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Have pimples that aren't improving
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Have pimples that are impacting your life
A dermatologist can evaluate your skin and prescribe a treatment plan that will help treat your pimples and dark spots.
Final Thoughts
Dark spots after pimples can be frustrating, but by taking care of your skin you can avoid irritating your skin and causing dark spots. The most important ways to avoid dark spots are to not pick at pimples, keep your skin clean, moisturized, and protected from the sun. You can also consider incorporating vitamins like vitamin c and niacinamide into your skincare regimen to help maintain your skin's health.
Remember, it's always easier to avoid dark spots than it is to get rid of them afterwards. By avoiding picking at your pimples, protecting your skin from the sun, and avoiding making other common mistakes, you can take care of your skin.