Blemishes and Acne Spots

A blemish is any kind of mark, discoloration, or spot that appears on the surface of the skin. We usually talk about blemishes existing on the face, but they can appear anywhere on the body. Blemishes may not be dangerous to our physical health, but they can often affect our self-esteem or cause mental anguish.

When it comes to acne, there are a few types of blemishes that can be left behind once a pimple or breakout of pimples heals.

What is hyperpigmentation acne?

Hyperpigmentation acne is when a dark spot is left behind after a pimple heals. When the skin is working towards healing, it sometimes creates excess melanin. This extra melanin can cause a dark red or brown spot to be left at the site of the pimple. These acne discolorations often require treatment before they will fade.

What is post-inflammatory erythema?

Post-inflammatory erythema is a type of inflammation caused by irritation or overactivity of blood vessels and capillaries. It often occurs after the skin has been damaged by acne pimples. Post-inflammatory erythema appears on the skin as small bright red spots on the skin. They may look like pink or red blemishes in the areas where you experienced a breakout. While the redness may fade on its own, it can be healed much quicker with treatment.

Skin blemishes are caused by damage left behind after skin trauma. In many cases, acne breakouts can cause a traumatic reaction that requires the skin to go through a rapid healing process. During the process, many things happen that may cause the skin to heal improperly. Generally, blemishes are caused by increased melanin production resulting in dark spots, or inflammation caused by excessive blood flow to the skin leaving behind red or pink spots.

Your recovery time will depend on the treatment plan that is developed with your input for your specific skincare goals. Each treatment has a different recovery time. However, most require only a few hours to fully recover from. Some treatments, such as laser treatments, may require a few days for residual redness and mild inflammation to subside.

Novuskin’s treatments are non or minimally-invasive treatments that don’t involve knives or harmful procedures. For more information, ask your aesthetician about the healing times involved in your treatment plan.

Having healthy, beautiful skin doesn’t always happen overnight. Depending on the severity of your acne and blemishes, you may need anywhere from 6-12 treatments to see optimal results. However, in some milder cases, you may see significant improvement after just 1 or 2 treatments. Your aesthetician can help you understand how your skin will react to your proposed treatment plan and give you realistic expectations about how quickly you will see results.

In most cases, no, acne spot removal does not hurt. All of our treatments are non or minimally-invasive so you don’t need to worry about overly painful treatments. 

Some people find chemical peels to be uncomfortable. They may be itchy and feel a bit like the skin is burning, but most people tolerate them very well. Laser treatments may be painful, but we can apply a topical anesthetic to the skin to minimize discomfort.

If you are worried about pain, speak to your aesthetician for honest answers about what your treatment will feel like.

Because there are so many different blemish mark treatments, it’s important to understand each one will have its own after-care procedures. Your aesthetician will give you complete instructions about your treatment. Here is some generally helpful aftercare information.

What To Do After Your Procedure

• Use your homecare products as described. Beautiful skin is built in your bathroom each morning and evening. The products we give you will help you maintain and enhance the results of your treatment, and you will not have the best results without nourishing your skin at home.
• Wear sunscreen. This will give your skin an opportunity to heal without causing dryness or damage from UV rays. We recommend you wear an SPF of 30-50 every single day of your life.
• Drink plenty of water. You’ll give your body the best chance at healing if you are well hydrated.

What Not To Do After Professional Acne Blemish Treatments

• Try to avoid cosmetics on the day of your treatment. If you must wear makeup, apply it sparingly.
• Don’t use chemical peels or other harsh exfoliants or products for at least a week following your treatment. Depending on what treatment you had, you could potentially strip your skin and cause more damage.
• Don’t expose your skin to direct sunlight or use tanning beds for at least a few weeks following your treatment. Your skin may be more sensitive to light and you may cause damage to your healing skin. Wear SPF and if you’re going to be in the sun, be sure to wear a shade hat and sunglasses.

After most treatments, you can expect to see some results within one week. In some cases, you’ll see an immediate improvement, and in others, it may take a few weeks. Consistency is key, so make sure you return to complete your treatment plan. Results are cumulative, so the more treatments you have, the better your results will be.

Science-based, medical spa treatments are extremely safe and rarely cause side effects or adverse reactions. There are many approaches to acne blemish removal and each has its own potential side effects, although they are very rare and if they occur, they’re generally mild.

Side Effects

Potential side effects include (but are not limited to):

• Temporary redness or mild inflammation in the treatment area
• Skin peeling
• Mild pain
• Fatigue following treatment

Contraindications

Contraindications vary for each treatment. Generally, contraindications may include (but are not limited to):

• Pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Cancer (current or in the past)
• Heart, kidney, or lung disorders
• Open sores or wounds on the skin
• Active rashes on the skin
• HIV or other blood disorders

Some contraindications may not apply to some treatments, so please do not be discouraged from exploring treatment. Contact Novuskin for a complete consultation and we will discuss your options.