The pimples are finally calmer, but the skin still looks
still looks restless. In almost every place where a
where inflammation has been present, a red or brown spot remains.
behind. Sometimes a few weeks, sometimes months. Many people
they name these spots acne scars.
But they are far from always the case.
A red spot after acne, An
brown pigment spot after acne and a real
acne scars are three different things. If the skin
is still perfectly smooth, there doesn't have to be a scar at all.
originated. That distinction is important because
redness, pigmentation and changes in skin structure
not be treated in the same way.
At Medicademis, I therefore look at the skin itself first.
Do I mainly see redness? Does pigment play a major role?
Are there still active inflammations? Or are there actually
pits or other changes in skin texture
to arise? You don't need to know which one yourself
treatment you need. First, we assess
what is going on in the skin. Then we can determine
which approach is appropriate for this.
Red and brown spots after acne are often lumped together
thrown, but something else happens in the skin.
A smooth red spot after a pimple
we call post-inflammatory erythema (PIE).
Post-inflammatory means that it is after an inflammation
has arisen and erythema means redness.
A smooth brown or dark spot after acne
we call
post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).
In this case, there is more pigment locally after the inflammation.
become visible
On the other hand, if you see or feel a dimple, dent, or change
of the skin structure, then there may be a case of
Real acne scar.
Smooth and red:
usually redness after acne (PIE).
These phenomena can occur simultaneously.
So you may still have a few active pimples, with
in addition, red acne spots, brown pigment spots and
maybe a few real scars. That's why I'm looking
always look at the overall skin appearance before I
treatment proposal.
Are they spots or scars?
Red spots, pigmentation, and real acne scars can
occur side by side. During a free introductory meeting
I look at what is going on in your skin and which treatment
fits with that.
An inflammatory reaction occurs in the case of an inflamed pimple.
in the skin. Also the small blood vessels around those
Inflammation plays a role in this. When the pimple
once it has disappeared on its own, that redness may remain visible for a while.
stay. We call this
post-inflammatory erythema or PIE.
The annoying thing is that the skin suffers from this for months.
can look unsettled, while the acne itself might already
has become much calmer. Especially when multiple red
If the spots are close together, it may seem as if
there is still a lot of acne present.
Part of this redness will disappear on its own.
Do the remain red spots after acne
clearly visible or if they bother you, then there are
Treatment options to reduce the redness.
For persistent red acne spots, a treatment can
targeting the remaining redness would be the next step.
At Medikadermis, I work with, among others, for this purpose.
IPL of the Lumenis M22.
Light treatments are also used in scientific
research described as a treatment option for
post-acne erythema.
The goal is not to use IPL to remove a dimple or scar.
to remove, but to the redness that follows the inflammation
has remained visible gradually less noticeable
to make.
Within the Lumenis M22, I also have a
Multi-Spot Nd:YAG Vascular Laser.
Which technique is suitable depends, among other things,
of the skin type and the nature of the redness.
I don't automatically treat every red spot.
in the same way.
A brown spot after a pimple
arises in a different way. An inflammation can
stimulate pigment production in the skin. As a result
stays in the place where the pimple was
more melanin behind. Melanin is the pigment that
determines, among other things, our natural skin color.
We call this brown or darker discoloration
post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).
Pigmentation after acne can occur on any skin type,
but is often clearer and more persistent in skin
who naturally produce pigment more easily.
The pimple itself might be gone within a few days
disappeared, while the brown spot remained for months
remains visible. So even a small brown spot is not
automatically an acne scar.
Brown spots after acne can gradually disappear on their own.
become lighter. That process can only proceed slowly.
Moreover, sunlight can stimulate the pigment again,
causing an existing spot to become darker or
remains visible longer.
Good daily sun protection is therefore essential.
post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
an important part of the approach. In addition
can pigment-regulating skincare and, when
needed, professional treatments help to the
to reduce discoloration.
Bee brown spots after acne
the treatment focuses on the pigment that after
The inflammation has been left behind. Depending on
for the skin a process can consist of
pigment-regulating skincare, a medical
peeling or a treatment with light or laser.
Within the Lumenis M22 I have
besides IPL also about the
1064 nm Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser.
This laser technique is used for pigment indications.
and has also been investigated in post-inflammatory
hyperpigmentation after acne.
Especially for pigment-sensitive skin, a careful
assessment important. A treatment that at the
What is suitable for one skin type may be the opposite for another.
cause unwanted pigment reactions. Therefore, look
I not only looked at the color of the spot, but
also according to skin type, pigment sensitivity and
any active inflammation.
At Medicademis, this approach falls under
SPOT, my treatments focused
on pigment and a more even complexion.
Sometimes you would like to reduce the red or brown residual spots after acne.
make visible, while your skin recovers or a course of treatment
continues. Then it can medical camouflage therapy at Medicadermis
could be an additional option. With a matching color and
product choice can optically soften color differences,
without the camouflage treating the cause of PIE or PIH.
With acne-prone or easily irritated skin, I first look
whether the product is suitable for the current skin condition.
Do not apply camouflage to open wounds or skin that has recently
a treatment has not yet recovered sufficiently, unless this
is expressly permitted in the aftercare advice.
IPL can be used for both redness and
certain pigment spots, but they are different
treatment goals
That is one of the reasons why I like to work with
the Lumenis M22 work.
IPL is an umbrella term. Two practices can both
say that they treat with IPL, while the equipment
and possibilities can differ considerably from each other.
The Lumenis M22 is a professional modular light and
laser platform with which I treat various skin problems
can treat.
Within a single system, I have at my disposal
Universal IPL,
the Multi-Spot Nd:YAG Vascular Laser,
the Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser
for, among other things, pigment indications and
ResurFX 1565 nm
for fractional skin improvement.
That is important for post-acne skin. What someone
sees it as acne spots, can consist of redness,
pigment and sometimes even actual scarring.
Because of this, I don't have to treat every problem with the same
to approach technique
The device matters, but the assessment
the condition of the skin determines what I want to treat with it.
Which treatment suits your skin?
I do not treat every red or brown spot in the same way.
method. I first look at the skin, the pigment sensitivity
and any active acne before I start a treatment
proposal.
That happens regularly. New ones are still emerging.
pimples and inflammation, while previous inflammation
in the meantime have left behind red or brown spots.
Every new inflammation can again cause redness, pigment
or eventually cause an acne scar.
In such a situation, the emphasis is often first on the
reducing active acne. For
active inflammatory acne
The Lumenis M22 features a specific acne filter.
This allows IPL to be used on suitable skin.
be part of the treatment plan.
When the skin calms down, we can
then focus more on the spots that after the
inflammation has remained visible.
When there is not only a color difference after acne
but also a pit, dent or change
of the skin structure is left behind,
It may be an actual acne scar.
Especially atrophic acne scars can be visible
remain as small or larger floors in the
skin. In doing so, I look at the shape, depth and
the surrounding skin surface.
The treatment goal then changes. We do not treat.
only redness or pigmentation, but working on the
texture and/or underlying structure
of the skin.
I use various treatment principles for this.
Microneedling I mainly use
for improving skin texture.
TCA can use for texture
and structure. ResurFX 1565 nm
I mainly use it when the underlying
skin structure plays a more important role.
Not every scar is the same. That is why the
shape and depth of the scar determine
the choice of treatment.
What do you treat first: active acne, red spots,
pigment or scars? That depends on the total
skin appearance and what you would like to improve yourself.
When there are still active inflammations, the
attention often first focused on calming down
acne. Afterwards, redness, pigmentation or possible
scars are addressed individually.
Bee Medicadermis in The Hague
I look at which treatments are useful at that moment
be. A treatment plan does not have to be for every skin
to be the same and can change when
the skin improves.
Usually not. When a red spot is still just
if it is slippery, it is often post-inflammatory.
erythema (PIE). In the case of an atrophic acne scar
the structure of the skin has also changed and
For example, a small dent may be visible.
Red spots may gradually diminish on their own.
become visible. That can take weeks to months.
Does the redness remain clearly present or bothersome
if you, then a treatment aimed at the
residual redness be considered.
Brown spots may lighten on their own,
but some pigment spots remain for months
visible. Sunlight can illuminate existing pigment
moreover, make it darker. Good daily
Sun protection is therefore important.
IPL can be used for both redness
like certain pigment spots after acne. They are
indeed different treatment goals. Not every
skin or pigment reaction is suitable for IPL.
Therefore, I assess in advance which treatment
is appropriate.
Depending on skin type and pigment sensitivity
can pigment-regulating skincare, medical
Peels, IPL, or a pigment laser are used.
In the case of skin that easily produces pigment,
a cautious approach is especially important.
Dimples after acne can be consistent with atrophic
acne scars. The shape and depth of the scar
play a role in the choice of treatment.
At Medikadermis, I can do this for, among other things.
working with microneedling, TCA and
ResurFX 1565 nm.
Do you want to do something about the spots that appear after your acne?
have been left behind? During a free
for the initial consultation, I look at your skin and
we discuss what you would like to improve
and what treatment options are available.
For this article, I used
scientific publications on post-acne
erythema, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
and light and laser treatments.
Kalantari Y, Dadkhahfar S, Etesami I.
Wu X, Wang X, Wu X, et al.
Elbuluk N, Grimes P, Chien A, et al.
Kashetsky N, Feschuk A, Pratt ME.
Auffret N, Leccia MT, Ballanger F,
Claudel JP, Dahan S, Dréno B.
Liu H, Zhang L, Gao Z, et al.
Cho SB, Park SJ, Kim JS, et al.
Red or brown spots after acne: what is the difference?
Smooth and brown:
usually acne pigmentation (PIH).
A small dimple or dent:
possibly an atrophic acne scar.
Why do red spots remain after acne?
Can you treat red spots after acne?
Why do brown spots remain after acne?
Do brown spots after acne go away on their own?
Can you treat brown pigment spots after acne?
Temporarily camouflage red and brown spots after acne
Can IPL treat both red and brown spots after acne?
Do you still have active acne and red or brown spots?
And when are they actually acne scars?
Treating red and brown acne spots in The Hague
Frequently asked questions about red and brown spots after acne
Are red spots after acne scars?
How long do red spots after acne remain visible?
Do brown spots after acne go away on their own?
Can IPL treat both red and brown acne spots?
What helps with pigmentation spots after acne?
What can you do about pits after acne?
Get your skin assessed in The Hague
Scientific literature
Post-acne erythema treatment: A systematic
Review of the literature.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
2022;21(4):1379–1392.
Systematic review of treatments
post-acne erythema, including various
light and laser treatments.
View the publication on PubMed →
Intense Pulsed Light Therapy Improves
Acne-Induced Post-inflammatory Erythema
and Hyperpigmentation: A Retrospective
Study in Chinese patients.
Dermatology and Therapy.
2022;12(5):1147–1156.
Research into IPL in patients with
post-inflammatory erythema and
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation after acne.
View the publication on PubMed →
The Pathogenesis and Management of
Acne-induced post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology.
2021;22(6):829–836.
Overview of the origin and treatment
of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation after acne.
View the publication on PubMed →
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation:
A systematic review of treatment outcomes.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology
and Venereology. 2024;38(3):470–479.
Systematic review of various
treatment methods for post-inflammatory
hyperpigmentation.
View the publication on PubMed →
Acne-induced Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation:
From Grading to Treatment.
Acta Dermato-Venereologica.
2025;105:adv42925.
Publication on assessment and treatment
of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation after acne.
View the publication on PubMed →
Comparison of the Efficacy of Low-Energy
Delicate Pulsed Light and Q-Switched
1064 nm Nd:YAG Laser in the Treatment
or Post-Acne Erythema: A Prospective
Randomized Split-Face Study.
Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
2025;57(9):716–725.
Randomized split-face study into
a pulsed light treatment and
1064 nm Q-Switched Nd:YAG at
post-acne erythema.
View the publication on PubMed →
A retrospective analysis of the management
or acne post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
using topical treatment, laser treatment,
or combination topical and laser treatments
in oriental patients.
Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. 2011.
Research into various forms of treatment
for acne-related post-inflammatory
hyperpigmentation, including 1064 nm
Q-Switched Nd:YAG.
View the publication on PubMed →