If you're dark-skinned and you want to fade acne scars, then this article will hopefully
show you how! Treating African American skin is slightly different to treating paler skin,
however there are some cross overs. One of the big differences is the way that the skin
creates scars. Often acne leaves little dark spots over the skin (called hyper-
pigmentation) and is common after having acne. These dark spots can be treated in similar
ways to red scars on white skin.
The easiest way is to purchase some skin lightening product. There are plenty around, and
you can shop around to see what's best for you. I suggest trying a chemist and asking the
staff there to see what they recommend for your particular skin. You can also use lemon
juice. Lemon juice is a very effective natural bleach and can help fade the particularly
dark spots. Now it does sting, and it's very strong. If lemon juice is too strong then you
can dilute it slightly with some water. Please perform a spot test before you use it all
over your skin! The dark spots will fade over time, but if you can't wait for that, then
get in there with lemons or a skin lightening product.
Moisturization is important as ever for African American skin, and like above I suggest
you get some professional advice on what the best product to use for your skin is. Try and
get a natural moisturizer if you can - if there's a farmer's market near you you might be
able to find someone who makes natural ones. If not, the internet connects you with
anything you could ever want.
All skin with scars needs to be exfoliated on a daily basis. This helps to reduce the
layers of dead skin and helps encourage skin regrowth and a removal of oils and dirt. You
can exfoliate daily. I suggest simply using a loofah sponge while in the shower. You could
also use a sticky stuff such as baking soda paste (a mixture of baking soda and water) and
this works quite wonders at exfoliating the skin.
Overall there aren't many differences between African American skin and and other types of
skin. Skin is skin - the only real difference being that often hyper-pigmentation is more
common in darker skins. There are plenty of natural acne scar treatments out there, so have
a look around, exercise common sense, and be relentless!