Sara From Brampton Asks…
After a pimple goes away, it always leaves a dark spot on my skin that stays around for ages. Why is that?
Dr. Yaz says:
For some reason, more melanin is produced by the skin when it is damaged. As a result, a pimple, rash, burn and other types of inflammation/damage lead to an over-production of melanin, which causes those dark spots. This type of skin discolouration is known as Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH), and is generally worse for those with darker skin.
But don’t worry, it’s usually not dangerous though your complexion may be adversely affected. In most cases, although it might take a few weeks, those spots will eventually go away. However, you can try cosmetic treatments like microdermabrasion or a chemical peel if you’d prefer to speed up the process or if they are permanent.
