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Hey y’all so I see a lot of people mistake post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (dark spots) for acne scars. I felt the need to point out the difference so you don’t confuse both. First pic is acne scars and second is PIH. Let me explain both, RT pls for people that may need it 
Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (second pic) is very common and it is not true scarring, it is used to describe the discoloration of the skin that follows an inflammatory wound, it may also occur when. It’s basically the dark marks left behind after a pimple heals, it is the
Skin’s natural response to injury or inflammation. This is also we encourage you to not pick at a pimple because it causes injury to the skin and what follows after it heals is the dark spot. As the skin heals it produces too much melanin and the excess melanin discolors the skin
And remains even after it is completely healed. PIH can develp in all skin types, so it’s not just peculiar to oily skin.
Acne scars (first pic) on the other hand occurs on 2 occasions, first when there is either a loss of tissue which then causes a pitted or depressed area, or an overgrowth of tissue leaving a raised scar. scars occur when normal tissue in the skin is destroyed and replaced with
fibrous tissue. When the damage caused by acne is severe, the body can respond by creating too much tissue or too little tissue. The production of too much tissue forms a keloid or a hypertrophic scar, and too little tissue leads to that depression in the skin, or atrophic scar.
These scars can be difficult to treat, Acne scars usually appear indented, raised and bumpy. The fact is when a pimple is deep and very inflammed and you pick and prod at it, it is more likely to scar.
Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation is more common and a lot of people are always looking for a quick fix, but it typically takes 3-12 months (could be longer) for it to fully fade. But how long it takes depends on different factors which we will discuss some other time.
