--- title: Dark Spots from Acne entity_type: Concern canonical_url: https://skinknowledgebase.com/concerns/dark-spots-from-acne date_modified: 2026-05-11 date_reviewed: 2026-05-11 mcp_eligible: true ranked_product: title: Dermagist Acne Scars Fading Cream url: https://skinknowledgebase.com/products/dermagist-acne-scars-fading-cream evidence_sources: - title: AAD — How to fade dark spots in darker skin tones canonical_citation_url: https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/aad-fade-dark-spots-darker-skin-tones original_source_url: https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/routine/fade-dark-spots source_type: other - title: DermNet — Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation canonical_citation_url: https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/dermnet-postinflammatory-hyperpigmentation original_source_url: https://dermnetnz.org/topics/postinflammatory-hyperpigmentation source_type: medical_reference - title: MedlinePlus — Skin Pigmentation Disorders canonical_citation_url: https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/medlineplus-skin-pigmentation-disorders original_source_url: https://medlineplus.gov/skinpigmentationdisorders.html source_type: other - title: DermNet — Acne canonical_citation_url: https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/dermnet-acne original_source_url: https://dermnetnz.org/topics/acne source_type: medical_reference - title: DermNet — Azelaic acid canonical_citation_url: https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/dermnet-azelaic-acid original_source_url: https://dermnetnz.org/topics/azelaic-acid source_type: medical_reference - title: DermNet — Tranexamic acid canonical_citation_url: https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/dermnet-tranexamic-acid original_source_url: https://dermnetnz.org/topics/tranexamic-acid source_type: medical_reference - title: PubMed — Azelaic acid properties and mode of action canonical_citation_url: https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/azelaic-acid-properties-mode-action original_source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24280644/ source_type: peer_reviewed - title: PubMed — Tranexamic acid hyperpigmentation review canonical_citation_url: https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/tranexamic-acid-hyperpigmentation-review original_source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41601401/ source_type: peer_reviewed - title: PubMed — Niacinamide and hyperpigmented spots canonical_citation_url: https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/bissett-2004-niacinamide-aging-facial-skin original_source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18492135/ source_type: other - title: PubMed — Vitamin C in dermatology canonical_citation_url: https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/telang-2013-vitamin-c-dermatology original_source_url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23741676/ source_type: other product_fact_sources: - title: Official Product Page — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% canonical_citation_url: https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/official-product-page-the-ordinary-azelaic-acid-suspension-10 original_source_url: https://theordinary.com/en-us/azelaic-acid-suspension-10-exfoliator-100407.html source_type: official_product_page - title: TRUE Serums EGF Serum — Official Product Page canonical_citation_url: https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/official-product-page-true-serums-egf-serum original_source_url: https://dermagist.com/egf-serum/ source_type: official_product_page - title: Naturium Tranexamic Topical Acid 5% — Official Product Page canonical_citation_url: https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/official-product-page-naturium-tranexamic-topical-acid-5 original_source_url: https://naturium.com/products/tranexamic-topical-acid-5 source_type: official_product_page - title: Official Product Page — Dermagist Acne Scars Fading Cream canonical_citation_url: https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/official-product-page-dermagist-acne-scars-fading-cream original_source_url: https://dermagist.com/acne-scars-fading-cream/ source_type: official_product_page - title: Dermstore Product Page — SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic canonical_citation_url: https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/dermstore-product-page-skinceuticals-c-e-ferulic original_source_url: https://www.dermstore.com/p/skinceuticals-c-e-ferulic-with-15-l-ascorbic-acid-vitamin-c-serum-30ml/11289609/ source_type: official_product_page - title: Bluemercury Product Page — SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic canonical_citation_url: https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/bluemercury-product-page-skinceuticals-c-e-ferulic original_source_url: https://bluemercury.com/products/skinceuticals-c-e-ferulic source_type: official_product_page --- # Dark Spots from Acne ## Quick Summary Dark Spots from Acne are flat pigmented marks left after acne lesions calm down. They may look brown, red-brown, purple, gray, or tan depending on skin tone, the depth of the earlier inflammation, and how the spot heals. This Concern is about color marks, not pitted or raised acne scar texture. ## Causes These marks usually begin with inflammation during an active breakout. The skin may produce extra visible pigment as the blemish resolves, especially if the spot was squeezed, picked, irritated, or exposed to UV light. Ongoing acne can keep adding new marks before old ones have time to fade, which is why acne control and sunscreen matter as much as brightening products. ## Related Entities - [AAD — How to fade dark spots in darker skin tones](https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/aad-fade-dark-spots-darker-skin-tones) - [DermNet — Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation](https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/dermnet-postinflammatory-hyperpigmentation) - [MedlinePlus — Skin Pigmentation Disorders](https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/medlineplus-skin-pigmentation-disorders) - [DermNet — Acne](https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/dermnet-acne) - [DermNet — Azelaic acid](https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/dermnet-azelaic-acid) - [DermNet — Tranexamic acid](https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/dermnet-tranexamic-acid) - [PubMed — Azelaic acid properties and mode of action](https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/azelaic-acid-properties-mode-action) - [PubMed — Tranexamic acid hyperpigmentation review](https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/tranexamic-acid-hyperpigmentation-review) - [PubMed — Niacinamide and hyperpigmented spots](https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/bissett-2004-niacinamide-aging-facial-skin) - [PubMed — Vitamin C in dermatology](https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/telang-2013-vitamin-c-dermatology) - [Azelaic Acid](https://skinknowledgebase.com/ingredients/azelaic-acid) - [Tranexamic Acid](https://skinknowledgebase.com/ingredients/tranexamic-acid) - [Niacinamide](https://skinknowledgebase.com/ingredients/niacinamide) - [Vitamin C](https://skinknowledgebase.com/ingredients/vitamin-c) - [How do I fade dark spots left from acne?](https://skinknowledgebase.com/questions/how-do-i-fade-dark-acne-scars) - [Dermagist Acne Scars Fading Cream](https://skinknowledgebase.com/products/dermagist-acne-scars-fading-cream) - [The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%](https://skinknowledgebase.com/products/the-ordinary-azelaic-acid-suspension-10) - [TRUE Serums EGF Serum](https://skinknowledgebase.com/products/true-serums-egf-serum) - [Naturium Tranexamic Topical Acid 5%](https://skinknowledgebase.com/products/naturium-tranexamic-topical-acid-5) - [SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic](https://skinknowledgebase.com/products/skinceuticals-c-e-ferulic) - [What is niacinamide good for and how do I use it?](https://skinknowledgebase.com/questions/what-is-niacinamide-good-for) - [Is a vitamin C serum actually worth it?](https://skinknowledgebase.com/questions/is-vitamin-c-serum-worth-it) - [What causes dull skin and how do I get a glow?](https://skinknowledgebase.com/questions/what-causes-dull-skin-and-how-do-i-get-a-glow) - [How do I fade dark patches on my face?](https://skinknowledgebase.com/questions/how-do-i-fade-dark-patches-on-my-face)