There is hope

Ronald Shelton, MD answers: Best treatment for acne scars on dark skin

I am 56 years old, have very bad acne scarring on my face. My skin tone is bad, and I have dark skin. I went to a dermatologist years ago, and he told me because of my skin color treatment would make my acne scars look worse. Is there anything I can do?


Ronald Shelton, MD
14 months ago
Some very dark-skinned individuals can respond very well to treatment, but unfortunately, some do develop significant lighter skin permanently, or temporary (months to years) of darkening. A test spot should be done first to test your pigment response. This can be done behind the ear so that if the reaction is not favorable it would not be seen on your face. If that test works well, then a second test can be done on the face prior to treating the whole face. If the test shows a poor response, then you wouldn’t have the treatment, but if both tests produce a good result it doesn’t guarantee that you wouldn’t have a problem when the whole face is treated. Schedule a consultation with a physician who has significant experience in acne resurfacing. Don’t give up, see a few consultations and don’t rush in. Learn as much as you can first. There is hope.
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