Can Accutane Heal Red Marks and Stains on the Face?

When inflamed pimples resolve, they often leave marks (or "shadows") on the face. Fairer people tend to get red marks; darker people tend to develop brown marks. These "shadows" from previous pimples take time to fade. The red marks usually fade within several months. Brown marks can take even longer to fade. Be patient and protect yourself from the sun since UV exposure can aggravate the marks. more

It sounds like what you have is redness and "stains" which are post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). These discolorations usually resolve over time, after active acne is no longer present. However, it can take a year or more for this to happen. I'm wondering if you have more sub acne lesions, meaning the acne is there but not so much on the surface, more underlying, and cystic. If that's what's being treated, I think you need to stay on the medication for the... more

Isotretinoin is a wonderfully effective treatment for ACTIVE acne-- and is the only treatment that may offer a patient a "cure". By your description, however, it sounds like you have post-inflammatory erythema (redness) from old acne lesions. This discoloration generally fades with time-- but can take a year or more. Isotretinoin will NOT remove discoloration-- it WILL eliminate active lesions which cause the discoloration and scarring seen with acne. Based on... more