STAGE 4 — POST-ACNE MARKS & SCARS
Fading red & brown marks, treating pitted scars. Your acne is gone. Now let's fade the
marks.
Does This Sound Like You?
- Skin feels rough or bumpy to touch
- Blackheads (dark dots in pores)
- Whiteheads (small white bumps)
- Oily T-zone without redness
- Very few or no inflamed pimples
- Skin looks congested but not angry
- Tiny bumps under the surface (microcomedones)
Does This Sound Like You?
PIE
Post-Inflammatory Erythema
- Flat red or pink marks where acne healed
- Marks blanch white when pressed (vascular, not pigment)
- Usually fade over 3-6 months naturally
- Can persist 1+ years if inflamed long
- More visible on fair skin
PIH
Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation
- Flat brown, tan, or dark spots where acne healed
- Do NOT blanch when pressed (melanin-based)
- Caused by melanocyte activation during inflammation
- More visible on medium-to-dark skin tones
- Can persist 6-12 months naturally
Atrophic Scars
Pitted, Indented
- Depressed/pitted texture (icepick, boxcar, rolling scars)
- Result from collagen loss during deep inflammation
- More noticeable with lateral lighting
- Permanent without professional treatment
Expected Timeline
1
Week 1–2
Initial lightening
- Marks appear slightly lighter
- PIE responds faster (weeks 1-2) than PIH (weeks 3-4)
2
Week 2–4
Noticeable fading
- PIE marks considerably lighter (70-80% faded)
- PIH marks visibly lighter (30-40% faded)
3
Week 4–8
Clear, Glossy Skin
- Most marks faded
- PIE mostly gone (95%+)
- PIH signi cantly lighter
- Stubborn dark marks may remain
Results vary by skin type, consistency, and lifestyle factors. Daily routine and patience are key.
Success Metrics
Marks noticeably lighter when comparing photos
Marks less visible in natural lighting
Less makeup needed to cover marks
Marks gradually fade week-to-week
PIE loses redness faster than PIH darkness reduces
No new in ammatory acne
Skin texture improving
Choose Your Plan
When to Seek Professional Treatment
Consider professional treatment if:
For PIE (Red Marks)
- After 12 weeks, PIE still very visible (consider IPL/PDL laser)
- Vascular laser can dramatically accelerate fading
For PIH (Dark Marks)
- After 16 weeks, PIH still dark (consider lightening laser or chemical peels)
- Professional treatment can accelerate by 2-3x
For Scars (Atrophic)
- Any visible scarring (topicals alone won't reverse)
- Options: Laser resurfacing, microneedling, radiofrequency
- Best results: Professional treatment 6+ months after acne clears
Customer testimonials
PIH Faded with Seabuckthorn Background
Had deep cystic acne treated with seabuckthorn in Stage 3. Minimal scars. Now Stage 4 marks faded completely in 8 weeks. Confidence totally restored!