Blemishes
Most blemishes people want to treat are post-inflammatory marks — the flat brown or red patches left behind after a breakout has healed. These are pigment, not active acne, and they respond to different care.
Fading marks
Gentle chemical exfoliation speeds up the turnover of marked surface skin. Daily sunscreen prevents UV from darkening those marks further, which is what makes them linger for months.
Do not pick
Picking at a spot is the single biggest cause of a mark that outlasts the breakout by months. Leaving it alone genuinely shortens the recovery.
Timeline
Red marks usually settle within 4 to 8 weeks. Brown marks take longer, often 3 months or more, and need sun protection throughout.