The Student Room Group

Skin advice

Hello, I am 18 yrs old (F) and I get breakouts here and there but they aren’t that bad. The problem is the dark mark (just to clarify they aren’t scars) it leaves behind on my skin. I’m not super insecure about it but they have been there for a while and some are taking ages to disappear and it’s really starting to annoy me. All my friends’ skin seems to have cleared up by now and I’m the only one :frown:. Does anyone have any advice on how to get rid of these marks quickly? Thank you.
Reply 1
FYI I have oily skin 😕
Hey! I have oily skin and a few dark marks and I recommend that you get a basic skincare routine (if you don't already):

Cleanser --> TheOrdinary and Byoma do cheap but effective foaming cleansers which will help to remove the oil and clean break outs

Serums --> Niacinimide + Zinc from TheOrdinary is good for breakouts, oil and everything else basically (do some research into serums from TheOrdinary, they are so affordable and work well)

Moisturiser --> Gel moisturisers are so good for oily skin (I use Clinique but TheOrdinary and Byoma also do one)

Optional but La Roche Posay has a really good product (Duo+M moisturiser) which has helped to get rid of discolouration and dark spots on my face (although it is a little pricey) I add it on top of my moisturiser

Use pimples patches for spots to help them heal better and not leave marks (StarFace, basic ones from amazon) you can leave these on overnight or in the day

Do this at night and try not to touch your face/pick spots to prevent infection and spreading. Always take makeup off before bed and try not to wear too much everyday as this can cause break outs and block pores etc. Remember, sometimes less is more when it comes to skincare steps!
Maybe consider seeing a doctor/dermatologist if it is super bad?
Hope this helps :smile:
Reply 3
Original post by Anonymous
Hey! I have oily skin and a few dark marks and I recommend that you get a basic skincare routine (if you don't already):

Cleanser --> TheOrdinary and Byoma do cheap but effective foaming cleansers which will help to remove the oil and clean break outs

Serums --> Niacinimide + Zinc from TheOrdinary is good for breakouts, oil and everything else basically (do some research into serums from TheOrdinary, they are so affordable and work well)

Moisturiser --> Gel moisturisers are so good for oily skin (I use Clinique but TheOrdinary and Byoma also do one)

Optional but La Roche Posay has a really good product (Duo+M moisturiser) which has helped to get rid of discolouration and dark spots on my face (although it is a little pricey) I add it on top of my moisturiser

Use pimples patches for spots to help them heal better and not leave marks (StarFace, basic ones from amazon) you can leave these on overnight or in the day

Do this at night and try not to touch your face/pick spots to prevent infection and spreading. Always take makeup off before bed and try not to wear too much everyday as this can cause break outs and block pores etc. Remember, sometimes less is more when it comes to skincare steps!
Maybe consider seeing a doctor/dermatologist if it is super bad?
Hope this helps :smile:

Thank you so much!
also do you put pimple patches when you get a pimple or once it has been popped (I don’t purposefully pop mine but sometimes they do by themselves)?
use a product containing retinol, which increases turnover of skin cells and can even out skin texture with regular use. alongside this apply sunscreen every day as retinol products can increase skin photosensitivity. try and get a sunscreen that blocks UVA and UVB, as UVA exposure is what leads to sun damage on the skin. SPF rating does not take UVA protection into account, so find a sunscreen with both an SPF rating and a PA rating (PA rating assesses UVA blockage). Korean and Japanese sunscreens are good for this.
Original post by Anonymous
Thank you so much!
also do you put pimple patches when you get a pimple or once it has been popped (I don’t purposefully pop mine but sometimes they do by themselves)?

Pimple patches are basically blister plasters (hydrocolloids). They work by drawing fluid out. If the skin hasn't been broken (e.g. not popped) then this wont really work but it might help drawing some oil away
Original post by Anonymous
Hello, I am 18 yrs old (F) and I get breakouts here and there but they aren’t that bad. The problem is the dark mark (just to clarify they aren’t scars) it leaves behind on my skin. I’m not super insecure about it but they have been there for a while and some are taking ages to disappear and it’s really starting to annoy me. All my friends’ skin seems to have cleared up by now and I’m the only one :frown:. Does anyone have any advice on how to get rid of these marks quickly? Thank you.

don't worry i breakout to but 18 year old male i can't stop scratching at it
Reply 7
Original post by Anonymous
use a product containing retinol, which increases turnover of skin cells and can even out skin texture with regular use. alongside this apply sunscreen every day as retinol products can increase skin photosensitivity. try and get a sunscreen that blocks UVA and UVB, as UVA exposure is what leads to sun damage on the skin. SPF rating does not take UVA protection into account, so find a sunscreen with both an SPF rating and a PA rating (PA rating assesses UVA blockage). Korean and Japanese sunscreens are good for this.

Thanks for the advice :smile:
Reply 8
Original post by Anonymous
don't worry i breakout to but 18 year old male i can't stop scratching at it

Ahh lucky for me mine isn’t itchy. Yeah I’m not super conscious about my acne as it isn’t too bad, it’s just annoying how everyone else’s skin seems to have cleared up already 😕.
Original post by Anonymous
Ahh lucky for me mine isn’t itchy. Yeah I’m not super conscious about my acne as it isn’t too bad, it’s just annoying how everyone else’s skin seems to have cleared up already 😕.

i get it from my mom i try not to scratch at it
Reply 10
Original post by Anonymous
Hey! I have oily skin and a few dark marks and I recommend that you get a basic skincare routine (if you don't already):

Cleanser --> TheOrdinary and Byoma do cheap but effective foaming cleansers which will help to remove the oil and clean break outs

Serums --> Niacinimide + Zinc from TheOrdinary is good for breakouts, oil and everything else basically (do some research into serums from TheOrdinary, they are so affordable and work well)

Moisturiser --> Gel moisturisers are so good for oily skin (I use Clinique but TheOrdinary and Byoma also do one)

Optional but La Roche Posay has a really good product (Duo+M moisturiser) which has helped to get rid of discolouration and dark spots on my face (although it is a little pricey) I add it on top of my moisturiser

Use pimples patches for spots to help them heal better and not leave marks (StarFace, basic ones from amazon) you can leave these on overnight or in the day

Do this at night and try not to touch your face/pick spots to prevent infection and spreading. Always take makeup off before bed and try not to wear too much everyday as this can cause break outs and block pores etc. Remember, sometimes less is more when it comes to skincare steps!
Maybe consider seeing a doctor/dermatologist if it is super bad?
Hope this helps :smile:

I have super sensitive skin so this may not apply to other people but: I only ever tried 2 La Roche Posay products and they both burned by skin so be cautious of them.
Reply 11
Original post by Lugg13
I have super sensitive skin so this may not apply to other people but: I only ever tried 2 La Roche Posay products and they both burned by skin so be cautious of them.

Oh :// thanks for the warning! I’ll do a patch test first.
Reply 12
Do any of you guys know whether hyperpigmentation marks could possibly be permanent? Or is it only scars that are permanent. Some of the marks have been on my face for ages and I’m starting to worry that they might not go (they definitely aren’t scars) ☹️
Original post by Anonymous
Hello, I am 18 yrs old (F) and I get breakouts here and there but they aren’t that bad. The problem is the dark mark (just to clarify they aren’t scars) it leaves behind on my skin. I’m not super insecure about it but they have been there for a while and some are taking ages to disappear and it’s really starting to annoy me. All my friends’ skin seems to have cleared up by now and I’m the only one :frown:. Does anyone have any advice on how to get rid of these marks quickly? Thank you.

hyperpigmentation or acne scars:
AHAs and BHAs (for exfoilation) eg. glycolic acid and salicylic acid
Retinol
Vitamin C serum
niacinamide (for uneven skin tone)

but see a dermatologist for best advice <3
Original post by Anonymous
Hello, I am 18 yrs old (F) and I get breakouts here and there but they aren’t that bad. The problem is the dark mark (just to clarify they aren’t scars) it leaves behind on my skin. I’m not super insecure about it but they have been there for a while and some are taking ages to disappear and it’s really starting to annoy me. All my friends’ skin seems to have cleared up by now and I’m the only one :frown:. Does anyone have any advice on how to get rid of these marks quickly? Thank you.

you may have hormonal acne if it flares up around your period
Reply 15
Original post by nul_student1
hyperpigmentation or acne scars:
AHAs and BHAs (for exfoilation) eg. glycolic acid and salicylic acid
Retinol
Vitamin C serum
niacinamide (for uneven skin tone)
but see a dermatologist for best advice <3

Thanks! I tried one vitamin C serum but I didn’t really seem to work 😕. Might need to get a retinol
Reply 16
Original post by nul_student1
you may have hormonal acne if it flares up around your period

I’m not too sure as it doesn’t ever “flare up” as such, I just get one pimple then it disappears then I get another so one by one. Some leave worse marks than others.

Quick Reply