Some people are left with small, brownish marks after acne. Are these scars?
These are not scars. This condition, more common in people with increased skin pigmentation such as Africans, Asians and Hispanics, is known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or PIH.
After inflammation (redness), the skin’s normal recovery processes become faulty. One of the results of this is excess pigment produced at the site of acne spots. This pigment can last from weeks to many months before fading.