Post acne pigment marks are a common occurrence, especially for back acne.
There are 2 main forms: post inflammatory hyper-pigmentation- PIH (brown marks) or erythema (red marks).
Unfortunately, exfoliation alone is unlikely to help very much. Apart from "over-the-counter" exfoliation products, you might want to try medical-grade chemical peels like Glycolic or Jessner's peels. These superfical peels can help to lighten pigmentation over several treatment sessions.
The type of pigment marks that you have will determine which treatments you need.
For removal of brown marks (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation), Intense Pulse Light (IPL) is one of the effective types of treatment. Other effective treatment options for back acne PIH include topical whitening creams, chemical peels and pigment lasers (Picosecond Lasers, Q-switched (nano-second) Nd:YAG lasers, etc). Sun protection is equally important to ensure good results from your treatments.
For removal of post acne erythema (red marks), IPL can be effective too. Studies have shown that IPL is effective and safe for treating post acne erythema even in darker, sensitive skin patients.
You might also want to consider other vascular lasers such as Pro Yellow, VBeam and Excel V, if u have persistent erythema (red marks).
In my practice, I use a combination of treatments including creams, chemical peels and lasers because of their synergistic effects.
On a personal note, do speak to a trusted doctor regarding the most suitable treatment/s for you as there isn't a "one size fits all" treatment plan. Although IPL and Lasers might sound high-tech, simple chemical peels and topical creams might be more cost-effective for you.
With so many treatment options out there, please speak to an experienced doctor for expert advice! Hope this helps!
Warmest regards,
Dr Justin Boey
