Patient question
Doctor, I have oily and acne-prone skin. I keep getting pimples on my cheeks and small bumps on my forehead, even though I follow a skincare routine. I also get dark marks after pimples, especially because I sometimes touch or pick them.
Could you please tell me:
1. What type of acne/skin problem do I have?
2. What treatment would be best for me?
3. What cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen should I use?
4. How can I prevent new pimples and the dark marks they leave behind?
5. Are there any products or ingredients I should stop using?
Likely cause
This is due to excess oil production and blocked pores (dead-skin/keratin buildup), followed by Cutibacterium acnes–related inflammation. The small forehead bumps are likely closed comedones, while cheek pimples are inflammatory lesions.
The dark marks are post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation—made more likely and longer-lasting by touching or picking the pimples.
What to watch for
• Deep painful cysts/nodules or rapidly worsening acne
• Scars or increasingly dark marks
• No improvement after 8–12 weeks of consistent treatment
• Itchy, identical forehead bumps (may not be typical acne)
• Irregular periods, excess facial hair, or hair thinning with acne—consider hormonal evaluation
• Severe irritation, swelling, or rash after a product—stop it and seek medical advice.
What you can do
Use a gentle, fragrance-free foaming cleanser twice daily; a lightweight non-comedogenic gel moisturizer; and broad-spectrum SPF 30–50+ gel/fluid sunscreen every morning. Reapply sunscreen outdoors or after sweating.
Avoid picking, scrubs, heavy hair oils/creams, and greasy makeup. Keep hair off the forehead, cleanse after sweating, and treat the whole acne-prone area consistently. Acne may improve in 6–12 weeks; dark marks fade more slowly. Avoid harsh scrubbing, DIY remedies, steroid/fairness creams, prolonged topical antibiotics alone, and combining multiple exfoliating or peeling products—these commonly worsen irritation, acne, and post-acne pigmentation.
Simple acne routine
• Morning: gentle cleanser → benzoyl peroxide → non-comedogenic moisturizer if needed → broad-spectrum sunscreen
When to see a doctor
Night: gentle cleanser → adapalene (pea-sized amount for the whole acne-prone area) → moisturizer.
• Start adapalene 2–3 nights weekly, then increase as tolerated. Do not pick or squeeze lesions.
Seek dermatology care
See a dermatologist early for painful cysts/nodules, scarring, sudden severe acne, hormonal features such as irregular periods or excess facial hair, or no meaningful improvement after 8–12 weeks of consistent treatment.
This is general information from a verified doctor and is not a diagnosis or a substitute for an in-person consultation. In an emergency, seek immediate medical care.
