need to know what this is called?

[acash]

Hi all,

So i have an issue, whenever i get a pimple it starts out as big red bump on my face, eventually after a week or a week and a half it swells down, and my skin breaks around where the pimple was and the skin just peels away (like its dead skin), then it turns into a black scar.  The black scar stays for almost over six months, and finally when the black scar fades away it leaves a crater in my face.  I would like to know what the black scar is called.  I'm positive its not just an ordinary blackhead, its something more, and i also want to know what the best way to treat something like this. any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[loiloi]

This is hyperpigmentation or a post-acne mark. It is superficial rather than permanent scarring. The best way to prevent scarring is to prevent the acne so see your doctor for a course of oral antibiotics such as Oxytetracycline. If you are female, switching to an anti-androgen birth control pill such as Diane35 (Dianette in the UK) will also help prevent acne.
For existing post-acne marks I recommend Clinique's Even Better Skin Tone Corrector.
Eloise.