These aren't painful but are deep in the skin... And since i'm not a chick i don't think it's hormonal :\
It's just like a faded pimple. The AFTERMATH of a pimple. I get the mark after almost any large pimple goes away.

about the tanning bit: I only ever did it for maybe 5-10 minutes a week at salon. I wasn't aiming for any particular look. It was just to keep my skin healthy since i never go outside.

A friend told me about the toothpaste [not gel] trick too... it works but it over-dries my skin to the point of flaking. I just wish i could find something that helped my skin heal faster from post-acne damage.

I was told never to pop acne cysts/zits, blackheads yes but the acne related ones will almost always leave scars . I swear by my benzoyl peroxide regime, i tried so much stuff before it and when i eventually tried it, it worked a miracle.

Way to burst my bubble SV22

Very good advice there, I myself had to go on isotetrinoin before my acne finally went away but that wasn't before the doctor and dermatologist tried everything else out on me (steroid cream and antibiotics etc). It really dried out my skin though, I had to use moisturizer quite a lot. Also, to expand on the benzoyl peroxide, it comes in different forms and strengths that can be easier on the skin. When I was using it frequently to treat the mild acne i had on my face, i used it in conjunction with a moisturizer to counteract the drying effect.
Another common thing that people seem to do is not persevere with certain treatments before moving onto the next.

@SV22: Thanks for link recommendation, i'll check it out.

@XBlacky: I'm a little paranoid asking a doctor for meds for acne and such, seems like everyones dying or developing severe medical conditions [then suing the company] from seemingly harmless drugs like Paxil and stuff.

Every night I wash my face with clean & clear acne stuff, then apply oxy extra strength wet pads in the morning. Works fine for me.

EDIT:

Then again, I have a habit of things that irritate the heck out of my skin. The oxy pads give me some pain and the C&C give me a slight burning sensation, but I seem to enjoy it kinda. XD

i was on accutane

never had acne problems throughout highschool.. it started when i was 19 or 20 for some reason. nothing too serious but i would always break out in the summer from the heat/sweat. it was worst when i exercised and i didn't have too many problems in the winter months other than a few breakouts here and there. i went on a 5 month course of accutane and it has worked for 99.9% of my acne. i've gotten 2 or 3 very small pimples since and i don't even think it's the same type of acne as before. they were barely noticable at all and each one went away within two days.

honestly the only symptoms i had from accutane were super dry skin and chapped lips. the skin around my mouth would crack and peel if i didn't use lotion daily. i got a few minor rashes on my hands/elbows but they went away with lotion. i understand the symptoms are different for everyone but it was totally worth it for me.

I find washing it with just anti-bacterial soap helps mine better than anything else. I don't really get too much acne on my face but as soon as some foreign chemical touches my skin I get an irritating rash. I can barely shave without my face becoming itchy and red, that's how sensitive my skin is.