Crossword Genius

Blemish allowed to become red (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

scarlet

'red' is the definition.
(I know that red can be written as scarlet)

'blemish allowed to' is the wordplay.
'blemish' becomes 'scar' (scarring is a kind of blemishing).
'allowed to' becomes 'let' (to let something happen is to allow it).
'scar'+'let'='SCARLET'

'become' is the link.

(Other definitions for scarlet that I've seen before include "bloody?" , "Bright red of clarets" , "Clarets (anag.)" , "Crimson" , "Colour of embarrassment?" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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