What Are Acne Scars?

They are the result of inflammatory acne lesions, such as cysts, papules, pustules and nodules, that damage the skin’s tissue.

Around 95% of people aged 11 to 30 are affected by acne at some point but, in some cases, it can persist beyond this age for a number of reasons. Scars can vary in appearance, including raised, depressed, or discoloured areas on the skin. They can be challenging to treat, but with the right approach, significant improvement can be achieved.

Understanding Acne Scarring
Acne scars are typically caused by the body’s natural healing process in response to severe acne lesions. When the skin’s tissue is damaged, the body produces collagen to repair the injury. However, sometimes the body produces too much or too little collagen, resulting in the formation of scar tissue. Here are the types of scars in more detail:

Atrophic Scars – These scars appear as depressions or pits in the skin and are caused by the loss of tissue during the healing process. Atrophic scars include ice pick scars, boxcar scars, and rolling scars. They’re also common after children get chicken pox.

Hypertrophic Scars – Unlike atrophic scars, hypertrophic scars are raised and occur when the body produces too much collagen during the healing process. These scars may be red or discoloured and typically remain within the boundaries of the original acne lesion.

Keloid Scars – Keloid scars are similar to hypertrophic scars but extend beyond the boundaries of the original acne lesion. They are raised, firm, and may continue to grow over time.