Acne scars can be a lasting reminder of past breakouts, leaving your skin uneven in texture and tone. If you’ve dealt with mild to severe acne, scarring can affect your confidence and appearance.
Acne Scarring Basics
Acne is one of the most common skin conditions, affecting millions worldwide. While many individuals manage to treat active acne, the scarring it leaves behind can be a lasting reminder that impacts both appearance and self-confidence. Acne scars form when severe acne damages the deeper layers of the skin, disrupting the body’s natural healing process. This damage often results in skin texture changes, leaving behind indentations, raised areas, or discoloration that can be difficult to treat with over-the-counter solutions.
The main types include:
- Ice Pick Scars: These are small, deep, and narrow scars that resemble tiny punctures in the skin. Due to their depth, they are challenging to treat.
- Rolling Scars: These scars create a wave-like, uneven texture on the skin, typically caused by damage to the subcutaneous tissue beneath the surface. Rolling scars are often treated with skin-tightening procedures like radiofrequency or ultrasound technology, which can help lift and smooth the skin.
- Boxcar Scars: Boxcar scars are characterized by broad, shallow indentations with well-defined edges. They often form on the cheeks and temples, creating a pitted appearance and varying depth.
- Hypertrophic and Keloid Scars: Unlike the other types of depressed scars, hypertrophic and keloid scars are raised due to an overproduction of collagen during the healing process. These scars are typically thicker and can extend beyond the original acne site.