What are acne scars?

Acne scars typically occur in the form of permanent depressions or indentations in your skin. Scars can sometimes be elevated as well. They result in textural changes of the skin. 

What are the causes of acne scars?

Acne scars are often a result of the inflammation your skin undergoes when acne is formed. The inflammatory process damages the skin tissues in your skin. When the skin is damaged, a scar is left behind in the deep layer of the skin, known as the dermis. Often, this scar is contracted or does not contain enough collagen fibres, leading to an irregularity or depression in the skin. They are often worsened if you are prone to picking or popping your pimples.

If acne is treated in its early stages, it is possible to avoid acne scars completely.

What are the different types of acne scars?

Not all acne scars are the same. There are a variety of types of scars, each of which requires a different or customized procedure to treat effectively. It is common to have a combination of a few types of scars.

Ice Pick Scars

Ice pick scars have a narrow opening but are often deep acne scars in the skin.

Box Car Scars

Box car scars are relatively shallow scars and have rather rectangular, well-defined edges of the openings. 

Atrophic/ Rolling Scars

Rolling scars appear as broader depressions. These scars don’t have well-defined edges but rather, often have rounded or sloping edges. 

Hypertrophic Scars/ Keloid Scars

These scars are elevated. They appear as lumpy scars that remain after acne has healed. 

This is because after the skin is inflamed, fibrous scar tissue will form over the wound to repair the wound site. Sometimes, these scar tissues grow excessively, resulting in an elevated bump over the original wound. 

Acne Marks

Post Inflammatory Erythema

Post Inflammatory Erythema usually appear in the form of pink or red marks that are a result of a severe acne outbreak.

Post Inflammatory Erythema often develop due to the dilation or damage of small blood vessels (called capillaries) near the surface of the skin. They are generally caused by inflammation and trauma, such as picking or popping pimples.

Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is often seen as dark spots on the face after acne has resolved. These marks are different from Post Inflammatory Erythema. They appear when the skin is healing, when the red marks fade away to leave a variety of discolouration spots that can be pink, red, brown or black.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is generally caused by trauma to the skin such as burns, excessive picking, rubbing, or irritation to the skin caused by chemicals. This results in the overproduction of melanin, resulting in the discolouration of the skin.

Acne Marks vs. Acne Scars

Acne marks are commoning mistaken for acne scarring due to the discolouration and redness they appear in. After an inflammatory acne outbreak, it is common to have a variety of marks and scars left behind.

What are the differences between acne marks and acne scars?

Although they are easily confused, acne marks and acne scars are different.

Acne scars are often permanent depressions or elevations on your skin. They can be categorized into atrophic or hypertrophic scars, and they occur in a variety of shallow scars to deep scars. For example, there are ice pick scars, boxcar scars, rolling scars or keloid scars.

On the other hand, acne marks are generally not permanent. However, they can be extremely stubborn and last for weeks or months. Treatment options can help to significantly reduce the time needed for these marks to fade.