The Different Types of Acne Scars

Acne scars are different from other types of skin scars. Why? Because the scars caused by 'zits' or pimples go down into the dermis making them difficult to treat.

These scars can be hard to deal with emotionally as well as physically. A pimple not only makes us feel unattractive, often we are left with a scar as a permanent remedy of previous outbreaks. Acne outbreaks happen when too much sebum is produced by our oil glands causing one of our pores to become infected.

The body tries to fight this infection by sending white blood cells to the infected area. After these white blood cells have done their job and the inflammation has been controlled the skin around the area may not be fully repaired.

If that happens scar tissue will show.

This scar tissue often disappears in about seven months. Permanent scarring does not always happen.

• Hypertrophic scarring, (raised scarring)
  which results in a growth of tissue. Excess collagen is produced, and in severe cases, large outgrowths may result. Scars stay within the boundary of the original wound and can get smaller over time.

• Keloid scars
  • are overgrowths of skin tissue which grow beyond the size of the original scar site. The scar can be bigger than the original wound. These type of scars are rubbery, firm and may be itchy. Some people are genetically prone to keloid scarring.

• Atrophic scarring (indented scarring)
  • results in a loss of tissue. This type of scarring is much more common than hypertrophic scarring.

• Atrophic macules.
  These are small, bluish-whitish skin colorations, and are usually less visible than other types of scarring.

• Macules
  • These are the most common on the back, chest and arms. They are small areas of hairless scar tissue that will initially be red but will usually fade to pale ivory within 1-2 years. They can be raised or indented scars.

• Depressed fibrotic scars
  • These are large, depressed valleys on the surface of the skin. They are usually jagged.

• Follicular macular atrophy, or perifollicular elastolysis
  • This consists in small, slightly raised lesions, similar in appearance to whiteheads.

• Ice-pick scars
  • These are less severe types of depressed fibrotic scars. They look like an ice pick has been pressed into the skin. It is generally small in diameter and can be either shallow or deep.

• Soft scars
  • The types of acne scars can be small or large in diameter and and are fairly deep, though not usually as deep as icepick scars. These are gentle, scar-like depressions in the skin. They are usually small, and either circular or linear.

Top of page

For More Information on Acne Visit

What Is Acne
Suffer From Zits or Pimples – You Are Not Alone
Causes of Acne
What Is Adult Acne?
Teenage Acne

Leave Acne Scars and Visit Beautiful Family Skin