There are different types of marks that may occur: raised keloids; atrophic (AKA depressed or pitted), like icepick or boxcar scars; or dark spots, which are known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Most of the time, those reddish or brownish acne marks that are left behind after pimples clear up will fade with no need for treatment. Picking or squeezing acne can increase the risk for scarring, though. Acne scars take two forms: scars with a gradual dip or depression (sometimes called "rolling" scars)
Acne holes are scars or pick marks from pimples. They usually look like indentations or holes in the skin. Acne holes occur due to damage in the deeper layers of the skin after popping pimples.
Unlike acne marks, which are flat and discoloured, acne scars have a rough texture and form visible dips in the skin's surface. Since they're the result of changes to the skin's Collagen structure it can be more challenging to reduce their appearance.
Rolling acne scars are characterized by indentations that create a rolling or wavy look on the skin's surface with sloping edges that measure a few millimeters wide.
Permanent pimple scars can appear as depressions or thick, raised, growth-like lesions on the skin's surface. No acne scar appears the same, and patients often have many acne scar types. While these permanent scars will not go away on their own, treatment by a board-certified dermatologist like Dr.
Acne marks and scars are two distinct types of blemishes that can occur after a breakout. Acne marks, also known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, are flat, discoloured spots left behind after a pimple heals. On the other hand, acne scars are caused by damage to the skin's collagen and can be raised or depressed.
People with acne scars are perceived as less attractive, confident, happy, healthy, successful, and less likely to lead promising futures compared to people with clear skin.
Acne scars can be sunken (depressed) due to the loss of tissue. They may look like ice pick pits. They can be rolling, creating a wavy texture in the skin or they may also be boxlike. These are sometimes called boxcar acne scars and are often on the face.
In short, then, acne scars are formed when there is a significant break in the follicle wall, which is inside the dermis. And in most cases, this damage to the dermis results from picking at acne and related scabs. However, severe acne may lead to scarring regardless of whether a patient touches their pimples or not.
Expect to have the scars for most if not all of your life if you decide not to get treatment. Even with treatment, acne scars are difficult to heal. There's no 100% guarantee that the acne scars will be completely gone. But most treatments reduce the size of the acne scars and make them less visible.
Dr. Lee uses the video to educate about the difference between a whitehead and a milia, which can sometimes appear quite similar. Milia are bumps containing keratin that has been trapped underneath the skin, and are sometimes called “baby acne” or “Epstein pearls."
Whereas post-acne erythema causes red or pink marks, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation causes brown, grey, or dark marks on the skin. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation happens when your pigment skin cells are stimulated during the wound-healing process. The darkened spots are a concentration of pigment in one area.
Your body can gradually break down pus and reabsorb its components. That's why small accumulations of pus (like in a pimple) often don't need treatment.
Acne scarring may change in appearance from day to day, depending on your skin health. Dehydration, hormonal changes, stress and alcohol consumption all impact the appearance of your skin generally, which will also emphasise any textured scarring or discolouration you may have.
The most difficult type of acne scars to treat is icepick acne scarring. Ice pick scars are narrow, V-shaped scars that go deep into the skin. They often look like small oval holes, similar to a chicken pox scar. Because of these characteristics they are the most difficult acne scars to treat.
Keloid and hypertrophic scars are common types of scarring that can occur as a result of the acne healing process. They appear as raised lesions of scar tissue on the skin and are a result of the overgrowth of fibrous tissue in the region where the acne lesion had developed.
Try a retinol serum
It helps smooth skin's texture by reducing the appearance of post-acne marks, minimizing the look of pores, and improving the skin's surface. It also helps promote skin's natural exfoliation process and refine the skin to improve the look of an uneven skin tone.
Psychotherapist Azra Alic dismantled the belief that our acne is visible and obvious to other people through a number of behavioural experiments with her own clients. Turns out, no one really sees your acne the way you see it in yourself.
Subsequently, we quantified the relationship of three risk factors with acne scars: male gender (odds ratio [OR]: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.19–2.09), positive family history of acne (OR: 2.73, 95% CI: 1.26–5.91), and acne severity (OR for moderate acne: 2.34, 95% CI: 1.54–3.57; OR for severe acne: 5.51, 95% CI: 2.45–12.41).
Do acne scars go away on their own? Reddish or brownish acne marks left behind by acne lesions usually fade eventually, but it can take a year or longer. Mild or moderate scarring may also fade over time, but in general, unless acne scars are treated — especially severe scarring — they're permanent.
Don't skimp on moisturiser – but use an oil-free product, as hydration is essential for optimal healing. EFFACLAR Duo (+) hydrates skin while preventing and treating brown and red acne marks. UV radiation worsens the appearance of scars and dark marks, so don't forget SPF.