Atrophic Scars Scars may also form as a result of
Depressed (atrophic): These sunken scars often result from chickenpox or acne. They look like rounded pits or small indentations in the skin. Also called ice pick scars, they develop most often on the face. Acne scars may become more noticeable as you age because the skin loses collagen and elasticity over time.
These are indented scars that happen when your skin heals below the normal layer of skin due to a lack of tissue. They're common in cases of severe acne or chickenpox.
An atrophic scar takes the form of a sunken recess in the skin, which has a pitted appearance. These are caused when underlying structures supporting the skin, such as fat or muscle, are lost.
It's natural to wonder, “Do indented scars fill in over time?” Unfortunately, these scars won't disappear on their own. Atrophic scars rarely go away completely, but with the help of a dermatology provider, you may be able to successfully reduce their appearance.
Scars may be formed for many different reasons, including as a result of infections, surgery, injuries, or inflammation of tissue. Scars may appear anywhere on the body, and the composition of a scar may vary--appearing flat, lumpy, sunken, or colored. The scar may be painful or itchy.
The filler of choice for filling indented scars is generally a biostimulator to lay down a new layer of fresh collagenous tissue that will continue stimulating your body to create new collagen. Radiesse® and Sculptra® are examples of fillers used to treat acne and other depressed scars.
They may be tight if they were placed in a sub-optimal position. Equally they may become tight because it is a fundamental property of scar tissue that it tends to contract over time. If the scar does contract, it may result in dimpling of the overlying skin.
Depressed scar
What it looks like: These scars sit below the surface of your skin, giving the skin a sunken or pitted look. Most depressed scars form on the face. Sunken scars can become more noticeable as you age. This happens when the skin relaxes and sags, causing the depressions to become more noticeable.
Atrophic Scars
They are depressed, sunken and often have a pitted appearance. Atrophic scars happen when the body does not make enough collagen while healing, which causes the loss of tissue. Acne, chickenpox or injuries involving loss of skin tissue are the usual causes of these scars.
Soft tissue fillers.
Injecting collagen, fat or other substances under the skin can plump the skin over indented scars. The goal is to make the scars less noticeable. Results are temporary, so repeat treatments are needed to retain the effect.
For best results, you should perform scar massage for at least 10 minutes, twice a day, for six months. You should only stop sooner than that if the scar starts showing signs of infection or you experience intolerable discomfort.
While some scars may undergo some level of fading, atrophic scars are particularly stubborn and don't resolve over time. Atrophic scar treatment helps fill in the indentation and fade the appearance of your previous wound for a smooth, balanced appearance.
Unstable scars are distinguished by their lack of resolution. Unlike stable scars that fade and flatten over 12–18 months, unstable scars may remain raised, red, itchy, or painful indefinitely. They can also spread or change over time, leading to functional limitations or psychological distress.
When a wound to the skin heals without enough collagen produced, it can leave behind an indent in the skin. This is called an atrophic scar, which comes in many varieties.
What Are Atrophic Scars? An atrophic scar develops when the skin cannot regenerate tissue correctly. Unlike keloids and hypertrophic scars, atrophic scars are indented in appearance due to healing that occurs below the expected layer of skin.
And vitamin C is a key player when it comes to creating collagen. Even though collagen and wounds are usually discussed in the context of repairing fresh injuries, since collagen helps make healthy tissue, it can impact older scars as well and improve their appearance.
Atrophic scars are pitted or sunken scars. They occur when the body doesn't produce enough collagen during the healing process, resulting in a loss of tissue that leaves an indentation in the skin.
Caring for Scars
One tip for taking care of scars is to use a topical ointment. Cocoa butter cream and Vaseline are most often used to help reduce the appearance of scars. Applying the ointment daily will help heal scars but will not make them invisible. Another tip for caring for your scars includes surgery.
Surgery also can be an option to remove skin tags, moles, keloids, and other scars. Health plans often consider this type of surgery to be medically necessary, so it's typically covered by insurance. Your out-of-pocket costs may include meeting a deductible and copays or coinsurance.
Skin cancer can also develop in scar tissue that forms after a serious burn or other injury. The skin cancer that most commonly forms where skin has been badly burned is squamous cell skin cancer, which tends to appear years after the injury.