So what are the types of acne scars? Where can you learn more about the different types of acne scars? Here at Miami Skin Spa, we promise to provide you with holistic, non-invasive, medical aesthetic services. This includes offering high-quality information you can trust to guide your treatment decisions.
Read on to learn more about the different types of acne scars, and what we can do about them, together. First things first: what is an acne scar? Essentially, an acne scar is the leftover evidence of the body's healing process.
A combination of factors cause acne. Pores on your skin get clogged up with bacteria and natural oils produced by the body. When this happens, sometimes the pore can swell , creating redness or inflammation, and the accumulation of debris. This is the pimple that most of us are all too familiar with!
The body responds to a clogged pore by attempting to do some damage control. The body will make a new type of skin fiber called collagen, in an attempt to 'clean up' from the inflammation caused by the pimple.
So what's the problem? Unfortunately, the new collagen fibers made by the body don't look exactly the same as the original skin. This is why we see acne scars, where pimples have come before.
Different people may scar in different ways. It depends on what type of acne they had and for how long. Treatment type matters too. Some people who have this type of acne, for a short period of time, won't scar - others may experience scarring. In contrast, more severe acne, such as cystic acne, creates deep craters or cysts beneath the skin. Typically people have a longer time course with this variant of the condition.
As a result, cystic acne scars are common. Genetics and skin type also play a role in whether or not you will scar. When you pick or pop or squeeze a pimple, instead of getting a medical consultation for treatment, you are more likely to get a permanent scar. Now that we understand what acne scars are, it's important to know the different types of acne scars. We will also share some of the treatment options available for helping you to move forward and beyond the limitations of your acne scars.
Atrophic scars are the most common type of acne scar. They form during the healing process of cystic acne.
When skin tissue is lost or destroyed during skin regeneration, atrophic scars can form. They are primarily caused by the loss of collagen, which the skin makes as part of its healing processes. The result? Atrophic scars look like holes or gaps in the skin, where the collagen has been lost. Atrophic scars come in three different kinds. These are rolling, icepick, and boxcar scars.
Rolling scars look like waves across the surface of the skin. They are not well defined, but instead, make the entire surface of the skin look bumpy and uneven. Rolling scars form when collagen tries to close the wound left by the pimple. When the body tries to heal the wound, strings or bands of protein stretch between the outermost layer of the skin the epidermis and the deeper layers of the skin the subcutaneous tissue.
The epidermis gets pulled down and attached to a deeper layer where it doesn't belong. This creates the rolling effect seen in rolling acne scars. Icepick scars are deep and narrow. Usually, they develop after cysts or infections in the pores. Because these processes destroy the skin around them, the resulting scar that forms is a long hole in the skin.
Boxcar scars have well-defined edges. They are distinguishable from icebox scars because they are wider and have 'boxier,' edges. You may hear the term 'pitted skin,' used to describe someone with boxcar scars. Boxcar scars develop when inflammation causes collagen to be destroyed, similar to other atrophic scars. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size.
Different Types of Acne Scars from acne can seem like double punishment — first you had to deal with the pimples, now you have marks as a reminder. Acne comes in different forms: mild acne: this causes the whiteheads or blackheads that most of us get at some point moderate acne: this can cause red, inflamed pimples called papules and red pimples with white centers called pustules severe acne: this causes painful, pus-filled cysts or lumps called nodules under the skin Most serious scarring is caused by the more severe forms of acne, with nodules more likely to leave permanent scars than other types of acne.
Treating Acne Scars 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. Acne scars take two forms: scars with a gradual dip or depression sometimes called "rolling" scars scars that are deep and narrow A person's acne needs to be under control before scars can be treated.
Mild vs. Severe Scarring Treatments depend on how severe the scars are. For serious scarring from previous bouts with acne, several types of treatment can help: Laser resurfacing. This procedure can be done in the doctor's or dermatologist's office. Part 2: Energy-based techniques. Ogawa R. Keloid and hypertrophic scars are the result of chronic inflammation in the reticular dermis.
Int J Mol Sci. Update on hypertrophic scar treatment. Clinics Sao Paulo. Psychosocial impact of acne and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. An Bras Dermatol. Acne Scars: Classification and Treatment. London: Informa UK Ltd. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data.
We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Ice Pick Scars Ice pick scars are deep, very narrow scars that extend into the dermis. How They Develop Ice pick scars develop after an infection from a cyst or other deep inflamed blemish works its way to the surface. Treating Ice Pick Scars You have a few options for treating ice pick scars. Boxcar Scars Boxcar scars are round or oval depressions with steep vertical sides.
How They Develop When an inflammatory breakout destroys collagen, the tissue is lost. Treating Boxcar Scars Just as with ice pick scars, boxcar scars can be treated with punch excision. Rolling Scars This type of scarring causes rolling or wave-like depressions across otherwise normal-looking skin. How They Develop Rolling scars arise when fibrous bands of tissue develop between the skin and the subcutaneous tissue below.
Hypertrophic and Keloid Scars Hypertrophic scars are firm, raised scars that grow above the surface of the skin. How They Develop Unlike ice pick and boxcar scars, hypertrophic scars are not caused by a loss of tissue. Treating Hypertrophic Scars and Keloids There are many different options for treating hypertrophic and keloid scars.
Keloid Treatment and Prevention. Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation Discoloration left on the skin after a pimple has healed isn't a true acne scar, but rather post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
How It Develops Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation develops when a wound, rash, pimple, or other trauma causes skin inflammation. Treating Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation In many cases, you don't have to do anything; discoloration often fades away all on its own over time. A Word From Verywell Even with the most careful and conscientious treatment, you may develop acne scars.
Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. Dark brown spots are more common in people with darker complexions, while red hyperpigmentation is more common in people with lighter complexions. Often, hyperpigmentation goes away on its own with time and usual care.
Different types of acne scars require different treatments to effectively solve the problem. To learn more about the different types of acne scars and which type of treatment you need, schedule a consultation appointment with a dermatologist at Easton Dermatology Associates.
Call Easton or Salisbury. November is Diabetes Awareness Month and a good time to learn about what this chronic condition can do to your skin.
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