Acne Scars
Acne scars are caused by abnormal healing of skin affected by acne. Due to their morphology and the way they develop, they constitute a distinct category of scars. Acne is a systemic inflammatory skin disease. It is mainly associated with hereditary factors, as well as delayed and ineffective treatment of the condition itself.
Acne is one of the main causes of facial scarring and, in many cases, scarring on other areas of the body as well. It can affect both sexes; however, it is usually more common in young women during adolescence or immediately afterwards. In some cases, it may also appear unexpectedly at an older age.
Acne does not always necessarily leave scars and marks behind, as this depends on the type of acne, the body’s regenerative mechanisms and, of course, its correct and timely treatment.
The marks left by acne scars are often pronounced, significantly affecting patients’ psychological well-being both during adolescence, when they most commonly first appear, and throughout the rest of their lives.
What causes acne scars?
In general, acne scars develop when the skin pores become filled with sebum, dead cells and bacteria, causing them to swell significantly and resulting in a rupture of their walls. Whether a scar develops depends on whether this rupture occurs superficially or deep within the skin. Furthermore, depending on the severity of the existing inflammation, the scar may be milder or more pronounced.
On which areas of the body do acne scars appear?
Acne scars are most commonly located on the face, where they are also most bothersome. They may often spread to the back, chest or buttocks.
How are Acne Scars classified?
Acne scars, as a result of the body’s response to an inflammatory disease, namely acne, are divided into two main categories: atrophic and hypertrophic scars. In some rare cases, acne may also cause keloids; therefore, we mention them without considering them a separate category of acne scars.
- Atrophic Acne Scars: These are the most common type of acne scars. They are caused by the loss or contraction of the skin following inflammation. There are two categories: “ice pick” scars and “boxcar” scars.
“Ice pick” scars are smaller than 2 mm but are very deep, extending into the deep dermis or subcutaneous tissue, and are more difficult to treat.
“Boxcar” scars are more circular and wider, with varying depth, ranging from 0.1 mm to deeper than 0.5 mm. They usually have irregular borders and appear more uneven along their edges. - Hypertrophic Acne Scars: These scars form in exactly the opposite way to atrophic scars. During healing, the body produces more skin tissue than necessary, resulting in scar formation. These scars usually do not cause significant symptoms, are intensely red and raised, and appear immediately after inflammation.
- Keloid Acne Scars: These are the rarest cases in which acne may lead to keloid formation. These scars are particularly pronounced, extend beyond the boundaries of the original inflammation and usually appear on the back, chest and shoulders.
Treatment of Acne Scars
The treatment of acne scars is usually performed using a combination of different techniques.
- Surgical scar revision
- Fractional Laser
- Dermabrasion
- Diamond Microdermabrasion
- Local pressure on the scar area
- Intralesional Corticosteroid Injection
- Hyaluronic Acid Implants
Learn more about each of the above treatments by visiting the topic SCARS.
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