When the body produces too many, a raised scar is formed.

As the body seeks to repair itself, it produces new skin cells. Acne which damages the deeper layers of the skin more often results in scarring.Īcne scars are formed by an imperfect healing process. When acne is close to the skin’s surface it often heals with minimal damage to the skin. When your pores become clogged with oil, dead skin cells, or other impurities, your body has an inflammatory reaction which results in acne. Raised acne scars occur when the skin overproduces collagen, while pitted acne scars result when not enough collagen is produced. To repair this issue, the skin will naturally form new collagen fibers. When these lesions rupture, the material spilling out into the skin is irritating and cause inflammation which presents as redness, tenderness and sometimes thick white fluid that can be expressed from the acne lesion. These pores (or follicles) can become engorged resulting in acne lesions (i.e. Skin pores that become clogged with dead skin cells slowly fill with excess oil and can allow bacteria to grow. Not to be confused with post acne erythema (redness) or hyperpigmentation (brown spots) which are flat, temporary changes related to inflammation that tend to resolve over time, acne scarring changes the overall texture of the skin and does not always improve with time.Īcne scars result from the body’s natural attempt to heal itself. Acne scars manifest as areas of pitted or raised skin and can occur on the face or body. External factors, such as picking, can traumatize even small acne lesions and result in scarring. What Are Acne Scars?Īn example of acne scarring (Source: Medical News Today)Īcne scarring is the direct result of deep trauma to the skin related to acne. Learn more about how to prevent acne scars.Įven those individuals who are lucky enough to experience a dramatic decline in acne related symptoms over time may still be left with acne scarring, which can give the skin an irregular appearance. Deep depressions or scar tissue can remain once your acne is healed. The effort to repair these skin cells doesn’t always return your skin to its exact former state. It is not uncommon for people to struggle with acne well into their adult years. Updated with additional info on new acne scar treatments

Written by Heidi Prather, MD, FAAD, Board Certified Dermatologist on Febru

How to get rid of acne scars