The types of acne scars and how to treat each kind:
Pits or indented scars: These scars are caused when there is a loss of tissue in the skin. This can be treated with skin treatments like microneedling, laser resurfacing and fillers. Fillers are often used on pitted acne scars as they refill the lost tissue and provide a smoother surface.
Raised or hypertrophic scars: These scars are caused when there is an excess of tissue formation on the skin. This type of scarring often causes raised bumps on the surface of the skin and is the most common form of acne scarring. The best way to treat this type of acne scarring is with a laser treatment such as fractional laser resurfacing, IPL or with microneedling.
Discolouration: Discolouration can occur after any kind of acne but is particularly common in those who have suffered from severe acne (such as cystic acne). You can treat discolouration by treating your overall complexion with a laser or light treatment such as IPL and /or by using a topical retinoid product.
Some people are more prone to acne than others, and if you have had severe acne you are at risk for developing acne scars. Acne scars can be unsightly and hard to get rid of. There are many different types of acne scars that may show up on your face and body.
There are three different classifications of acne scars:
Atrophic: small “pits” or depressions in the skin
Hypertrophic: thickened or raised skin
Keloid: a very pronounced overgrowth of scar tissue
Some people develop all three types, while others only get one type. It’s important to understand which you have before you begin treatment.
Atrophic Scars
The most common type of scarring is called atrophic or depressed scars. They are formed when your skin isn’t able to produce enough collagen during the wound healing process. This lack of collagen causes small “pits” or depressions in the skin. They’re usually round or oval in shape and can be shallow or deep, depending on the severity of the damage to the skin. The best way to treat this type of scarring is with dermal fillers, laser resurfacing, and microneedling with
Most acne scars are not permanent, so if you have them, there is hope! The first step to getting rid of acne scars for good is understanding what type of scar you have. There are two main types of acne scars:
Red or pink scars that take a long time to fade and often require treatment from your dermatologist.
Dark or purple spots that usually fade within 6-12 months with no treatment at all.
The most common type of scarring results from picking or squeezing the pimple itself. This only causes damage to the skin, which leads to more inflammation and can break down collagen (the building blocks of skin). In some cases, this can cause permanent indentations in your skin, called ice pick scars.
The other common type of scarring results from inflamed blemishes caused by bacteria. These blemishes can hurt and turn dark red or purple. Over time, the redness will usually fade and you’ll be left with a pitted or raised mark on your face. This type of scar is called a hypertrophic scar.
Another type of scarring results when the body produces too much collagen during the healing process, causing raised bumps to appear on the surface of the skin (known as keloids). These can
Acne is a condition that causes spots and pimples, especially on the face, shoulders, back, neck, chest, and upper arms. It is the most common skin condition in the United States. Although it’s common, accurate information about acne can be scarce. This can make it difficult to get clear skin. The information on this site can help you understand acne and how to successfully treat it.
Types of Acne Scars
There are two main types of acne scars: atrophic and hypertrophic scars. Atrophic scars are depressed into the skin and appear as small holes or depressed areas on the face (think ice-pick scars). Hypertrophic scars are raised above the surrounding skin and often have a bulbous appearance (think keloid). There are different treatments for each type of scar.
Acne Scar Treatment Options
Depending on your type of acne scarring, there are several treatment options available to you:
Chemical Peel: A chemical peel uses acid solutions to remove outer layers of damaged skin. This helps smooth out wrinkles and other blemishes like acne scars.
Dermabrasion: Dermabrasion removes outer layers of skin using a rotating wire brush or a diamond wheel with rough edges (called a fraise
Acne occurs when the pores in your skin become blocked with oil, dead skin, or bacteria. Each pore in your skin is the opening to a follicle. The follicle is made up of a hair and a sebaceous (oil) gland. The oil gland releases sebum (oil), which travels up the hair, out of the pore, and onto your skin.
When the follicle of a skin gland clogs up, a pimple grows. Pimples can be very frustrating especially if they are on your face where everyone can see them. There are different types of pimples such as whiteheads, blackheads, papules, pustules and nodules.
What Causes Acne Scars?
If you pick at or touch acne lesions on your face then you increase your risk of getting acne scars. If you have a habit of popping pimples at home then this also increases your risk of acne scarring. When you pop a pimple it can damage the walls of the follicle wall below the surface of the skin. The bacteria that causes acne can also spread to nearby areas and cause more breakouts. You should never pop or touch an acne break out because it will only make matters worse.
When acne is
There are different types of acne scars, because there are different types of acne. There are 2 main types of scars, and each type has different variants.
Atrophic Scars
This type is the most common. It develops when the skin does not produce enough collagen to replace the tissue destroyed by acne. In this case, there is a loss of tissue in the affected area.
The two main types of atrophic scars are:
Ice pick scars: These appear as small, deep holes in the skin that look like ice picks. They can be several millimeters wide, but they don’t usually extend beyond the surface of the skin.
Boxcar scars: These form large depressions with steep edges in the skin that may look like chickenpox scars or box-shaped dents. They can be shallow or deep and affect both cheeks and temples.
Treatment for acne scarring differs from person to person and depends on the type of scarring you have, your skin type and lifestyle.
It’s important to take a holistic approach to treating acne scars. Consider all methods listed below as part of your treatment plan.
The best way to treat acne scarring is to ensure that you don’t get any more breakouts. This means using a combination of topical treatments, oral treatments and lifestyle changes to improve your skin health.
The first step in treating acne scars is getting rid of active acne breakouts. Once you have clear skin, you can begin treating your existing acne scars. Our favourite product for this is AlumierMD Clarity which is a powerful treatment serum with salicylic acid and mandelic acid that works wonders at keeping acne breakouts at bay while also lightening hyperpigmentation and calming redness caused by inflammation.
The second step in treating acne scars is to use a skin brightening product such as AlumierMD EverActive C&E or Lumivive System (available through medical professionals only). These products contain vitamin C which helps to build collagen and fade discoloration caused by post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).