Significance

• Acne scars are caused by a loss of tissue at a site where acne has occurred. Since most people have at least mild acne at some point, acne scarring is extremely common. For some people, these scars are small and will fade over time, but for others the scars are severe and will never go away.
  
  

Types

• There are five common types of acne scars.
  Ice-pick scars are small and have jagged, steep sides, and can be shallow or deep.
  Depressed fibrotic scars have sharp, steep sides, like ice-pick scars, but are much larger. Ice-pick scars can sometimes turn into depressed fibrotic scars.
  Soft scars, also known as superficial or deep scars, are soft and have sloped edges and are either circular or linear in shape.
  Atrophic macules are typically quite small and soft. They often have a wrinkled base and a bluish color. In individuals with light skin tones, these scars will slowly become less obvious as they change from bluish to ivory.
  Follicular macular atrophy normally occurs on the chest or back, but can also occur on the face. This type of scar is small and white. Unlike the other types of scars, this scar is raised above the skin and can look like whiteheads.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• The best way to prevent acne scarring is to treat acne early and aggressively. There are a number of prescription and over-the-counter medications that can help clear acne. Popping and picking at acne causes further damage to the tissue and makes scarring more likely.
  Once scars exist, they are extremely difficult to get rid of. Some possible solutions to acne scarring include microdermabrasion, laser treatment, collagen injection and skin surgery. Anyone considering any of these treatments should speak to a dermatologist to determine the proper course of scar management.
  
  

Effects

• Acne scars have different effects on different people. Severe acne scarring can be quite disfiguring. For some people, acne scars can be psychologically distressing as well as physically damaging. In the long run, treatments can also become very expensive.
  
  

Misconceptions

• People often mistake macules and post-inflammatory pigmentation for acne scars. Macules are flat, red spots that appear in the final stage of inflamed acne lesions. These marks typically persist for about six months. Post-inflammatory pigmentation is the discoloration of the skin at the site of healed acne. This pigmentation is commonly seen in darker-skinned people and may last for up to 18 months. Unlike true scars, both of these "pseudo-scars" will eventually disappear completely.