5 Types Of Acne Scars And What Causes Them
June 7, 2021
Battling acne is a journey that may not end when blemishes are healed.
Acne scarring is more common than you think. If you suffer from moderate to severe acne, you are at a higher risk of developing acne marks after your pimples have been treated. Light red or skin coloured marks generally clear up on their own over time, however inflamed forms of acne such as cystic acne are likely to leave behind permanent scarring.
What Causes Acne Scars?
There are two main forms of acne scars – Indented and Protrusive.
Indented acne marks are concaved and seem to collapse into the skin, forming a small hole. This is the result of a loss of tissue cells when the skin heals from blemishes.
On the other hand, protrusive acne scars appear in the form of bumps. When a pimple heals, the surrounding walls of the infected pore swell and break down. The skin reacts to the inflammation by producing collagen to heal the skin and underlying tissue and when produced in excess, the repair tissues are raised above the surface of the skin, causing an outward protrusion.
It is common for acne battlers to develop not just one, but a combination of the different types of acne scarring. Scarring can be worsened if you pick or squeeze your pimples as bacteria can enter and further inflame the wound if the skin barrier is broken. The lack of a consistent sun protection routine may increase the risk of acne scarring as the skin’s healing process is impeded by sun damage.
Atrophic Acne Scars
Atrophic acne marks are indented scars with shallow depressions that form just below the top layer of the skin.
1. Boxcar Scars
Boxcar scars are wide depressions that appear box-like with sharp and defined edges. These depressions commonly form on the lower cheeks and jawline where the skin is relatively thicker than the rest of the face. Individuals who tackle widespread acne on their complexion are likely to develop boxcar scars.
2. Ice Pick Scars
Ice pick scars are smaller than boxcar scars. These narrow indentations resemble deep pores and are usually found on the cheeks.
3. Rolling Scars
Rolling scars are often the widest of the atrophic scars and may not have distinct edges. They vary in depth and have sloping edges that can make the skin appear wavy, causing very uneven skin texture.
Hypertrophic Scars
Hypertrophic acne marks are protrusive acne scars that appear as bumps on the skin.
4. Hypertrophic and Keloid Scars
Hypertrophic and keloid scars are bumps that form above the skin surface level. Scar tissues build up on previous acne spots forming raised lumps. Hypertrophic scars manifest in the same size as the acne that caused them, while keloid scars are larger than the pimples that led to scarring. These protrusive acne scars are commonly found on the jawline, chest, back and shoulders.
Pigmentation
Discolouration of the skin can happen after it recovers from an inflammation. Pigmentation does not result in an uneven skin texture but instead turns the affected areas of the complexion into a light red or darker skin colour.
5. Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation
Lighter pigmentations may resolve on their own over time. However, darker pigmentation caused by severe acne may leave permanent marks. Hyperpigmentation has a high likelihood of occurring in cases of severe acne and on instances where the individual picks on the pimple as it heals.
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Have a question on Lumipeau skincare or anything related to acne? Reach out to The Lumipeau Concierge via email at concierge@lumipeau.com or Whatsapp at 6338 8183 and the team will be glad to assist!
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*In a multicentric study in clinical practices on efficacy of a cream containing 1% of ICTASOL on 101 test persons who suffered mild to moderately severe acne. in the treatment period of 6 weeks, 94% of participants saw improvements to their acne skin condition.
**In a monocentric study on efficacy and tolerance of a cream containing 1% of ICTASOL on 20 test persons who suffered from mild to moderately severe acne. In the treatment period of 8 weeks, the average number of pimples that participants have were reported to have reduced by about 80%.
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