When acne breakouts penetrate the skin deeply, they damage the skin and the tissue beneath it. As the acne clears, the body tries to repair this damage. During the healing process, the body produces collagen a substance that gives the skin support. If the body produces too little or too much collagen, you will see a scar.
Some people are more likely to see scars when their acne clears. The risk increases when a person:
- Has inflammatory (swollen, reddish, and painful) acne. This type of acne tends to penetrate deep into the skin, which damages the skin.
- Delays or does not treat inflammatory acne. The longer a person has inflammatory acne, the greater the risk of scarring.
- Picks, squeezes, or pops acne. This increases inflammation, which increases the risk of scarring.
- Has a blood relative who developed acne scars. Genes play a large role.
The following types of scar occur in acne:
- Ice-pick scars these are deep, narrow, pitted scars
- Rolling scars broad depressions with sloping edge
- Boxcar scars broad depressions with with sharply defined edges
- Atrophic scars flat, thin scars or depressed scars
- Hypertrophic or keloid scars thick lumpy scars