Types of Acne Scars

When pimples, blackheads and whiteheads appear on the skin, a person is said to have acne. It is said to be an inflammatory skin disorder caused by the involvement of the sebaceous glands. Having acne is not only painful, but also causes discomfort to the person. Acne can occur in a person due to hormonal changes, bacteria or hereditary reasons. Most people don't do anything about acne and wait for it to cure on its own. While acne heals on its own, it also gives rise to scars on the skin which are most of the times permanent. Though some of these scars can be cured by proper treatment, they do not make the skin spotless. However, before knowing about the treatment, it is necessary to know about the types of acne scars that can be found on the skin.

Different Types of Acne Scars

It is very common to have mild pigmentation on the skin during the healing process after suffering from acne. This usually goes away after some time. However, if it remains for a long time, it is said to be permanent acne scarring. Acne scars can be broadly classified into two categories, mainly artrophic and hypertrophic. Within these two types, acne scars can be further classified into different types, as mentioned below.

Artrophic Acne Scars

Artrophic acne scars which are caused due to loss of tissue, are those that are most common among the two types of scars. Some of the artrophic scars include-

Ice Pick Scars: Ice pick scars are most commonly seen on a person's cheek, and appear as if they were been made by piercing the skin with an ice pick. These deep and sharp holes on the skin can either be soft scars or hard ones. If not treated on time, ice pick scars can turn into depressed fibrotic scars, which would deepen with sharp edges.

Boxcar Scars: Boxcar scars, as the name sounds, appear to be like wide boxes on the skin. When the collagen in the skin is damaged, tissues are lost giving rise to round or oval-shaped marks. The appearance of boxcar scars are similar to those scars that are left after chicken pox.

Rolling Scars: Rolling scars are those acne scars which are seen on the skin like a wave pattern. These scars occur because fibrous tissues appear between the skin and the subcutaneous tissue underneath.

Hypertrophic Acne Scars

Hypertrophic scars, also known as keloids, are those that arise due to increased growth of tissue in the skin. The main reason for keloids is the excess production of collagen. In contrast to the atrophic scars, where holes appear on the skin, when a person has keloids, lumps thicker than the acne form on the skin. These scars can be seen on the face, back and chest.

Acne Scarring Treatment

Treatment for acne scars may depend upon the type of acne scars that one has. Collagen injection is one of the different methods of acne scar removal. Collagen helps in stretching the soft scars inside the skin and is most effective for ice pick scars. Other treatment measures include skin grafting, plastic surgery, dermabrasion, etc. Laser treatment is also done to get rid of scars.

Although there are several effective treatment methods for various types of acne scars, it may take a long time for the skin to heal properly, and there are chances that some kind of mark always remains on the skin. To avoid all these hassles, it is better to prevent acne scars from occurring. The best option for proper skin care is to consult a dermatologist when acne starts appearing on the skin. Proper treatment and care of the skin during this time will surely help the skin to heal properly, without giving rise to acne scars.