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Acne scarring often occurs as a result of cystic acne or inflamed blemishes. Following the healing of blemishes, some individuals may experience pigmentation changes (darker or lighter patches of skin), while others may have pitted facial scarring, resulting in uneven and dimpled skin texture. Around 95% of people with acne will develop acne scars.
Inflammatory blemishes or acne, including cysts, papules, and pustules, can lead to the formation of pitted acne scars. This occurs when cysts develop in the deeper layers of the skin, and after healing, they create a void between the skin’s layers. The upper skin layers then descend to fill this void, resulting in a pitted and dimpled appearance.
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, also known as macular scars, develops as a result of melanin accumulation in the skin after acne has healed. While not permanent, these dark marks may persist for months or even years without treatment, making them distinct from traditional scars. Individuals with darker skin tones are more prone to experiencing post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
When your body effectively puts ‘too much effort’ into healing the wounds caused by acne it causes an excess of collagen built up in the skin. This collagen may stay in place permanently. As a result, your skin creating acne scarring. The successful treatment of acne scars involves addressing each of these issues and enabling scarred skin to remodel into healthy, smooth, even-toned skin.
Acne scarring can’t always be prevented, but there are steps you can take to minimise the after-effects of acne, including:
After pimples clear up, the reddish or brownish acne marks typically fade without requiring treatment. Nevertheless, severe acne may result in persistent scarring that does not always fade naturally, and picking or squeezing acne can also heighten the risk of scarring.
There are different types of acne scars, with some appearing red, purple, or pinkish due to an accumulation of melanin in the skin. If the affected area is red, inflamed, and swollen, it indicates active acne, requiring treatment before addressing scarring. Consulting a dermatologist for effective acne treatments can help reduce the risk of scarring.
Acne scar treatment needs to take a holistic approach to your overall skin condition before a treatment regime can be introduced. Acne scars usually involve remodelling scarred skin into healthy, smooth and evenly toned. Book a consultation with one of our acne experts and let’s repair the damage together.
