Acne can leave behind different types of marks on your skin. Some are flat discolorations that fade with time, while others create changes in your skin’s texture that may require professional treatment. Knowing the difference helps you choose the right approach to improve your skin’s appearance effectively.
What Exactly Are Acne Scars?
Acne scars are the skin’s version of battle wounds. They’re the result of inflamed blemishes damaging the skin tissue. When acne penetrates deeply into the skin and damages the underlying layers, the body rushes to repair it. But like any hurried job, the repair process isn’t always perfect.
Sometimes, your skin produces too little collagen, leading to depressions or pits. Other times, it produces too much, creating raised scars. Either way, the aftermath is what we refer to as acne scars.
Underlying Causes of Acne Scars
Let’s get under the skin.
When a pore swells due to bacteria, oil, and dead skin cells, it causes inflammation. If the follicle wall breaks deeply, infected material can leak into surrounding tissue. Your body’s response? Repair with collagen. But this natural healing comes with a catch. The more intense or prolonged the inflammation, the greater the disruption in collagen distribution.
Genetics, skin type, the severity of your acne, and how often you pick at pimples also factor in. It's important to note that even mild acne can lead to permanent acne scars if inflammation becomes chronic.
Different Types of Acne Scars: A Visual Guide
The dermatologists categorize acne scars in the following manner:
Atrophic (Depressed) Scars
These are the most common and occur due to collagen loss during healing.
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Ice Pick Scars: Small, deep, and narrow pits, almost as if someone punctured your skin with a sharp object. Most common on cheeks, jawline, and chin.
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Boxcar Scars: Wider than ice pick scars, with sharp edges. They can be shallow or deep, often oval or rectangular.
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Rolling Scars: Broad depressions with sloped edges. They give skin a wavy, uneven texture. Thankfully, they’re among the easiest to treat.
Hypertrophic (Raised) Scars
These form when your body goes into collagen overdrive during healing.
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Hypertrophic Scars: They stay within the boundaries of the original acne site but are raised and firm.
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Keloid Scars: More severe. These extend beyond the original wound and can feel itchy or tender.
Once you understand the distinction between the various scar types, it will be easier to choose the right acne scars treatment, especially if you’re dealing with pitted acne scars that don’t respond to over-the-counter options.
Mild vs. Severe Acne Scars: Understanding the Spectrum
Severity matters! Not just for the acne itself but for the scars it leaves behind.
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Mild acne: 46% develop scars
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Moderate acne: 67%
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Severe acne: 82%
The more severe or prolonged the inflammation, the higher the risk of permanent acne scars. However, don’t be fooled into thinking light breakouts are harmless. Long-term low-grade inflammation can still quietly wreak havoc, leading to visible scarring over time.
In short: Scars don’t discriminate. Early and effective acne management is crucial.
Acne Marks vs. Acne Scars: What's the Difference?
If you’ve ever stared at your skin wondering why that stubborn spot just won’t fade, here’s the thing. Not everything left behind after a breakout is actually a scar.
Acne marks, also called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or erythema, are flat discolorations that appear after a pimple heals. They can be pink, red, brown, or even purple depending on your skin tone. The key detail is that they don’t affect the skin’s texture. They’re visible, but your skin still feels smooth. With time, sun protection, and the right products like vitamin C or niacinamide, these marks often fade on their own.
Acne scars, on the other hand, involve physical changes in the skin. They can form indents that sink into the skin or raised areas that feel thicker than the rest of your face. If you run your fingers over the area and feel an uneven surface, that’s more likely a scar. These result from deeper damage to the skin’s structure and often need clinical treatments like microneedling or laser therapy to improve.
So how do you know which one you’re dealing with?
If it’s smooth but dark, it’s probably a mark. If it’s uneven to the touch, it’s likely a scar.
Understanding this difference matters because treatment paths are completely different. Acne marks might respond well to topical products. But to remove acne scars effectively, you’ll usually need consistent professional care.
The sooner you identify what you’re treating, the better your results will be.
How Acne Causes Scars: The Skin's Healing Process
Every acne scar tells a story not just of a breakout, but of what your skin went through beneath the surface. And the real story begins ‘after’ the pimple.
When your skin develops Active Acne Scars (inflamed breakouts), your immune system steps in like a crisis response team. White blood cells rush to fight the bacteria, clean out dead skin cells, and manage oil buildup. But this inflammation, though protective, often damages the surrounding healthy tissue in the process.
Once the infection subsides, your body shifts gears into repair mode. The fibroblasts, specialized cells responsible for producing collagen rebuilds and strengthens your skin. This step is critical. If your body produces too little collagen, it can leave behind depressed scars like ice pick or boxcar types. If it produces too much, it results in raised scars like hypertrophic or keloid scars.
What complicates matters is that this collagen-building process is often irregular in acne-affected skin, especially when breakouts are deep, long-lasting, or repeatedly irritated. Inconsistent collagen synthesis + chronic inflammation = scarring.
That’s why acne scars aren’t just a surface issue. They’re a result of how your skin heals or rather we could say “misheals”, after trauma. And it also explains why topical skincare alone can’t always reverse them. Deeper, more targeted interventions are often needed to support proper collagen remodeling and restore smoother skin.
Managing and Treating Acne Scars
It’s 2025. You have options. No reason to fall for TVCs that have convinced you that “brightening” is the solution for everything.
Professional Management and Treatment
Modern dermatology offers targeted treatment for acne scars that address everything from tone to texture.
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Topical Retinoids: Promote cell turnover and reduce pigment.
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Chemical Peels: Exfoliate deeply, stimulating new skin.
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Microneedling: Triggers controlled injury to encourage collagen growth.
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Laser Therapies: Such as ablative laser treatment, which vaporizes damaged skin to stimulate healing from within.
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Subcision & Fillers: Release scar tissue and lift depressed scars.
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Minor Surgical Procedures: Like punch excision for stubborn ice pick scars.
In-Clinic Treatments for Acne Scars: What to Expect
Let’s set the right expectation.
Treating acne scars is a journey. There is no such instant fix in existence, especially while dealing with pitted acne scars, as they are formed deep within the skin.
In-clinic treatments work by targeting the layers beneath the surface to stimulate collagen regeneration, a process your skin naturally uses to heal. Procedures like microneedling, chemical peels and subcision are designed to create controlled micro-injuries. These prompt your skin to rebuild itself, filling in indents, softening rough textures, and improving tone.
However collagen doesn’t rebuild as fast as you might think. Depending on the severity and type of scarring, you’ll likely need a series of sessions spaced weeks apart. The improvements are gradual but compounding, each session lays the groundwork for smoother skin ahead.
At Leor clinic, we offer Klarina’s 7-step medical facial, a cellular-level treatment that helps clear blemishes and improve post-acne texture when combined with other procedures.
With the right combination of professional care and consistency, you can significantly reduce the appearance of acne scars. And while perfection isn’t always the goal, progress absolutely is.
How Long Does It Take for Acne Scars to Improve with Treatment?
You’ve booked the treatment. You’re hopeful. But now you’re wondering: when do I see change?
It depends on your skin, your routine, and your body’s response to healing. Not just the extent of the scar.
Let’s start with the easy-to-miss difference. Hyperpigmentation (those dark or red leftover marks) might look like scars, but they aren’t. These can fade naturally within 3 to 24 months. Topical actives, SPF, and clinical options like chemical peels or laser techniques like Q-switched laser treatment, can accelerate the process significantly.
But true acne scars, especially pitted (atrophic) or raised (hypertrophic) ones demand more. The reason being, they are a result of a deeper injury, where collagen was either lost or overproduced during the healing phase. The good news is Leor Exclusive Treatments don’t just cover the damage, they stimulate collagen and other necessary specialized cells from the inside out.
And coming to the realistic part, as mentioned earlier, It’s a journey. For most, it takes multiple sessions over 3 to 6 months to see consistent, visible improvement. And some deeper permanent acne scars may never fully go away. But they can fade enough to become barely noticeable in natural light.
Acne scars can be improved often impressively so, but it’s not instant. Stick with it. Skin takes time, but science is on your side.
Beyond Treatment
The journey for healing your skin may start with lasers and serums but it doesn’t end there. It also depends on how you care for it every day.
Prevention is Key: Minimizing the Risk of Acne Scars
Follow this prevention checklist:
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Don’t pick or pop your pimples. Never do it unless a dermatologist is suggesting it (in most cases they do the popping as per the given scenario).
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Start treatment early. The faster you control acne, the less risk of scarring.
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Use SPF daily. Sun exposure makes scars darker and harder to fade.
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Stick to non-comedogenic products for acne scars. They won’t clog pores or aggravate existing breakouts.
Living Well with Acne Scars
Some scars may linger. But they don’t define you.
Managing acne scars is about confidence, not perfection. If you’ve tried treatments, kept up your skincare, and still see texture, that’s okay! You’re not alone.
Your skin won’t betray your efforts when they are taken in the right direction.
However it is still recommended to consider therapy, journaling, or support groups if scars are affecting your mental health. Real beauty has depth, just like your skin.
Exploring Natural Remedies for Acne Scars
When it comes to acne scars natural removal, there’s no homely remedy that will fully resurface your skin. But some natural ingredients may help with pigmentation, that can as a result address your acne scars:
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Honey: Mild anti-inflammatory effects.
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Aloe Vera: Calms redness.
- Rosehip Oil: Promotes skin regeneration over time.
Just remember: these are support acts, not lead treatments. Don’t expect them to erase pitted acne scars or severe discoloration.
To get the right skin treatment for your acne scars, contact Leor Clinics. After making discovery around your scar type, the depth of the treatment required, our experts will administer the right approach for your case!
FAQs
Q1: How do I get rid of my acne scar?
Ans. Start with professional treatments like peels, lasers, or microneedling. And then pair these efforts with SPF and acne scar removal cream for long-term support. For best results, it's recommended to book an appointment at Leor and consult a dermatologist for a tailored plan.
Q2: Can acne scars be 100% removed?
Ans. In many cases, acne scars can be removed or significantly faded. But deep scars may only improve by reducing its size, not disappear.
Q3: Do acne scar marks go away?
Ans. If they’re pigmentation-based (not textured), then yes they often go without treatment over time.
Q4: Can I remove acne scars naturally?
Ans. Acne scars natural removal options can help slightly with tone but not texture. Use them with realistic expectations.
Q5: Does vitamin C help with acne scars?
Ans. Yes. Vitamin C has a brightening effect on your skin which reduces discoloration. It’s majorly included in products for acne scars.
