Acne scars are caused by injury to the skin as a result of the
acne, and the way in which the body has tried to repair the
damage. Different people scar in very different ways, some being
much more susceptible than others. However irrespective of how
vulnerable you are to scarring, it only happens when you have a
severe outbreak of acne, and is rarely associated with the much
more common 'mild' cases.
Acne scars are classified under two broad headings, one being
where extra skin tissue is present and the other being where
there is loss of normal skin tissue.
Scars where extra skin tissue is deposited are called raised
scars or keloid scars. They are composed of extra collagen which
has been laid down under the skin. Sometimes these scars can be
bigger than the original spots and often last for years, with
darker skin being more prone to this type of scarring.
When skin tissue is lost the scarring is often referred to as
'sunken'. These are much more common than raised scars and are
characterised as 'pits' in the skin. There are a whole range of
further classifications associated with sunken scars, all of
which describe the particular way in which the scar looks. For
example ice-pick sunken scars look like wounds from an ice-pick
(small with jagged edges and steep sides).
Irrespective of the type of skin that you have, there are some
things you can do to reduce the occurrence of acne scars, these
include:
1) Proactively seek out treatment for your acne before it
becomes severe. See your doctor, start some topical medication,
adjust your diet, do something to prevent a few spots becoming
severe acne.
2) Try not to squeeze your spots; this single activity will
dramatically reduce your chance of developing acne scars.
3) Don't pick or poke your spots with instruments such as nail
files, and tweezers.
4) Use a good oil free moisturiser as part of your skin-care
regime, to keep your skin supple and flexible.
Following these simple tips will ensure you don't do long term
damage to your skin.
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