Why Do Acne Scars Happen?

 Acne scars are a result of inflammation of acne blemishes. The acne pore tends to swell up and a breakdown develops in the wall of the pore. Some acne blemishes could be small and hence the scars created are not deep and heal quickly. At times, the contents of the acne may spill into the tissues around it and cause deeper scars. The skin now responds to this by forming new collagen fibers to repair the scar.

Any breach to the skin- a cut in the skin, extreme dry skin , acne or a boil can lead to abrasion in the top layer of your skin that leads to scaring. Scaring could be driven by your skin type, genetics or how well you take care of your initial wound. Thereafter it depends on your lifestyle habits such as exposure to pollutants and other skin irritants.

Acne scars are usually of two forms.

1. The scar develops when there is a loss of tissue. It leads to an indentation on the surface of the skin.
2. The scar develops that is slightly raised on the surface of the skin. This type of acne scar is a sign that your skin is doing its job, but again too well. Your skin creates collagen to help heal the wound but, if it makes too much collagen, raised scars form.

It is important to know that just because you have acne, does not mean you will get scars. Even if you do get scars (one in five people with acne will also have scarring), the good news is that not all acne scars are permanent!

There are some treatments that can virtually remove all the scars while other treatment options can help the skin heal itself with its own collagen.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, “ Even when people try to take all the necessary precautions, to prevent acne scars, some people get scars. There are many treatment options, which can remarkably reduce depressed and raised acne scars.”