5 Types of Acne Scars You Should Know.

Know your acne scars before choosing a treatment method

“Acne scars” are not just small holes on the face, but are structural skin problems caused by severe acne inflammation and the body’s incomplete skin repair. The key to effectively treating acne scars is to know what kind of scars we are facing.

1. Ice Pick Scar (Ice Pick Scar)

Characteristics:
A narrow, deep hole resembling a needle or pencil tip, pierced into the skin as if poked with a sharp object.

Cause:
Caused by deep inflamed acne that has spread to the deep layer of the dermis.

Treatment:

• The hardest to cure
• Use TCA CROSS to apply acid to specific spots.
• Combined with Picosecond or Fractional Laser to stimulate collagen from below.

2. Boxcar Scar (clear-edged acne scars)

Characteristics:
Wide, well-defined pits, box-shaped or deep grooves with sharp edges, usually not very deep but clearly visible.

Cause:
Caused by horizontal destruction of the skin structure, such as by squeezing pimples hard.

Treatment:

• Responds well to lasers such as Discovery PICO, Fractional CO2
• Filler may be used in some cases where the holes are shallow.
• Microneedling also helps to speed up skin rejuvenation.

3. Rolling Scar (Wavy Acne Scars)

Characteristics:
The skin looks wavy and uneven, especially when light reflects from the side.

Cause:
The scar tissue under the skin holds the skin back, preventing it from fully recovering.

Treatment:

• Subcision technique uses a needle to cut the scar tissue under the skin.
• Followed by collagen-stimulating lasers such as Discovery PICO.
• The skin will appear smoother as the scar tissue is cut and new tissue recovers.

4. Atrophic Scar (Thin Skin Acne Scars)

Characteristics:
The skin in that area appears thinner, blood vessels are visible, or the skin color is pale. It often occurs with other types of craters.

Cause:
The skin loses a lot of collagen and elastin. The body cannot create it back as much as before.

Treatment:

• Stimulate collagen production with low-energy lasers
• Long-term care and restoration are required, along with skin vitamins and nutritional care.

5. Mixed Scar (different types of acne scars on the same face)

Characteristics:
A mix of different types of holes, such as Ice Pick combine with Boxcar and Rolling.

Cause:
Severe acne that recurs in waves or acne that has present for a long time without treatment.

Treatment:

• Multiple techniques must be used together, such as laser + TCA CROSS + Subcision.
• It requires an experienced physician to design a personalized plan.