Causes of Acne Scars - How Do You Get Them? 

While most cases of acne clear up without leaving scars, some healed acne may result in scarring. The majority of scars occur after a case of cystic acne, but mild to moderate acne can also cause scarring.     

Basically, scars develop at the site where tissue was injured.   The scars are visible traces of the injury and the repaired tissue.  When scars develop because of acne breakouts, it is caused by the body's inflammatory reaction to dead skin cells, sebum (oil) and bacteria built up in the clogged sebaceous follicle.   

When tissue is injured, the body responds by sending various inflammatory molecules and white blood cells to the site to combat infection and repair tissue.   After the job is completed, eroded tissue or fibrous scar tissue may be left behind.  Inflammatory molecules and white blood cells can stay in the area of an active acne lesion for days or weeks and the outcome for people subject to scarring can be an acne scar. All types of acne can result in scarring but nodulocystic acne occuring deep in the skin is the most likely to cause scars.  Picking  lesions is another way to cause noticeable scarring. 

There are also spots that resemble acne scarring but are not permanent.  These temporary scars are referred to as macules and are red, flat spots that occur during the final phase of inflamed flareups.  When the pimple gets flat, a macule may remain in the spot for a few months.  After around six months, the macule will disappear without a trace, making it different from a scar. 

Several types of acne scars exist:

·      Depressed acne scarsThese type of scars are indented in the skin and are caused when tissue is lost in the acne prone area because the acne spread into the skin. These depressed scars may also be referred to as atrophic mascules, superficial scars, ice pick scars and depressed fibrotic scars. 
  

·      Post inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH) . Hyperpigmentation is when a dark color forms temporarily from acne that has healed and it disappears in about a year, much like macules. For people with darker skin tones, hyperpigmentation may last for up to two years.
   

·       Raised acne scars. These scars are raised above the skin where tissue grows in the area where acne occurred.Raised scars are also referred to as keloids.  

While scars can be embarrassing, there are ways to prevent acne scars and treat the telltale signs of acne for clearer, more attractive skin.