Unlike scars that originate from an external cut, bad acne scars originate in the layer of the dermis. Because of that, bad acne scars are the result of a wound healing in our skin, not on top of our skin.
This leads to an excess amount of collagen accumulating in a particular spot causing a unique type of scar.
Bad acne scars are bound down and depressed within the skin. Because the scar is located deeper in the skin, treating it requires more than just applying NeoSporin like you would on a cut or scrape.
The 4 Types of Bad Acne Scars
Ice Pick Scars – These scars are deep and narrow as the name suggests. An ice pick is used by climbers to dig into the ice while climbing a mountain, so you can see why they are called this. If you have this type of scarring you will notice deep pits in the skin. Out of all the Bad acne scars, this ice pick scars are the most common.
Rolling Scars – Rolling scars will appear in a wave like pattern. They are wide and shallow, and they are the result of bands of tissue developing between the skin’s surface and deeper structures of the skins surface. Like ice pick scars, rolling scars are depressed as well.
Boxcar Scars – These scars are also shaped the way their name suggests. They have well defined edges and occur on the cheeks or the temples most of the time. They are depressed, and round or oval, but with very pronounced edges.
Chickenpox scars look very similar to boxcar scars. This type of scar is the result of inflamed acne lesions destroying tissue. These scars may be mild and barely noticeable, but they can also be deep and very well pronounced.
Keloid Scars – Keloid scars are actually raised above the skins’ surface. They are the result of an overgrowth of tissue which expands beyond the area of the original wound.
They have a tendency to reduce in size as time progresses, but you may want to treat them yourself as they can be itchy sometimes. Out of the 4 bad acne scars, this is the only one that extends out instead of being depressed.