What Causes Acne Scars?
April 23, 2008
A severe case of acne is bad enough. But, when the acne disappears only to leave a trail of visible scars, it’s doubly-frustrating. Acne scars are often a permanent reminder of a skin disorder that can affect anyone. But, the damage left behind can have long-lasting impacts. Below, you’ll learn what causes acne scars and why the skin often has difficulty repairing itself after the acne disappears.
Spots Vs. Scars
Small red spots are often mistaken for acne scarring. But, they’re not scars. Those spots are called macules and mark the position of inflamed acne wounds. When the inflamed acne finally disappears, these macules are left behind. In effect, it’s the skin’s last stage of repair and can last up to 6 months. Over time, like the acne lesions that precede them, they go away without leaving any trace of their presence.
Deep Breaks Of The Follicle
Acne occurs when the pore of a hair follicle is plugged with dead skin cells. The oil (called sebum) produced by that follicle’s sebaceous gland is trapped within the follicle. Eventually, the sebum, bacteria and skin cells causes the follicle wall to break. If the break happens close to the surface of the skin, the acne is typically small and goes away quickly. However, if the follicle’s wall suffers a deep break, the sebum, bacteria and other matter infiltrates the dermis, damaging skin tissue.
Your Body’s Repair Job
Your body’s immune system immediately reacts to the damage that was done to the skin tissue. Using inflammatory molecules and a host of white blood cells, it acts quickly to repair the damage and defend the area against infection. To patch up the affected skin, your body creates collagen fibers. Unfortunately, the fibers formed to replace the eroded skin can have a haphazard look. The result is acne scar tissue.
There are Two Types Of Acne Scars
Acne scarring can manifest in 2 ways: raised or depressed. Each type is caused by different circumstances. When your body begins to patch up the affected area by creating collagen fibrous tissue, it can literally go into overdrive. Called hypertrophy, it produces too much collagen in response to the damaged tissue. The fibers pile on top of each other, resulting in a raised mass of new skin tissue. The new tissues are often called keloids. After the keloids have been created, their size may decrease over several years.
If an insufficient amount of collagen fibers are created to heal the skin, it can result in depressed scars. These can appear as tiny “dents” across the affected area and are far more common than keloids.
Dealing With Acne Scars
Scarring caused from severe acne can be psychologically debilitating. Because they’re often positioned on the face, they’re easily visible. Fortunately, there are several potential treatments that can be used to either diminish or eliminate the scars. The type of scarring and its severity will affect which treatment is appropriate for you. A dermatologist can offer advice and suggestions to treat acne scars. Relief may be closer than you think.
