Scarring caused by Increased tissue formation (see diagram above, to your right) is the result of keloids or hypertrophic scarring (enlargement or overgrowth) which are both associated with excessive amounts of collagen. Keloids project above the surface of the skin and can form large mounds of scar tissue while hypertrophic scarring doesn't get as big as keloids but appears in the same form. Increased tissue formation is the less common form of acne scarring and can persist for years, but usually fades in size over time.

Tissue loss

There are several type of tissue loss acne scarring which is far more common than increased tissue formation scars, such as:-

Atrophic macules acne scarring - soft, flat scars of a bluish/violet color due to blood vessels underneath the skin. Discoloration may fade in time. More common in Caucasians. Atrophic macules are usually small and prevalent on the face in most cases but can appear on other parts of the body in larger forms.

Ice-pick acne scarring - usually small, deep scars with jagged edges that get their name from their appearance. Ice-pick scars are most common on the cheeks and can fade with skin stretching, however harder, and deeper scars are difficult to treat.

Superficial, soft acne scarring - soft, sloping edged scarring that blends into the skin. Soft scars are usually small, circular and smooth to the touch. Very common scarring.

Follicular macular atrophy acne scarring - small, soft whitehead type scarring that mostly appear on the back or chest. This type of scarring is faint and does not fully develop, can last months or years.

Depressed fibrotic acne scarring - usually large scars which actually develop from Ice-pick scarring, again, deep, jagged and with a firm base.

Acne Scars - How To Prevent Scarring

Different forms of acne scars occur in different people and it is difficult to predict what works best or to what degree methods and procedures work effectively to actually prevent scarring.

To give yourself the best chance of preventing future scarring, treat your acne condition at the earliest form of development and continuously throughout the condition.

The key is to prevent inflammation or to moderate inflammation which requires that you do not pick at your acne, scrub it vigorously or try and "pop" those "zits" as this can only cause further damage to what is, already fragile skin.

Acne Scar Treatment

There are various forms or methods of acne scar treatment either to remove scarring, improve scarring or to minimize the potential of scarring from acne. Here we explore what methods, products and treatment are available to you the acne scar sufferer. More on Acne Scar Treatment...