Acne scarring develops when inflamed breakouts damage the skin and the underlying tissue beneath. As the skin heals, it produces collagen to repair the damage, but this process is not always uniform. Too little collagen results in depressed or pitted scars, while too much produces raised ones. The result is a change in skin texture, tone or surface that can persist long after the acne itself has cleared.

Acne scars come in several forms. Atrophic scars such as icepick, boxcar and rolling scars are the most common, appearing as indentations in the skin. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, the dark marks left after a breakout, is often mistaken for scarring but is a separate concern that responds to different treatments.

The good news is that acne scarring is treatable. With the right approach, significant improvement is achievable for most scar types across a range of skin tones.