Acne scars: Signs and symptoms

What you see on your skin varies with the types of acne scars you have. Your dermatologist will talk about two types of acne scars.

Depressed: Most acne scars cause depressions or pits in the skin.

Depressed scars usually form on the face. A dermatologist may refer to these scars as “atrophic” (a-tro-fic) scars or use the name of the specific depressed scar:

• Boxcar

• Icepick

• Rolling

Raised: These acne scars are more common on the back and chest. The medical term for a raised scar is “hypertrophic.”

References
Jacob CI et al. “Acne scarring: A classification system and review of treatment options.” J Am Acad Dermatol 2001;45:109-17.

Thiboutot, D et al. “New insights into the management of acne: An update from the Global Alliance to Improve Outcomes in Acne Group.” J Am Acad Dermatol 2009;60:5(sup. 1) S1-S50.