Acne Scars in Singapore
Understanding Changes Left Behind by Acne
Acne can sometimes leave persistent changes in the skin after active lesions have settled. These may include changes in skin colour as well as scars caused by changes to the structure of the skin.
Not every mark left after acne is a scar. Identifying whether the concern is pigmentation, redness, a depressed scar, a raised scar or a combination of changes is important because these can involve different management considerations.
At The Acne Clinic, assessment considers the type and extent of acne scarring, the condition of the surrounding skin and whether active acne is still present before appropriate management options are discussed.
The Acne Clinic, i12 Katong, Singapore
What are Acne Scars?
Acne scars are persistent structural changes to the skin that can develop following acne. They may occur when inflammation and the healing process alter the skin tissue after an acne lesion has resolved.
Acne scars can differ in shape, depth and appearance. Some create depressions in the skin, while others may result in raised areas of scar tissue.
Different scar patterns can also occur together. Understanding the type of scarring present is therefore an important part of assessment.
Acne Marks and Acne Scars Are Not the Same
Flat changes in skin colour after acne are not necessarily scars. Darker pigmentation or persistent redness can remain after an acne lesion settles without creating a depressed or raised scar.
A patient may also have acne marks and structural acne scars at the same time.
Why Do Acne Scars Develop?
Acne scarring can develop as the skin heals following inflammation. The likelihood and appearance of scarring can vary between individuals.
Acne Severity and Inflammation
Deeper and more inflammatory acne lesions can involve greater disruption to the skin and may be associated with a greater risk of scarring.
Individual Healing Response
Skin does not heal in exactly the same way in every patient. Differences in the healing response can influence whether scarring develops and what form it takes.
Repeated or Persistent Acne
Repeated inflammation affecting the skin can contribute to persistent changes and may increase the opportunity for further scarring to develop.
Picking or Squeezing Acne
Picking, squeezing or scratching acne lesions can increase inflammation and trauma to the skin and may contribute to subsequent marks or scarring.
Clinical Insight from Dr Ramita
Why do some patients develop significant acne scarring while others with acne do not?
The risk of acne scarring depends more on the depth of inflammation than the number of spots. Deeper lesions, such as nodules and cysts, can damage the skin’s structure and are more likely to leave scars. Repeated breakouts in the same area, as well as picking or squeezing spots, can further increase this risk.
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Skin also heals differently from person to person. Some develop depressed scars due to insufficient tissue repair, while others develop raised scars from excess tissue formation. This is why I assess the type, severity and duration of acne, along with how previous breakouts have healed, rather than focusing on the number of spots alone.
What Are the Different Types of Acne Scars?
Acne scars can have different structural characteristics. Identifying the scar pattern is important because different scars can involve different management considerations.
01
Ice Pick Scars
Ice pick scars are narrow, deeper depressions that extend into the skin. Their depth and shape can give the appearance of small pits or openings in the skin surface.
02
Boxcar Scars
Boxcar scars are depressed scars that tend to have more defined edges. They can vary in width and depth.
03
Rolling Scars
Rolling scars are broader depressions that can create an uneven or undulating appearance across the skin. Their appearance may be influenced by fibrous attachments beneath the skin.
04
Raised Scars
Some acne scars develop as raised areas of scar tissue rather than depressions. Raised scars involve different considerations from depressed acne scars.
05
Mixed Acne Scarring
Many patients have more than one type of acne scar. Ice pick, boxcar and rolling scars may occur together, sometimes alongside pigmentation, redness or active acne.
Are Acne Marks the Same as Acne Scars?
No. Changes in skin colour following acne can remain visible even when the skin has not developed a structural scar.
Dark Marks After Acne
Some acne lesions can leave areas of increased pigmentation after inflammation has settled. These flat changes in colour are different from depressed or raised acne scars.
Red Marks After Acne
Redness can also remain after an acne lesion resolves. Persistent redness should be distinguished from pigmentation and structural scarring when the skin is assessed.
When More Than One Concern Is Present
Active acne, pigmentation, redness and acne scars can occur at the same time. Identifying the different changes present helps establish what is affecting the skin and which concerns may need to be addressed.
What If I Still Have Active Acne?
Active acne and established acne scars are related but distinct concerns.
Where active acne is still present, assessment can help determine whether controlling ongoing acne should form part of the management plan before or alongside consideration of existing scars.
Managing active acne is particularly important because further inflammatory acne lesions can leave additional marks or scars.
Can Further Acne Scarring Be Reduced?
Managing active acne can be important in reducing the risk of further acne related skin changes.
Avoid picking, squeezing or scratching acne lesions, as doing so can increase inflammation and trauma to the skin.
Where acne is persistent, inflammatory, painful or associated with deeper lesions, clinical assessment can help determine whether treatment should be considered.
For patients who already have acne scars, preventing further active acne from leaving additional scars may form an important part of the overall management approach.
How Acne Scars Are Assessed?
Acne scarring is not a single uniform condition. Assessment helps establish the scar patterns present and the factors that may influence management decisions.
Scar Type
The assessment may consider whether scars are ice pick, boxcar, rolling, raised or a combination of different patterns.
Scar Depth and Distribution
The depth, width, location and extent of the scars can influence which management approaches may be considered.
Active Acne
The presence and severity of ongoing acne may affect treatment priorities and the sequence in which active acne and established scarring are addressed.
Skin Characteristics
The condition of the surrounding skin and other clinically relevant individual factors may influence treatment considerations.
Pigmentation and Redness
Changes in skin colour may coexist with structural scars. Distinguishing these concerns helps establish what is contributing to the overall appearance of the skin.
Previous Treatment
Previous acne and acne scar treatments, including how the skin responded, may also be considered.
Can Acne Scars Be Treated?
Different management approaches may be considered depending on the type, depth and distribution of acne scarring, the patient’s skin, whether active acne remains present and other clinically relevant factors.
Because different acne scar patterns can require different treatment considerations, treatment should be selected according to the characteristics of the individual patient’s scarring rather than the presence of acne scars alone.
Where more than one scar type is present, more than one treatment approach or a sequence of treatments may sometimes be considered.
The dedicated Acne Scar Treatment page explains the treatment approaches available at The Acne Clinic and how treatment may be selected according to different scar characteristics.
Acne Scar Treatment
When Scar Treatment May Be Considered
Selected in clinic procedures may be considered for established acne scars where clinically appropriate. The role of a procedure depends on the type, depth and distribution of scarring, the condition of the surrounding skin, whether active acne is still present and findings from clinical assessment.
Common Questions About Acne Scars
Visit The Acne Clinic
Book an Appointment
If you would like to discuss your acne or skin concerns with Dr Ramita Kaur Shahi, you can make an appointment at The Acne Clinic at i12 Katong.
The Acne Clinic
A dedicated space for acne care in Singapore.
Location
112 East Coast Road, #03-08
 i12 Katong, Singapore 428802
Opening Hours
Tuesday-Friday
2:30pm-6:30pm
Saturday
9am-5pm
Monday, Sunday & PH
Closed