Acne often leaves small scars where the skin gets a "volcanic" shape. Acne scars are difficult and expensive to treat, and it is unusual for the scars to be successfully removed completely.
Physical acne scars are often referred to as "Icepick" scars. This is because the scars tend to cause an indentation in the skin's surface. There are a range of treatments available. Most recently fractional lasers such as the Fraxel laser are becoming widely used as an effective treatment method.
Although quite rare, the medical condition Atrophia Maculosa Varioliformis Cutis results in "acne like" depressed scars on the face.
Ice pick scars - Deep pits, that are the most common and a classic sign of acne scarring.
Box car scars - Angular scars that usually occur on the temple and cheeks, and can be either superficial or deep, these are similar to chickenpox scars.
Rolling scars - Scars that give the skin a wave-like appearance.
Hypertrophic scarring , which results in a growth of tissue. Excess collagen is produced, and in severe cases, large outgrowths may result.
Atrophic scarring , which results in a loss of tissue. This type of scarring is much more common than hypertrophic scarring. There are several types:
Atrophic macules . These are small, bluish-whitish skin colorations, and are usually less visible than other types of scarring.
Depressed fibrotic scars . These are large, depressed valleys on the surface of the skin. They are usually jagged.
Follicular macular atrophy , or perifollicular elastolysis . This consists in small , slightly raised lesions, similar in appearance to whiteheads.
Ice-pick scars . These less severe versions of depressed fibrotic scars, and with time, they can in fact develop into them.
Soft scars . These are gentle, scar-like depressions in the skin. They are usually small, and either circular or linear.
