What’s the Difference between Acne Scars and Marks?

Posted on 19 Jan, 2016

Acne is a chronic skin condition that can affect anyone at some point in your life, it causes spots to develop on the skin, often across the face, back and chest. 80% of 11 to 30-year-olds are affected by acne, but it is also common in those up to aged 50 and beyond. For those with darker skin, including Black African and Asian Indian & Arabic Skin, it can be difficult to find a treatment that effectively works to heal your skin, without any adverse reactions. Often darker skin can have issues with becoming hypersensitive to any products available to treat acne scars and marks, they could also potentially end up ‘bleaching’ the skin.

It’s important to be able to distinguish between Acne Scars and Acne Marks to allow yourself to properly treat the problem. Many patients at The Laser Treatment clinic often mistake marks left behind by acne as permanent scarring to the skin, but this is simply not the case, with the high tech treatments available these days. Understanding the difference is the first step to treating the problem.

Acne Marks

Marks caused by acne are known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation; these are red or brown marks that often can go away by themselves in 3-6 months. However, in some cases these dark marks remain for longer, causing self-esteem and anxiety problems.

It is often hard to resist picking, poking and touching your face when you have acne; however, it’s important not to. Hyperpigmentation occurs when inflammation happens during the skins natural healing process.  At The Laser Treatment Clinic, we are able to offer Ultra Derma White Treatment to successfully treat hyperpigmentation caused by Acne Scarring on all skin types.

Acne Scarring

Permanent acne scarring occurs when normal tissue in the skin and collagen are destroyed and replaced with fibrous tissue. Acne lesions come about because your body will respond to the healing process by creating too much or too little tissue.

Keloid Scar

A Keloid Scar is formed from the production of too much tissue making the scar become raised and stick out, and whilst they aren’t a health issue they can cause cosmetic problems, which can lead to anxiety and self-confidence.

Hypertrophic Scar

A Hypertrophic Scar is formed from the production of too little tissue, causing the scarring to appear like they are dug into the skin, again, these are not a health issue but they can cause cosmetic issues.

Picking at your acne is the biggest cause of acne scarring, but it can occur by itself; we have found, the most effective treatment for Acne Scarring for all skin types is our Marine Boost treatment from The Laser Treatment Clinic.