According to the American Academy of Dermatology, a scar is the result of the skin repairing wounds. The more damage that is done to the skin and the longer the wound takes to heal, the more severe the scar. Unfortunately, acne can leave many different types of scars behind, and the type of scarring you have will determine the appropriate treatment. Dermatologists can use different procedures and medication to minimize scars more quickly, but there is no instant way to get rid of acne scars.
Ice-Pick Scars
Named for their shape, these scars are round at the top and go deep into the skin at a point, as if a small ice pick was thrust into the skin. These scars can be treated with one of three punch techniques. Punch replacement is where a hair-transplant type punch is made to remove the scar and a skin graft is then used to replace it. Punch excision also removes the scar, but the wound is closed and allowed to heal without a skin graft. Punch elevation involves lifting the scar from the surrounding tissue and suturing it in place. The scar is then made to be flush with the rest of the skin, and unlike with skin grafts, it won't have a different pigment or texture than the surrounding tissue.
Boxcar Scars
Boxcar scars are another form of deep scar that results from acne. They are similar in appearance to scars formed from chickenpox. Boxcar scars can also be treated with surgery via augmentation or subcision. Augmentation is when materials are injected under the scar to raise it to the skin's surface. Collagen, the patient's own body fat and other materials are used for the injection, and results are often temporary, requiring subsequent treatments. Subcision is a treatment where the scar is detached from the base tissue and blood is allowed to pool and clot under the scar, raising it to the skin's surface.
Rolling Scars
Dermabrasion, laser resurfacing and chemical peels are often used in conjunction with other treatments for deeper scars, and they are also used to treat shallow, rolling scars. All three treatments work to remove the top layers of skin, revealing new skin underneath, in effect reducing the size and visibility of the scars. Dermabrasion uses rapid rotating brushes to scrape away at the skin's top layer. Laser resurfacing will remove the top layer of skin while heating the skin underneath, forcing new skin to form. Chemical peels work by applying various forms of acid to the skin's surface to remove the top layer of skin.
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