GoodRx / Maryann Mikhail, MD
The basics
Acne affects up to 80% of people between the ages of 11 and 30. Many have some post-acne scarring, which can have a negative impact on your overall well-being. People with acne scarring often:
- Feel less attractive
- Feel less confident
- Get anxiety
- Avoid social situations
- Have a higher risk of depression or suicide
- Do worse in school
- Have trouble finding jobs
There are three basic types of acne scars.
- Atrophic: depressed scars that look like craters (also called icepick, rolling, or boxcar)
- Hypertrophic: thickened scars with raised scar tissue (also called hypertrophic scars, keloids)
- Post-inflammatory alteration: skin discoloration (red, white, dark marks)
Treatment for acne scars depends on the type of scarring, how severe it is, and skin type. Often, a combination of the following treatments is necessary:
- Topicals
- Microdermabrasion
- Chemical peels
- Steroid injections
- Subcision
- TCA CROSS
- Fillers
- Laser therapy
- Microneedling
- Radiofrequency microneedling
- Excision and punch grafting
Do you have acne scars that make you feel self-conscious? Is one of your loved ones upset by their scars? Here’s a guide to the treatment options to improve or get rid of acne scarring.
