Most of us have had a problem with acne at some point in our lives, mostly in our teenage years. Many adults suffer from acne as well and severe cases can produce acne scars. Many of these types of scars fade in a short period of time if you leave them alone. New blood vessels often form in the injured area within a few weeks after the breakout. If the acne is still there after a few months, collagen starts to form to heal the affected skin. This is when lasting scars are formed from excess collagen. Conditions like cystic acne can destroy skin and fat cells so it could take as long as a year for the scars to fade. I can’t stress how important it is that you DO NOT PICK YOUR SCARS! It can literally be the difference between lifelong scarring and relief one day.
How severe your acne scars are depends on how your body responds to inflammation. Some people have what is referred to as a secondary inflammatory response to skin trauma and they are more likely to scar. Those with a Single Inflammatory Response are much more resistant to scarring even when the breakout is somewhat severe.
Many times, acne scars can be avoided by simply not touching the area. There are many dermatologists who report that a lot of acne scarring comes from picking at the affected area until it scars. This causes dirt and bacteria to seep into your pores and irritates the skin until a scar forms. It’s okay to pop a pimple, but don’t pick at it afterwards. You might be creating a scar that is much harder to get rid of than the acne itself.
