Acne scars *cue horror music*, we all know they’re terrible and a burden to many people of all ages, but what really are they? And why do they even occur? In this article we will discuss the whole life cycle of acne, from normal pore to pimple, and the aftermath that results in the dreaded acne scar.

If you don’t care why they’re making a home on your face or how they got there, you just want them gone, then click here to read our article on how to get rid of different types of acne scars.

What are Acne Scars?

An acne scar is basically what remains after acne or pimples have healed. When a breakout happens, enlarged or inflamed pores damage the skin, which can result in red spots, hyperpigmentation, deep pits, and even rough patches on the face.

Though these marks vary in appearance, they’re generally referred to as acne scars.

Scars that are “depressed” or look like a hole/shallow pit in the skin are usually caused by the body not producing enough collagen during the healing process after the breakout.

In contrast there are other types of acne scars that are raised above the surface of the skin are caused by too much collagen being produced during the healing process, causing a bump that may be pink or reddish in color.

To learn more about the different types of acne scars click here.

How do Acne Scars Form?

In order to fully understand acne scars let’s go step by step through the process by which acne forms and heals.

Step 1: Normal Pore

Diagram showing the layers fo the skin, focusing on pore and sabaceous gland.

Acne develops due to clogged hair follicles whether there is hair present in the follicle or not.

It starts with the accumulation of dead skin cells and sebum (the oily substance that is responsible for your shiny nose, and secreted by the sebaceous gland).

Step 2: Accumulation

Diagram showing the opening of the pore being clogged with dead skin cells and sebum. Labels hair follicle at the bottom of the pore, and the epidermis at the top layer.

If sebum and dead skin cells start to build up in the hair follicle, it clogs the pore and can result in a white head or black head.

Conditions like this within the hair follicle create the perfect environment for naturally occurring bacteria to multiply, this in turn causes inflammation in the dermis, the inner layer of the skin found below the epidermis. Pimples are the result of this inflammation.

Step 3: Infection

Diagram showing the pore starting to become inflamed and a pimple breaching the surface of the skin.

With acne, the inflammation will develop to the extent that the follicle is ruptured and a pustule with fluid is formed. As a result, pimples and acne cause inflammation that can result to severe damage to the skin.